Board

Led by our President Ian Hamm, our dedicated Board provides direction for organisational objectives, policy and practice. Our Board Members are volunteers, dedicating their time and wealth of experience to enhance community media and the work of our organisation.

Our Board is a diverse group of seven to nine people who contribute a range of valuable skills, expertise and experience.

Board members are volunteers recruited according to our Diversity, Access and Equity Policy. Many bring significant knowledge of, and experience in, community media.

Roles and responsibilities

Our Board members provide leadership to the Community Broadcasting Foundation, responsible for:

Setting strategic objectives and goals and monitoring progress/performance
Making and/or amending policies and procedures that regulate the Board, committees and CBF operations
Monitoring financial performance, including reviewing annual budgets and financial plans, approving our annual financial report, and liaison with external auditors
Establishing and determining the powers and functions of CBF committees
Appointing and regularly assessing the performance of our CEO, including remuneration and succession planning
Determining the desired culture for the CBF and acting as a role model of that culture
Managing risk including identifying, controlling, monitoring and reporting
Engaging with stakeholders including employees, industry, government and other interest groups.

Each Board member must:

Act in good faith and in the best interests of the CBF
Not improperly use their position or misuse the CBF’s information
Declare any perceived or actual material conflict of interest
Act with care and diligence, enhancing and protecting the CBF’s reputation
Not allow the CBF to operate while it is insolvent.

CBF Board Position Description (Word, 131KB)

Experience and skills

Time commitment

We estimate the minimum annual time commitment for a Board member is:

Four full-day meetings (preferably in person but via video conference by exception), and occasional teleconferences
Four days of reading time
Regular email access
Travel time.

Board members serve a three-year term and may serve up to three consecutive terms (a total of nine years).

The terms of appointment are staggered to ensure regular renewal while achieving consistency in decision making.

Casual vacancies and re-appointments are determined by the CBF Board.

How are Board members appointed?

Appointments to the CBF Board are the responsibility of current Board members, supported by our Nominations Advisory Group. This group is comprised of national sector representative organisations.

Five Board members (the majority) are appointed from nominations provided by community media and sector organisations. Each organisation may nominate up to two candidates. Additionally, our Board may recruit up to three Independent Directors to optimise leadership and governance skills. Recruitment of these independent Directors is the responsibility of the CBF Board.

The CBF President is appointed by the Board from candidates nominated by the President Nomination Advisory Committee (which includes a Community Broadcasting Association of Australia representative). The role of the President Nomination Advisory Group is to provide strategic and sector-based advice to the Board with regards to appointing the President.

We are committed to recruiting Board members who reflect the diversity of our community and the sector, as well as achieving an optimum combination of experience, skills and attributes (see our Board skills matrix and Board diversity matrix).

Interested in joining our Board?