Board Expectations

Activities, Duties & Responsibilities

Inside the Boardroom

Inside the boardroom, the role of the Chair will:

• Establish the corporate governance standards.
• Define the agenda for Board meetings in consultation with the CEO.
• Chair Board meetings.
• Be clear on what the AWEX Board culture represents.
• Establish what the Board must achieve, both long and short term.
• Provide guidance to other Directors about the standards expected.
• Ensure Board meetings are effective in that:
  • Subjects considered during the meeting are germane.
  • Matters are considered carefully and thoroughly.
  • All Directors are given the opportunity to constructively contribute.
  • The Board comes to clear decisions with correctly recorded resolutions.
• Brief all Directors in relation to issues arising at Board meetings.
• Ensure that Board decisions are correctly implemented.
• Ensure the Board behaves in accordance with the AWEX Directors’ Code of Conduct.
• Oversee the completion of the agreed Board and Director performance evaluation processes.

Outside the Boardroom

Outside the Boardroom the role of the Chair is to:

• Undertake appropriate public relations activities (in conjunction with the CEO).
• Be the spokesperson for AWEX at its Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meetings.
• Be the predominant point of contact between the Board and CEO.
• Be kept fully informed of current events by the CEO on all matters of interest to Directors.
• Regularly review progress on primary initiatives and significant issues facing AWEX
• with the CEO.
• Provide mentoring to the CEO and guidance on AWEX culture and corporate governance.
• Oversee the completion of the annual CEO performance evaluation process.

Employee Specifications

Education & Training

• Minimum tertiary education of a Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent)
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

General Skills & Experience

• Sound industry knowledge and background, with a good understanding of the current industry situation.
• Sound knowledge of corporate governance, the director's responsibilities, and the fiduciary responsibilities of the Board.
• Experienced company director (either profit or not for profit).
• Ability to work with and lead the CEO and Board to achieve AWEX objectives.
• Commercial acumen, ability to assimilate complex information
• Strategic experience to review the strategy and constructively contribute to the effective decision making of the board.
• Experience at a Senior Executive/CEO level or as a Company Secretary.
• Leadership qualities and awareness of contemporary HR and employment practices
• The experience and financial literacy to disseminate information in relation to the company’s financial and statutory reports presented to the Board
• Operational experience identifying and managing organisational risk
• Experience with stakeholder communication and engagement
• Media savvy with the ability to advocate, lobby and have influence at a political level
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills
• Able to handle the media effectively and gain the full confidence of all industry sectors

Person Profile

• Integrous and ethical, with the ability to perform Director duties and responsibilities adhering to these principles.
• Emotional intelligence with self-awareness and the ability to regulate oneself
• Demonstrate empathy through strong interpersonal skills. 
• Collaborative, works well in a group, listens and is tactful.
• Able to communicate with a cogent and candid viewpoint
• Possess the time and desire to carry out the position
• Not to be so involved in other activities as to impinge on the ability to carry out the duties of Chairperson