Board

Astronomy Australia Ltd (AAL) seeks applications for three vacancies on the AAL Board.

AAL is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee whose Members are all Australian universities and research organisations with a significant astronomy research capability. AAL finances a range of research infrastructure projects, funded primarily from Australian Government grants, and supports Australian engagement with various international observatories.
 
The AAL Board is accountable to AAL’s Members, and the Directors are expected to make every reasonable effort to understand their requirements and expectations. Central to the Board’s role is an understanding of the strategic drivers (as expressed in AAL’s vision, mission and principles) and the projects and programs the company oversees. The Directors also have broad governance responsibilities as outlined in the Corporations Act (2001) and the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Act (2012).
 
At the conclusion of the AAL Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 26 November 2024, the terms of Susan Weston, Jonathan Bland-Hawthorn and Cathryn Trott will expire, creating three vacancies on the Board. The AAL constitution requires the Members to seek a Board that collectively has experience in astronomical research broadly consistent with the decadal plan for Australian astronomy, along with a range of skills and experiences relevant to a company focused on national and international research infrastructure collaboration.
 
To complement the skills and expertise of the ongoing Directors, the AAL Nomination Committee is particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate a depth of senior experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Radio astronomy
• Scientific instrumentation – with a preference for involvement in projects funded from sources outside AAL to avoid any perceived conflict of interest
• Liaison with federal government departments in Australia
• Business administration and executive leadership, and
• Legal skills relevant to the regulatory and compliance framework in which AAL operates.

Commitments from AAL Board members

To be considered as a candidate for a position as a non-executive Director with AAL, you should be aware of the following criteria:

• Non-executive directors are elected for a three-year term.
• Attendance is required at four Board meetings that take place each year, in February (one full day), May (two days, in conjunction with the annual strategy session), August (one full day) and November (one-and-a-half days, in conjunction with the AGM). Meetings are either face-to-face, held usually in Melbourne, or virtual.
• In addition to Board meetings and other conference calls scheduled throughout the year as required, non-executive directors typically participate on one or two committees, and occasionally on overseas committees. The level of participation is not mandated by AAL, but rather each non-executive director is invited to volunteer to serve on such committees.
• Non-executive directors are remunerated on the basis of their anticipated time commitments, on average around fourteen days per year. Most activity occurs around the quarterly Board meetings.

Applications

If you consider yourself well placed to contribute to the Board via your expertise and ideas, please email Ms Catherine Andrews, Company Secretary ([email protected]) with a one-page letter and one-page CV demonstrating:

• relevant experience, particularly in relation to the areas specified above
• an understanding of board functions, roles and responsibilities
• why you want to join the Board of AAL, and
• any relevant conflicts of interest.

 AAL is committed to equity and diversity and encourages applications from under-represented groups. AAL also seeks engagement from across Australia and notes that the ongoing Directors are located in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.
 
The deadline for applications is Monday, 14 October at 9:00 AM AEDT. Late applications will not be accepted.
 
Applications will be reviewed by the Nomination Committee. This committee will make nominations to the AAL Members for consideration and the outcome of the election will be announced during the 2024 AAL AGM.
 
Queries can be made to either Mr Mark McAuley, Chief Executive Officer, or Prof Brian Schmidt, Nomination Committee Chair.