Delivered at the TasCOSS Annual General Meeting, Wednesday 30 October 2024, Hobart.
In accordance with our Constitution, we are continuing to ensure our TasCOSS Board can effectively contribute to the governance and strategy of TasCOSS.
This year, our board renewal program had three main objectives:
- Improve how we manage and transfer corporate governance knowledge between Directors;
- Board intake and exit is staggered fairly evenly each year; and
- Specific skills we require and that complement the skills of the continuing Directors.
We then focussed on filling three elected-director vacancies with the specific skills we require. We were thrilled with the number of applications we received and the broad support for the mission and work of TasCOSS. We set a very high standard, and three applicants have the specific skills, experience and attributes we require. Because we had three elected-director vacancies and three applicants that met our specific requirements, a ballot was not necessary.
The following individuals were successfully elected to the TasCOSS Board as Directors, each for a three year term of office:
- Patrick Carlisle
- Ryan Gilmour
- Belinda Witter
Patrick is a well-respected individual within the community services industry, having served on the board of governance of Mental Health Council of Tasmania (MHCT), Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA), among others, and worked in senior roles at essential service providers, including Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS). Patrick has strong experience in accounting and governance, and we look forward to him making a strong contribution to TasCOSS and our members.Ryan is the Coordinator/Senior Solicitor of the North West Community Legal Centre and the current President of the Tasmanian Association of Community Legal Centres (CLC Tasmania), and comes with a strong legal and governance experience, along with well documented stakeholder relationships and management skills, which will be of great benefit to TasCOSS.
Belinda’s career has been underpinned by a motivation to create and deliver innovative strategies and real solutions to support people who experience disadvantage, and empower them to overcome barriers. She comes with diverse leadership experience, most recently in the affordable housing space, and is well-versed in advocacy and the science of strategic planning for impact, which we’re looking forward to harnessing at TasCOSS.
In order to achieve our objectives, the TasCOSS Board also extended the terms of elected Directors Rodney Greene and Penny Egan by one year and they will continue on the board until late 2025.
On behalf of the TasCOSS Board, I’d also like to pay thanks to outgoing Board Directors, Kathy Brown, Ann Hughes and Connie Digolis, for their time and dedication to TasCOSS and to the Tasmanian community services industry.
Kathy was elected by the membership in 2021 and has a history with the COSS network and brings a passion for policy to TasCOSS. Kathy has a calm and engaging nature, and I love the way she listens intently and then actively contributes to board discussions and has a knack of getting to the heart of the issues and focussing our attention on what’s important.
Ann was elected to the Board in 2021 and has actively supported TasCOSS for decades in various roles. Among her many achievements, Ann is a TasCOSS Life Member, past staff member, and wrote the 50th year commemorative newsletter. Ann has brought her commitment to social justice to the boardroom and we thank her for continuing to ensure TasCOSS advocates for Tasmanians affected by poverty, disadvantage and inequality.
Connie first joined the Board in 2016 and may be the longest serving Board Director at TasCOSS. As a Board member Connie has made a lasting contribution to the governance and strategy of TasCOSS. The organisation has benefited from Connie’s deep understanding and connection to the community services industry in Tasmania and her knowledge of leading and governing a peak body, and the challenges and opportunities that presents. TasCOSS and the entire community services industry benefits from Connie’s leadership and expertise and we are truly grateful for her contributions.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of Alex McKenzie, who concluded his term as President and Director earlier this year. Alex joined the TasCOSS Board and became President in late 2019. His many contributions to the work of TasCOSS and the board have included supporting the organisation and the broader industry to navigate the complexities posed by COVID-19. He also led and championed a full scale review of the TasCOSS Constitution during his time, of which we are all better for now and owe him a great deal of thanks. Alex continues to be a great friend to TasCOSS and his legacy will last the distance.