EWB is seeking a new Board Director with strong financial expertise to join the EWB board. The ideal candidate will bring skills to critically analyse and provide strategic insight into EWB's sustainable management of its accounting systems and cashflow. A capability requirements and position description are available below.

Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB) is committed to welcoming people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, culture and experience, including First Nations people and we strongly encourage women to apply. We will make practical adjustments to enable our people to participate fully in an inclusive working environment. Please let us know if you require any special assistance in completing your application or participating in Board meetings.

About ewb & the role of the board

EWB is a for-purpose organisation that creates social value through engineering. Through partnerships and collaboration, we’ve focused on developing skills, knowledge and appropriate engineering solutions since 2003. You can find out more about us here.

The speed, complexity and scope of technological change is causing a fundamental shift in the world’s systems creating increasing disparity and causing social, economic and ecological disruption. As the people who create, engage and maintain technology, engineers and the engineering community have the unique capacity and obligation to help steward these changes in a positive direction to address the challenges of our time.

• Our vision is a world where technology benefits all.
• Our mission is to redefine the purpose and impact of engineering as a critical enabler of sustainable development.

EWB’s purpose is to harness the potential of engineering to create an equitable reality for the planet and its people.

About the Board

EWB is governed by the Directors of the Board, who are responsible for the strategic direction and for ensuring that appropriate governance, risk management and compliance systems are in place. The Board monitors and safeguards the company so that EWB continues to achieve its mission, aims and purpose.

The duties of a Company Director are promulgated by the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the Act), the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), and theEWB Constitution. To be eligible to act as a Director, a person must be a paid Member of EWB, and must satisfy the conditions of the ACNC, the Act and the EWB Constitution. Further, to be eligible to act as a Director, a person must not be disqualified from: managing a corporation under the Act; or from being a Responsible Person by the ACNC Commissioner within the previous 12 months.

Directors of EWB must undertake a police check and qualifications check to the satisfaction of EWB and complete the Australian Council for International Development’s (ACFID) Code of Conduct training.

Directors are all volunteers and receive no payment for their involvement in these positions. Our Directors are both passionate supporters of EWB and volunteers beyond their attendance at Board meetings, for example participation in Board Committees and identifying sources of revenue for EWB.

Key Accountabilities

Board Member

The Board of Directors governs EWB and is responsible for the organisation's overarching strategic direction while ensuring that appropriate governance, risk management and compliance systems are in place. The Board monitors and safeguards the organisation so that EWB continues to achieve its mission, vision and purpose.

Our Board is made up of a group of individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets that allow them to oversee EWB’s fiduciary responsibilities while supporting the key strategic objectives of the organisation. The expertise, experience and relationships Directors bring to the organisation enhance the Board’s ability to perform its role and also assists in the achievement of EWB's strategic outcomes.

All Directors are expected to be involved in championing philanthropy, income generation and in providing pro-bono support for EWB and should be involved in at least one revenue raising activity per year.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience, Competencies and Qualifications

The Board of EWB is a diverse group of individuals with experience across a range of sectoral, technical, governance and behavioural capabilities relevant to our work.

All Directors are expected to have or develop governance experience and financial literacy to fulfill their duties as a Board Director. This includes the ability to read and comprehend the company’s accounts, financial material presented to the board, financial reporting requirements and an understanding of corporate finance.

skills

In order to ensure the Board’s skills and capabilities align with the evolving strategic direction of the organisation, we produce a Board Capability gap statement - The latest version is attached below . The capability gap statement outlines the essential and complimentary capabilities across each of four areas where there is a difference between the current composition of the Board and the capability level that we have determined is ideal to support our strategy and governance. Please highlight in your application how your background, training and experiences may address some of the identified gaps with a particular focus for this appointment on the Financial skills and experience you can bring to EWB's Board.

We are a continuously learning Board and can provide Board members with a capability development plan to ensure that they can develop in areas that are relevant to the Board and beneficial to their personal and professional development.

Board members are expected to bring their skills to the Board and Staff to perform particular tasks as agreed on by the Board.

Requirements of the Elected Position

Responsibilities

• Preparation, attendance and participation at Board and sub-committee meetings
• Accountability for the oversight and direction of strategy, governance, risk management and compliance for EWB
• Attend to out-of-Board meeting responsibilities as required

Estimated time commitment

• Two to four hours per week on average
• Generally, six Board meetings, and at least six sub-Committee meetings each year
• Attendance at events and annual Board Strategy Workshops is highly recommended
• Board members are required to cover their own costs of travel or seek support for these costs through their workplace.

Please note that workplace flexibility is required to fully participate in this role as board meetings are held partly during business hours (usually on a Monday between 4-7pm AEDT). If you need support to negotiate flexibility with your employer, please contact the Board Chair.

To submit your application, please click 'Apply Now' by the closing date.

Thank you for offering your time and experience to help us engineer an equitable reality for the planet and its people.