Governance

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 November. 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.

Annual General Meeting Reports

2019 Report

2018 Report

2017 Report

2016 Report

Peta Perring

Chair

Company Secretary/Legal Counsel/Governance Practitioner

Governance and Risk  Sub-Committee

November 2013

Peta is an executive with over 20  years commercial legal experience, together with over 15 years as a governance practitioner providing company secretarial services and governance advice  to boards. Peta also has over 15 years’ experience as a board member for statutory authorities that regulate professions and in the not for profit sector.

Peta is both a Fellow Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD), and the Governance Institute of Australia (FGIA). Peta has post graduate qualifications in law and governance and holds a Masters of Business Administration. Peta holds a current practising certificate with the Qld Law Society and is also on the Register of Practitioners at the High Court of Australia. Peta is also a Registered Teacher – Qld College of Teachers and has a keen interest in the education sector.

Shona Vasani

Vice Chair

Governance and Risk Sub-Committee

March 2018

Shona Vasani is a solicitor with over 15 years commercial legal experience.

Shona commenced her career in private practice at Corrs Chambers Westgarth.  She then worked in London for various organisations including Taylor Wessing, General Electric Commercial Finance and Interoute Communications Limited.  Shona returned to Brisbane in 2014 and is working as Legal Counsel at Telstra.

Shona has broad corporate and commercial experience and has worked closely with organisations on issues involving regulatory compliance.

Shona’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Business Management, Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Graduate Diploma in Professional Legal Education and Training programme.  Shona is a member of the Queensland Law Society and a member of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (England and Wales).

Amy Treble

Treasurer

Financial Controller and Company Secretary

Finance Sub-Committee

November 2018

Amy is a qualified chartered accountant and company secretary with over 17+ years’ experience delivering finance services and providing advice to Managers, Executives, Committees and Boards of both listed and non-listed companies, including 5 years within the Big 4 professional accounting firms both internationally and within Australia. As a parent, Amy has volunteered in the not-for-profit childcare sector since 2013, and looks forward to continuing this work with Lady Gowrie.

Ben Gordon

Secretary

Finance Sub-Committee

December 2015

Ben has over 15 years’ experience working in various government agencies at the state and national level, including with the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority in Sydney.

Ben’s first involvement with the Gowrie was in 2011 while working in the Department of Education and Training on the implementation of the National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care in Queensland.

Since this time, he has served in several senior policy roles and is now Director, Economic Policy within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Ben is a proud dad of two, of which both are lucky enough to be attending the Gowrie’s Love Street Child Centre Brisbane service.

Kylie Kluger

Kluger Haus Creative

Ordinary Board Member

Growth and Innovation Sub-Committee

April 2017

Kylie Kluger is a communications professional, with 20 years experience in media and public affairs.

Kylie spent a decade as a producer and broadcast journalist with news agencies including Al Jazeera, BBC World and Sky News. Since 2007, she has worked with corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations, at both local and national levels, on media liaison, community engagement, publication management and events.

Kylie has worked for organisations including Reconciliation Australia and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation on public education and reconciliation in action. She also has a keen interest in the not-for-profit sector and is passionate about social inclusion and equality—particularly in early learning settings.

Sarah Black

Royal Flying Doctor Service

Ordinary Board Member

Finance Sub-Committee, Growth and Innovation Sub-Committee

April 2017

Sarah comes to the Lady Gowrie Queensland Board of Management with a 15 year history as an Executive in hospitals and healthcare, leading medical, nursing and aeromedical teams in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. More recently, Sarah has spent extensive time working with the rural sector in the area of junior medical training and nursing workforce with significant involvement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare. Sarah is currently the Chief Nursing Officer with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Sarah has two young children who attend the Long Day Care program at the Lady Gowrie Love Street Centre.

Bev Flückiger

Griffith University

Ordinary Board Member

Growth and Innovation Sub-Committee

March 2018

Bev Flückiger is an Associate Professor in early childhood education within the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University and heads up the Leadership for Learning Research Program within the Griffith Institute for Educational Research (GIER). During her long career in early childhood education, Bev has held a range of positions including early childhood teacher, curriculum coordinator, deputy principal and primary school Principal. Her research and consulting interests focus on innovative ways to address the ‘gap’ in attainment between groups of children described as disadvantaged in Australian society, particularly in relation to mutually supportive and authentic family, school and community relationships; leadership for learning; and culturally-responsive pedagogies.  She sits on the executive committees of Early Childhood Australia (Qld) and the Professional Development Network.

Ronnie Lake

Ordinary Board Member

Governance and Risk Sub-Committee

November 2018

Ronnie is a Risk Manager with over 20 years working in risk and governance roles across the not for profit, government, telecommunications, defence, manufacturing and management consulting sectors.

Ronnie is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD), and the Governance Institute of Australia (MGIA). Ronnie has post graduate qualifications in science and executive leadership and is currently completing a post graduate qualification in applied risk management though the Governance Institute of Australia.

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.

Julia Fenech

Ordinary Board Member

Finance Sub Committee

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.

James Woods

Ordinary Board Member

Growth and Innovation Sub-Committee

July 2019

James is passionate about social entrepreneurship and excited by opportunities to collaborate, innovate and transform organisations to deliver exceptional services in competitive environments. With strengths in strategic planning, culture change, brand development, customer services and commercial growth, James’ diverse career spans executive-level roles in the not-for-profit, commercial and government sectors. His experience includes working in the media, a national role in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy, and leading marketing and sales, customer-experience and business-development functions for some of Queensland’s leading organisations.

As a management consultant James fueled his passion for performance outcomes and building healthy teams. Presently working in the human services sector, James is active in his local community through his children’s school, the Brisbane Anzac Day Parade and voluntary Board directorships.

Lady Gowrie Qld acknowledges past members of the Board of Management and their contribution to the Organisation and Early Childhood in Queensland.