We’re looking for a WELA Board Member

Board Member

Title: Board Member

Reports to: WELA Board Chair  

Location: Flexible, with a preference for east coast time zones. The WELA team and board works remotely, within AEST hours

Job Type: Voluntary. Approx 2-4 hours per week

WELA acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the unceded lands on which we live, learn and work. We value their ongoing connections to Country and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. WELA honours the leadership of women of First Nations and we commit to building relationships that support self-determination and the healing of Country.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Do you want to contribute to protecting and restoring our environment, solving climate change and taking on the patriarchy? 

This is an exciting opportunity to join a small, growing and passionate team taking on some big challenges – and doing it with a good sense of fun and personal sustainability.

Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA) is empowering, supporting and funding women’s leadership for our environment and climate action, to transform Australia’s response to our environmental and climate crises.

We’re looking for experienced Board Members to support the continued growth and success of this new organisation. 

In particular, we are seeking board members with experience in fundraising, not-for-profit governance, start-up organisations, social enterprise, and financial management. We particularly encourage women and gender diverse people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, women of colour, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people living with disabilities and those from working class backgrounds to apply. 

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The WELA board provides a core leadership role ensuring that the organisation operates in compliance with our responsibility as a Company Limited by Guarantee and as an ACNC registered organisation. The board adds value to the organisation by steering, anticipating and providing wisdom and good judgement. We contribute to the vision of WELA, its values, culture and achievements. We’re developing a strong, diverse board that plans succession and increases the skills and abilities of its members.

Board members have an important role to play in setting the strategic direction of the WELA vision.

Board members are responsible for:

  • Governing WELA in line with our constitution, for our members and our purpose. 
  • Determining the vision, missions, objectives and organisational strategy for WELA.
  • Developing organisational governance policies, and monitoring the performance of WELA against agreed plans and objectives. 
  • Establishing and upholding the culture and values of WELA. Setting the standards and modelling the behaviour of the organisation with openness, transparency, clarity of communication. 
  • Acting independently and in the best interests of WELA. Paying attention to the voices of all of WELA’s stakeholders, including participants, funders, staff and the general public.
  • The economic viability of WELA and ensuring its long-term financial security.
  • Ensuring accountability of WELA management, by overseeing WELA’s work and ensuring necessary reporting procedures and remaining fully aware of what WELA is doing.
  • Appointing and supporting the Strategic Director. 
  • Being aware of and resolving tensions within WELA and being cognisant of the competing demands placed on the WELA team and board.
  • Ensuring robust and high-quality governance structures and decision-making, including the recruitment of new board members, managing board committees and meetings, clear minutes and decision making, and meeting WELA’s regulatory obligations.  
  • Developing and monitoring the organisation’s appetite for risk, and managing and mitigating risk within this.
  • Respecting the limited time board members have in discharging their duties, and focusing efforts on the crucial functions that only board members can discharge.
  • Ensuring that WELA does not take on responsibilities, commitments and plans that are more demanding than they can deliver.
  • Being fully aware and cognisant of the WELA policies, strategic documents, specific roles and history of the organisation.
  • Being listed with MyGov with a Directors ID as part of compliance. 

Professional development opportunities will arise that board members may wish to take part in. The board is developing a policy for board level professional development. Encouraging learning is a great investment in our board and WELA as an organisation.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

  • A commitment to the values and culture of WELA
  • Passionate about environmental protection and addressing the climate crisis
  • Passionate about supporting women’s leadership
  • At least three years experience as a board member (or other relevant experience)

Desirable

  • Experience working with or in governance positions associated with environmental or feminist organisations
  • Experience in governance of not-for-profit organisations

ABOUT WELA

Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA) is empowering, supporting, funding and diversifying women’s and gender diverse leadership for our environment and climate action, in order to transform Australia’s response to our environmental and climate crises. 

Overwhelmingly, our existing political, business and societal leadership has failed to adequately address the climate and environmental crises at hand. It’s time for a leadership change. Put simply, we will not get out of this by relying on the same leadership that got us into it. The evidence is clear – more women in decision making roles equals better environmental outcomes. We need more of it. 

We’re a small and empowering team, with a big vision for change. We work hard, but have a healthy commitment to work/life balance, and enable the flexibility to support this. We support one another to grow, develop, and bring joy and creativity to our work each day. 

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact the Chair of the Board, Julie Lyford at boardchair@wela.org.au.  

 

‘Together we can empower and support women with the confidence, skills and networks to step fully into their leadership for a better future. We’ll foster a growing community of women leaders nationwide to take on the barriers that stand in their way, and create change across business, government and our communities for a safe climate and thriving environment’

Stepping up for our environment. WELA Funding Prospectus, 2022/23