GenWest NED Recruitment

Board Direction, on behalf of GenWest - a not for profit organisation delivering services to redress gender inequity and help victim-survivors of family violence in the communities of Naarm / Melbourne’s west - is recruiting several Non-Executive Directors to join this passionate and highly experienced board.

About GenWest

GenWest (formerly Women’s Health West) is the gender equity agency for the western metropolitan region of Melbourne. Since 1988, our programs and services have been designed to redress gender inequity and benefit victim-survivors of family violence in Melbourne’s west. Our mission at GenWest is supporting women and their children to lead safe and healthy lives, and changing the conditions that cause and maintain inequity and injustice. We do this through the provision of family violence services, health promotion activities and advocacy.  We serve women, LGBTIQA+ folk, First Nations peoples, people with a disability, migrant and refugee communities, children, young people and older people. We support women in all their diversity to have a greater voice in local leadership and decision making.

GenWest is led by an experienced and highly respected Chair and a Board of highly experienced women, who are supported by an executive team who are equally capable and experienced. Whilst they have seen unprecedented growth their focus remains driven by the needs and experiences of communities, individuals and groups in the local government areas that form Melbourne’s west, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham. 

For more information, visit: https://genwest.org.au/ 

Board Director Roles

GenWest is seeking applications to fill a number of vacancies on our skills-based, voluntary Board of Directors. As a member of the Board, you will join a passionate, experienced and talented group of directors to oversee and support the delivery of GenWest’s strategic goals. We ask for your passion and commitment to our mission and strategic goals, and your ability to contribute the necessary time and energy to the critical governance work of the Board. 

Person Specification

The GenWest Board is deeply committed to better reflecting and representing the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We warmly welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience, including diversity of age, cultural and linguistic background including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, religion, sexuality, ability and life experience.

We are seeking new Board members who can collectively contribute diverse perspectives, experience, knowledge and skills in the following specific areas:

  1.  Governance:  Strategic thinking, leadership and governance and strategic risk management experience ideally at board level –  Non-Executive Director (NED) experience is not a prerequisite
  2. Skills and Experience (one or more):
    • Clinical and health expertise – Gained in any health and wellbeing environment including: crisis support, emergency response, health education, a local hospital, as a psychologist, counsellor, social or support worker.
    • Fundraising – Proven expertise diversifying funding models and helping organisations raise money from philanthropic, corporate, major donor and social enterprise networks in an executive or board context. 
    • Financial or accounting expertise – Ideally, CPA (or equivalent) qualified.
    • Sector leadership and policy advocacy –  Understanding of government policy gained by operating at a senior level within the sector GenWest operates. 
    • Leading organisational and cultural evolution – Evidence of having led transformation processes in a similar setting.
    • Marketing / Communications / Stakeholder Management – Proven ability to develop strategic communications plans for stakeholders or philanthropic donations that deliver results.
    • Legal and regulatory compliance – Evidence of having an understanding of and experience working with organisations operating under similar regulatory and compliance environments as GenWest.
  3. Networks and connections – Ideally high-level contacts with government (State, Federal or Local), philanthropic organisations or the broader health services sector. 
  4. Passion & Fit – Evidence of having a knowledge of and commitment to feminist advocacy, equity and inclusion. 
  5. Diversity: Constitutionally, only female candidates can be appointed. Women of diverse backgrounds and experience are particularly encouraged to apply.

Please note: Board Directors must work, live or study in the western metropolitan region, to ensure they are able to represent the community we serve. GenWest is an equal opportunity employer with a VCAT Exemption to employ women, noting that this is representative of all women, including cisgender (cis) women, female assigned at birth non binary, transgender (women) and gender diverse people who identify as a woman and/or align to womanhood. 

Location & Remuneration & Timings

Board Meetings: Board members should be able to commit the necessary time to undertake their Board roles and responsibilities, including an average of three hours per month for Board and Committee meetings, as well as attendance at the AGM. A minimum of six board meetings are held annually: ~70% virtually and ~30% in Melbourne West on the first Wednesday of February, April, May, July, August, October and December. The AGM is usually set for the last Wednesday of November. 

Sub-Committees: Successful candidates will be asked to join one of the following:

  • Finance & Risk Committee (FRC), – 6 scheduled meetings per annum
  • Board & CEO Performance Subcommittee – ~4-5 meetings per annum
  • Governance Subcommittee – 4-5 per annum or as needed

Remuneration: These are voluntary appointments. However, financial support for governance training (on agreement) is offered, and most incidental costs are reimbursable.

Timings: (as a guide)

  • Applications close: Monday 21st October
  • Applications reviewed: wc 28th October
  • Shortlisted candidate interviews: wc 11th November
  • All successful and unsuccessful applicants offered feedback in late November.
  • Successful candidates recommended to the board: Early December

TO APPLY

Please complete the form below and attach your NED CV.

GENWEST NED Application Form

To prevent disappointment should something go wrong, and for future reference, we STRONGLY recommend that you save your responses in a Word document prior to submitting your application.

Name(Required)
Address(Required)


1) Governance

Strategic thinking, leadership and governance and strategic risk management experience ideally at board level – Non-Executive Director (NED) experience is not a prerequisite
Please evidence your governance experience and/or qualifications. (REQUIRED) (1,500 character limit)

2) Skills & Experience

Candidates are required to demonstrate their success against the following criteria. Not all skills are required for applicants.
Skills Acquired(Required)
Please add a check to the skills and experience that are MOST relevant to you. (REQUIRED)
Please evidence your relevant skills and experience. (REQUIRED) (1,500 character limit)

3) Networks & Connections

Ideally high-level contacts with government (State, Federal or Local), philanthropic organisations or the broader health services sector.
Please outline your contacts with organisations & sectors listed above. (REQUIRED) (1,500 character limit)

4) Passion & Fit

Candidates are expected to have knowledge of and commitment to feminist advocacy, equity and inclusion.
Please explain your passion and fit for the role and organisation. (REQUIRED) (1,500 character limit)

5) Diversity & Location

Constitutionally, only female candidates who work, live or study in the western metropolitan region can be appointed. Women of diverse backgrounds and experience are particularly encouraged to apply.
Please evidence your position regarding diversity and location (REQUIRED) (1,500 character limit)

6) Supporting Information

Please provide any additional information that might support your ability to contribute. (1,500 character limit)
Please upload your current board CV/Resume to support your application. (REQUIRED)
Accepted file types: doc, pdf, docx, Max. file size: 128 MB.
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