• Location: Flexible – presence at meetings can be online or face-to-face in Melbourne (Fairfield)
• Sector: Conservation & Environment
• Salary type: Volunteer

About the role

The Invasive Species Council is seeking two new board members to provide oversight and direction for the growth and advancement of its incorporated association.

To continue to grow our charitable organisation and address gaps in the board’s competencies, knowledge and skills, candidates would ideally have experience and skills in at least one of the following areas: fundraising, law or communication/marketing.

The ISC board meets five or six times a year, usually on weeknights in Fairfield, Melbourne (members can attend by teleconference).

Key duties of the board members include:

As a member of the ISC Board, you share the following responsibilities with all board members:

1. Planning – establishing and reviewing strategic and operational plans that advance the organisation's objectives.
2. Policy and decision making – establishing policies/procedures and record decisions and actions on matters concerning the organisation.
3. Management – making sure everyone does their job, that the organisation is properly administered, risks are managed and that the board is actively involved in the activities of the group.
4. Legal – ensuring the organisation is incorporated, keeps proper records, and complies with any relevant legislation and the organisation’s constitution.
5. Financial – ensuring that all finances are properly managed, that records are audited annually and that accountability requirements of funding providers are fulfilled.
6. Evaluation – monitoring all activities by the organisation with feedback contributing to the continuous improvement in governance and service delivery.

As a member of the ISC Board it is expected that you:

• Act honestly and in good faith
• Ensure the organisation carries out activities in accordance with its intended purpose
• Act in the best interests of the organisation
• Where internal disagreement or conflict arises seek to work for effective solutions
• Exercise powers for their proper use
• Respect privacy and confidentiality of information obtained in the course of the operation of the organisation
• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest as they arise and remove yourself from that particular discussion or decisions.

Preferred candidates

In additional to the gaps identified above, we are looking for someone with:

• An understanding of charities and not-for-profit organisations, ideally within the environment sector
• Capacity to undertake one to four hours of work per month and participate in meetings of the board and any relevant sub committees or working groups.
• Highly developed communication skills, with an ability to listen, question and challenge in a constructive manner
• An interest in the natural environment, ecology and mitigating the threat of invasive species

This is an unpaid position.

We are keen to identify two new board members with a view to joining the ISC Board as soon as possible.

About the organisation

Australia has the worst mammal extinction record in the world, due mainly to invasive species like foxes and feral cats. With Myrtle Rust now invading the eastern seaboard, Asian honeybees in Queensland and ongoing pest, weed and disease spread, invasive threats are growing.

ISC is an environmental organisation founded in 2002 to deliver specialist policy, projects and advocacy to reduce the threat of invasive species. Invasive species are consistently ranked as one of the top three threats to biodiversity and the major cause of extinctions of Australian animals. The Invasive Species Council is the main conservation group pressuring governments to do more about weeds, pests and diseases that threaten the nature of Australia. Our focus is on prevention and early action.

Already it has a highly-regarded track record and reputation within Australia. It seeks to expand its capacity and influence though a major fundraising initiative. The ISC is managed day-to-day by a CEO in charge of a small staff. Its annual budget is mostly sourced from individual donors, trusts and foundations.

For more details of our activities and funding refer to the annual report on our website:
https://invasives.org.au/annual-reports/.