Governance
The Gowrie (QLD) operating as Lady Gowrie is a not-for profit organisation managed by a voluntary Board of Management. The Board is comprised of a mix of professionals and academics who offer a diverse range of skills and expertise relevant to the management of the Organisation.
The Board of Management
As the governing body of the organisation the Board of Management has the important leadership role in ensuring that sound governance practices underpin the operation of the Service and as Custodians enhance the operations that have been entrusted in to their care.
Each Board Member has a strong commitment to ensuring good governance practices and positive outcomes for children and families.
The Board regularly reviews its effectiveness in order to improve discussion and commitment and decision making, and has a robust succession planning process.
The Board of Management meets on a monthly basis and holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) each May. The appointment of an external auditor is announced at the AGM, and financial accounts are audited annually.
The Board is directed and governed by the Constitution of The Gowrie (QLD). Annually the Board of Management conducts and reviews the Strategic Imperatives of the Organisation in line with the Operational Plan of the Services. This provides the Board Members the opportunity to discuss with the Executive Staff the full operation of the business and plans for the coming year and review relevant impacts and risks relative to the business.
The Board of Management’s governance is further supported by the Code of Conduct, Board Charter and Financial Delegation.
The function of the Gowrie Board of Management is to:
- Review and maintain the vision and the purpose set out in the strategic plan
- Approve short and long term strategies
- Approve annual budgets
- Approve expenditure over pre-specified limits
- Appoint CEO and evaluate performance
- Manage Risk
- Review the integrity of financial and non-financial reports
- Monitoring of organisational activities to ensure the management and sustainability
- Support effective and key engagements with key stakeholders
Our Board of Management delegates the management responsibilities of the daily operation to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who is responsible for the overall management of a range of child related services and programs across Queensland.
Lady Gowrie’s Governance Framework complies with the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations and AICD Not-for-Profit Governance Principles, where relevant. In accordance with these Principles, the Board of Management also has three sub-committees comprising of Board members, external expertise and management to assist it in discharging its duties, namely the Finance Sub-Committee, the Governance and Risk Sub-Committee, and the Growth and Innovation Sub-Committee.
The Gowrie (QLD) Inc Constitution is available to download.
The Gowrie (QLD) Inc Board of Management Charter is available to download.
The Gowrie (QLD) Inc Risk Statement is available to download
Annual General Meeting Reports
Ronnie Lake 
Chairperson
Governance and Risk Subcommittee
November 2018
Ronnie has over 20 years working in risk, governance and strategy related roles across various sectors including the retail, not for profit, telecommunications and management consulting sectors. Ronnie has broad risk, governance and process improvement experience which he uses to help organisations to understand their risks and ultimately meet their strategic goals.
Ronnie is a Fellow of the Governance Institute, Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has post graduate qualifications in science, executive leadership and applied risk management.
Julia Fenech
Deputy Chairperson
Finance and Sustainability Subcommittee
November 2018
Julia is a chartered accountant and finance professional with over 20 years experience in Australia and London. Julia has a commercial background, predominantly in the energy sector, with a focus on budgeting and forecasting, corporate reporting and process improvement. She also has a passion for being involved with not-for-profit organisations, having volunteered on Committees in the Arts and Education sectors, including her children’s’ own Lady Gowrie affiliated kindergarten.
Margot Blue
Secretary
Governance and Risk Subcommittee
April 2021
Margot Blue has worked as a lawyer for over 20 years in commercial litigation. More recently she has included more corporate work as both a director and company secretary for non for profit and proprietary companies. She brings strong legal and governance experience to the board. She is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is currently completing a post graduate degree with the Governance Institute of Australia.
She has 3 adult children, two of which attended the Love Street Centre.
Ventura Caso
Treasurer
Finance and Sustainability Subcommittee
April 2020
Ventura is a corporate finance professional with over 15 years experience.
He was involved in Mergers and Acquisitions, valuation, business modelling, and other corporate finance engagements in both Italy and Australia.
Key areas of expertise include financial and strategic analysis; business modelling and business valuations. Ventura completed corporate finance engagements for private, public, national and multinational clients across several industries, including infrastructure, agribusiness, resources and power and utilities.
David Masters
Non-executive director
Governance and Risk Subcommittee
July 2023
David is a full time non-executive director with over 15 years experience on several boards nationally in various industries ranging from education, aged care, health services, superannuation, property development, building services and not-for-profit organisations.
In the boardroom David specialises in strategic leadership, innovation, risk management and organisational sustainability (Environmental, Social and Governance).
David is passionate about serving the Queensland community and is a member of several volunteer service-based organisations.
Alarna Lane-Mullins
Non-executive director
April 2024
Alarna Lane-Mullins is an adaptive senior executive with over 20 years of experience in Queensland’s public and private sectors. She has experience advising organisations on their people, performance, innovation, inclusion, governance and safety portfolios and has sat on numerous Boards.
As the current Chief Human Resources Officer for Queensland Health, Alarna specialises in leading innovative and effective people and workforce functions across large and complex organisations. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Bachelor of Business in Human Resources Management, a Bachelor of Law and Executive Masters of Public Administration.
Lady Gowrie Qld acknowledges past members of the Board of Management and their contribution to the Organisation and Early Childhood in Queensland.
We are a not for-profit organisation providing high quality childcare and Kindergarten programs, with a strong heritage in early childhood education in Queensland and Australia.
The Brisbane Lady Gowrie Childcare Centre was established in 1940 as a demonstration centre for excellence in early childhood education and care. We continue to be Qld’s leading provider of Community Kindergarten and Long Day Care services and uphold the highest standards in childcare.
Lady Gowrie QLD acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which our Kindergarten and childcare services are placed, and pay our respects to the elders, past and present, who have raised children, taught them about the world around them and bestowed on them the gift of culture and language.
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