The Role of a Board Director

Board Directors provide sound governance and effective leadership to the organisation by ensuring that the organisation has:

  • Clear strategic directions and achievable plans in line with its purpose and values;
  • Adequate resources to carry out its work;
  • Competent personnel;
  • A useful policy framework to guide its work, implement its plans and meet its obligations;
  • Appropriate internal controls to ensure sound financial management, risk management and legal compliance; and
  • Adequate internal accountability mechanisms to ensure compliance with policies and procedures and to monitor organisational performance.

The Board will be accountable to the membership, ensuring that the organisation produces results, remains solvent, and complies with all its legal, financial, and ethical obligations.

The Board will provide direction through policy and oversight for the senior staff that will implement the decisions of the Board.

Board Directors agree to:

Accept responsibility for their duties to:

  • Actively and respectfully participate and contribute constructively to the productivity and outcomes of meetings;
  • Keep informed about the organisation’s business;
  • Act as a spokesperson for the organisation when requested by the Board;
  • Be a member or chair of sub-committees/working groups as required;
  • Sign letters or documents on behalf of the Company as needed; and
  • Exercise delegation of authority and expenditure as determined by the Board.

Board Directors accept responsibility for their duty to work with other members of the Board to:

  • Provide a clear and viable direction for the organisation, agree on priorities and oversee the development of an organisational plan.
  • Oversee the development of an annual budget.
  • Ensure the solvency and financial viability of the organisation.
  • Establish clear expectations for the performance of all Board members, staff and volunteers.
  • Make informed decisions on critical issues.
  • Establish accountability and reporting processes for Board members and staff.
  • Ensure that appropriate system are in place for recruitment and the performance appraisal and management of staff.
  • Monitor the implementation of plans, budgets, policies and decisions and be able to recognise and take action when these are not implemented in an agreed way.
  • Ensure sound risk management is in place by establishing and monitoring a risk management plan, including appropriate insurance cover.
  • Ensure compliance by the organisation with legislation, contracts and any other legal obligations.
  • Ensure the organisation meets the requirements specified in its Constitution and Corporations Law.
  • Ensure that the policies and procedures as set down in the Policy and Procedures Manual are followed.
  • Oversee the signing of contracts.
  • Monitor the performance of the Board.
  • Monitor the performance of the organisation and take action to ensure the organisation performs to its capacity and meets its contractual obligations.
  • Ensure that the Board is sustainable over time and that succession is well planned.
  • Address any conflicts of interest within the Board and across the organisation.
  • Ensure that membership and community support are maintained.
  • Commit to the CATSINaM Code of Ethics and Conduct Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement.