Position Description – Director – Amaze Inc

16 September 2016

The Board of Governance of Amaze Inc invites nominations for the position of Director in accordance with this Position Description.

At the 2016 Annual General Meeting there will be declared three vacancies on the Board, arising from the rolling three-year election rotation cycle established under Amaze’s Rules of Association (under which three Directors retire each year, following the completion of a three year term). Current retiring Directors may offer themselves for re-election.

The Amaze Board is a skills-based Board. The Board requires Directors to have the core skills and competencies set out in Section C below. Each year the Board considers the range of specialist skills and expertise that would benefit the organisation. This year the Board has determined that the organisation would benefit from having Directors with the skills and expertise set out in Section D below. Accordingly, persons having those skills and expertise are invited to nominate.

Elections are held each year at the Annual General Meeting and members of Amaze are entitled to vote.

The position description is summarised below:

Position / Director, Amaze Inc
Remuneration / No remuneration apart from reimbursement of approved expenses incurred in fulfilling duties
Role / Attendance at monthly Board meetings, AGM, participation on Board Committees and participation in other working groups and events as required. Estimated monthly time commitment – approximately 10-15 hours per month
Term / Three years
Location / 24 Drummond Street, Carlton VIC (Note that Board meetings are usually held at another location in Carlton)

People on the autism spectrum with interest in serving on the Amaze Board, who satisfy the core competency requirements and have skills and experience relevant to one of the specific expertise categories listed below are particularly encouraged to nominate.

  1. Organisation Description

Amaze is a member-based, not-for-profit organisation and is the peak body for persons on the autism spectrum and their families in Victoria. It is an incorporated association, a registered charity with deductible gift recipient status and is governed by a Board of Directors in accordance with its Rules of Association. Amaze represents the community of Victorians who are on the autism spectrum and works for the benefit of all individuals and their families, and to promote a better understanding of the autism spectrum in the general community.

Our Social Impact:

Amaze aims for a society that:

  • respects the dignity of every person on the autism spectrum; and
  • offers every person on the autism spectrum real opportunities to participate and contribute.

Our Purpose is threefold:

First: We want every person on the autism spectrum to have the opportunity to exercise their own choice to participate meaningfully in and make a valued contribution to our society.

Second: We build awareness and understanding of autism.

Third: We develop community capacity by working with others to help them value and support people on the autism spectrum and their families.

Our principles:

  1. Person-centred– We ensure that the voices of people on the autism spectrum, and those that support them, are central to our decision making processes.
  1. Evidence based – We seek data and evidence to underpin decision making and we measure the outcomes of our work wherever possible.
  1. Courage – We do not condone, commit or remain silent about discrimination, stigmatising language or policies used to disadvantage or invalidate the life experience of people on the autism spectrum and we actively work to improve or change negative attitudes and behaviours.

4.Collaboration - We recognise that we cannot do this work alone so we actively seek people and organisations with whom we collaborate and partner.

5.Acknowledging and celebrating uniqueness and achievement – We actively seek ways to celebrate and recognise the unique contribution and participation of all people on the autism spectrum.

6.Excellence and Professionalism– We are committed to delivering superior performance through the highest possible standards of skill, professionalism and integrity and a culture of disciplined people, thought and action. We recognise that organisational sustainability is essential to achieve our purpose.

7.Independence – We are committed to representing the needs of people on the autism spectrum and their families/supporters in an unbiased, non-aligned manner.

Please visit our website to read our Strategic Plan and learn more about the specific activities and programs carried out by Amaze. Further information may also be obtained by contacting the Governance Committee via the Board Chair at .

  1. The Amaze Board

Current Structure

The Amaze Board may comprise up to 9 Directors elected by members. Currently the Board comprises 9 Directors. The Chief Executive Officer is not a Director. Typically each Director is elected for a term of three years, with three positions becoming vacant each year according to a rolling schedule.

The Board has established four Board Committees: the Finance, Audit Risk (FAR) Committee, the Governance Committee, the Policy Committee and the Research, Monitoring Evaluation (RME) Committee.

Participation by people on the Autism Spectrum

The Amaze Board is strongly committed to the active participation of individuals on the autism spectrum in all aspects of the Board’s work. To this end:

  • One position on the Board has been specifically reserved for and may only be occupied by a person on the autism spectrum. This is NOT intended to act as a cap on the number of individuals on the autism spectrum who may serve on the Board. We know that people on the autism spectrum have all sorts of important and valuable skills and qualifications and we specifically encourage people on the autism spectrum to nominate for any of the available positions in the elections if you have the expertise we are looking for;
  • Each Committee of the Board is required under its Terms of Reference to seek to identify, and co-opt as members, people on the autism spectrum with an interest in the work of that committee. Currently, all Board Committees except the Policy Committee have members who are on the autism spectrum. The Policy Committee has a vacancy for a member on the autism spectrum due to a recent resignation and continues to seek interest from individuals on the autism spectrum who may wish to join that Committee;
  • Each person on the autism spectrum who is a member of a Board Committee but is not also a Director of Amaze is invited to attend the Amaze Board meetings as a Board Observer, to broaden and deepen their experience of the workings of the Board;
  • Each person on the autism spectrum who is a Board or Committee member has access to a range of mentoring, training and other supports to assist them in fully participating and contributing in their Board and/or Board Committee roles.

To find out more about the Board’s commitment to increasing the involvement of people on the autism spectrum in the Board’s work, please contact the Board Chair at .

Required Commitment of Directors

All Directors are expected to be active contributors to the governance and strategy work of the Board. The Board meets monthly throughout the year (except in November, when the AGM is held) and Directors are expected to attend a minimum of 80% of those meetings. Directors are expected to contribute their expertise to the organisation by participating in Board Committees and working groups as appropriate. Note that this may require membership of Board Committees and working groups in addition to the Committees mentioned in Section D below. The Board also typically holds two major strategy planning processes and retreats each year. Directors are expected to support the various events that Amaze holds (such as the Victorian Autism Conference and World Autism Awareness Day events). In addition a reasonable amount of preparation time is required before each Board and Board Committee meeting.

Persons considering nominating for the position of Director should therefore ensure that they have the appropriate amount of time to devote to the role. Please also be aware that meetings for Committees and other groups may be held during regular office hours from time to time and Directors are expected to be available to attend.

Current Board and Committee composition

The current composition of the Board and each Board Committee is set out in the following tables. Brief biographical details of each Board and Committee member can be found below.

In line with the rotation schedule of directors, the Board positions held by Graeme Wickenden, Catherine Wyatt and Rachel McNamara will be declared vacant at the AGM.

Board:

Directors: / Jane Evans (Chair)
Shannon Eeles (Deputy Chair)
Graeme Wickenden (Treasurer)
Dr Catherine Wyatt
Professor Nicole Rinehart
Professor Sandra Jones
Janine Hoey
Ryan Brown
Rachel McNamara
Board Observers / Karen Firth
(note that Board Observers are not Directors) / Paul Goddard

Committees:

Finance, Audit & Risk Committee / Governance Committee / Policy Committee / Research, Monitoring & Evaluation Committee
Graeme Wickenden (Chair) / Jane Evans (Chair) / Shannon Eeles (Chair) / Sandra Jones (Chair)
Jane Evans / Catherine Wyatt / Jane Evans / Nicole Rinehart
Janine Hoey / Rachel McNamara / Sandra Jones / Jane Evans
Karen Firth / Janine Hoey / Jason Coonan
Ryan Brown / (Note: current) vacancy for an individual on the autism spectrum) / Paul Goddard

Current Directors

Chair: Jane Evans B.A., LL.B (Hons), GAICD. Jane has fifteen plus years’ experience as a legal practitioner in Australia and overseas; and is a former partner of Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons), practising in the area of mergers and acquisitions. She has extensive experience in governance law and practice including on other Boards in the not-for-profit sector. Jane has a son on the autism spectrum. Special Responsibilities: Board Chair; Member of FAR Committee, Governance Committee (Chair), Policy Committee and RME Committee.

Deputy Chair: Shannon Eeles B NursSc (Hons). Founder and Director of Autism Partnerships and co-founder of the IDEA Program and Little Learners Autism Program. Special Responsibilities: Chair, Policy Committee; member Governance Committee.

Treasurer: Graeme Wickenden B Bus., Grad Dip IT, Grad Dip Finance and Investment, FCPA. CFO, Alzheimers Australia Vic. Extensive experience in accounting and finance and has held a broad range of finance-related positions at GMH, NAB, Dunn & Bradstreet, Aviva Financial Services, St Vincent de Paul Aged Care and Community Services and Villa Maria Catholic Homes. Graeme has a son on the autism spectrum. Special responsibilities: Treasurer, Chair of Finance Audit & Risk Committee.

Dr Catherine Wyatt Bachelor of Medicine.General Practitioner for over 25 years. Active in local community organisations (served on local school council and on the Boards of two aged care facilities). Catherine has an adult son on the autism spectrum. Special responsibilities: member, Governance Committee.

Professor Sandra Jones PhD (social marketing) and Masters qualifications in Assessment and Evaluation, Public Health and Business Administration. Experienced researcher with a broad profile of ASD related research; founding Director of the Centre of Health and Social Research at the Australian Catholic University; Australian Research Council Future Fellow; sixteen years as a researcher in the areas of health communication, education and social marketing, with a focus on community-based programs; previous Board experience in the not-for-profit sector. Sandra has two adult sons on the autism spectrum. Special responsibilities: Chair, RME Committee; member, Policy Committee.

Professor Nicole Rinehart PhD. Professor in Clinical Psychology at Deakin University; Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Melbourne Children’s Clinic; Honorary Research Fellow, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Adjunct Professor, Clinical Psychology at Monash University.Nicole has published over 120 papers and book chapters on the topic of developmental disorders, has attracted high citations and continues to be influential in shaping clinical and behavioural definitions of neurodevelopmental disorders. She has a broad profile of engagement with the community, including through the establishment of a national partnership with the AFL (ALLPLAY.org.au), and regular engagement with schools in the community. Special responsibilities: Member, RME Committee.

Janine Hoey Bachelor of Commerce, FAICD. Janine has 25 years’ experience as a senior executive in finance, commercial, operations, governance, strategy, risk, health, safety and sustainability in energy and aviation companies. Currently a consultant in the energy industry and has held Non-Executive Director roles for private and listed companies, including Audit Committee Chair of an ASX listed company. Special responsibilities: member, FAR Committee, member Governance Committee.

Ryan Brown Bachelor of Arts, GAICD. Ryan has worked in the not-for-profit sector for 10 years, developing sustainable fundraising and communication programs. Currently the Director of Engagement, Foundation and Corporate Communications at Northern Health and has previously held senior appointments at the Australian Red Cross and CARE Australis. He was an elected Councillor in 2015 at the City of Monash, is currently an Associate at AskRight and has held Board positions at a number of community based organisations. Ryan is currently a member of the Board Management at Northern Link. Special Responsibilities: member, Governance Committee.

Rachel McNamaraB.Sci., M. Nutrition & Dietetics. Rachel is a blogger on autism and social justice issues at and has worked as an Accredited Practising Dietician and in various administrative roles. Rachel is a regular volunteer at primary school. With a special interest in autism, Rachel has undertaken extensive research to understand both scientific and personal perspectives of autism. Rachel is an autistic woman and has two autistic sons.

Current Board Observers and Board Committee members (co-opted members)

Karen Firth Karen has worked in accounting roles and is a regular presenter at Amaze’s workshops for parents, sharing her family’s experience of the NDIS pilot. Karen is autistic and is a parent of three sons on the autism spectrum. Special responsibilities: Board Observer; member, FAR Committee

Paul Goddard Paul has a Bachelor of Arts and is currently in his second year of a Law Degree (JD). Paul identifies as Aspergers and is a trombone player with the Melbourne Lawyers Orchestra. Special responsibilities: Board Observer; member, RME Committee.

Dr Jason CoonanB.Sci. (Hons), PhD., GAICD, Master of Intellectual Property Law (Melbourne). Jason is an innovation sector executive with a strong background in successfully leading teams to maximise benefits from intellectual assets at scientific development and research organisations. His experience spans leveraging technologies, training programs and scientific expertise across multiple disciplines with partners in industry and government. He also has experience as a non-executive company director. He is a former neuroscience researcher with a passion for improving mental health outcomes in Australia. Jason has two children on the autism spectrum. Special responsibilities: member, RME Committee.

  1. Core Competencies of Directors

The Board requires that nominees demonstrate the following core competencies (noting that individual Directors will ordinarily have specialist-level expertise in certain areas only):

Knowledge of a director’s responsibilities – a general understanding of the governance and strategic role of a board as well as individual directors’ legal, ethical, fiduciary and financial responsibilities; broad understanding of regulatory compliance issues.

Strategic expertise – demonstrated ability to contribute to effective decision-making by the Board through constructive analysis, problem-solving and questioning at a strategic level.

Financial literacy – the ability to read and comprehend the accounts and other financial material presented to the Board.

Risk management – understanding of and the ability to analyse, assess and manage material organisational risk.

Personal qualities – should align with the core values embodied in Amaze’s Principles.

Sector knowledge – it is not necessary for Directors to have a direct personal or professional connection with the autism community. However, a broad understanding of autism and its impact on individuals, families and carers would be an advantage.

Previous board experience – highly desirable.

Professional qualification (e.g. AICD company directors course or equivalent) – highly desirable

  1. Specific Skills and Qualifications

The Board is seeking to fill the current Director vacancies with individuals having the specific skills and expertise described below and invites nominations from suitably qualified and interested persons to nominate for the following skills-based positions. You must specify the expertise category for which you are nominating. You may only select one category. If you do not specify the expertise category in which you wish to nominate or if you select more than one expertise category, the Board will review your nomination for the purpose of deciding which expertise category is the most suitable, having regard to your skills and expertise as described in the nomination form, and will allocate your nomination to that category only.

D1. Financial/Accounting

Current or former accounting, finance or commercial practitioners with specific experience of financial, accounting, commercial, risk and strategic issues relevant to Boards; It is not necessary that nominees hold a current professional qualification, nor that they have experience of accounting in the not-for-profit sector. However, CPA or ICAA qualifications are desirable. The Director filling this role is expected to have strong financial acumen, including the ability to identify and analyse key financial, strategic, commercial and risk issues relevant to the organisation. The Director will participate as a member of the FAR Committee.

D2. Clinical service providers and others who work directly with the autism community

Clinical service providers, such as medical professionals, allied health professionals, and other clinical professionals who work directly with or provide supports or servicesto members of the autism community. The Director filling this role would be expected to provide input into the development of organisational policy positions, including as a member of the Policy Committee and support the organisation’s engagement in systemic advocacy. Specific experience of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the health system would be desirable. The Director filling this role would be expected to serve on the Policy Committee, which sets Amaze’s policy agenda and priorities.