Governance Check Up

LNSW Governance Check-up

The Governance Check-up is part of a two-part project delivered by Randall Pearce of Think: Insight & Advice.

The Governance and Strategy Check-up was commissioned in 2024 to review the organisation’s governance and set a new strategy.

A common consultation exercise was held to feed both projects. It was made up of:

  • One-on-one interviews – 16 x 60 min
    • LNSW Board
    • Commonwealth Government
    • NSW Government
    • Other e-NGOs
    • Corporate partner
  • Focus groups – 4 x 90 min
    • Regional Chairs
    • Landcare Groups
  • State Advisory Council – 1 x 90 min – 7 August 2024
  • Fieldwork conducted: 17 July – 1 August 2024

The first part of the Governance and Strategy Check-up resulted in the production of a new strategic plan.

The governance component of the project included several in-person and virtual elements, including:

  • Briefing session for Local Landcare Coordinators – 20 August 2024
  • Update at the Landcare NSW AGM – 20 November 2024
  • Update at Landcare NSW Board meetings – 10 December 2024 and 17 February 2025
  • Insurance review meetings – 22 January 2024 and 28 February 2025
  • Final consultation with State Advisory Council – 3 March 2025

A Special General Meeting (SGM) will be called in the first half of 2025 to seek member support for the Propositions for Change detailed below.

The governance reforms introduced in 2022 have strengthened LNSW’s structure and positioned it for future funding opportunities.

While broadly seen as beneficial, challenges remain in achieving consistency across regional bodies, improving State Advisory Council (SAC) effectiveness, addressing board recruitment difficulties, and managing director workloads.

Continued refinement of governance practices will be essential to sustaining and building on these reforms.

Propositions for change

The following propositions for change to the Landcare NSW Constitution are to be considered. The research and workshop findings, and the rationale for each is included in the ‘Governance Check-up – What you need to know‘ document. We encourage you to consult this document as you consider the propositions for change.

Nomination and election of directors

1.Allow the Recruitment and Nominations Committee to search state-wide for candidates to nominate to the LNSW Board

2.Add two State Advisory Council (SAC) members to the Recruitment and Nominations Committee

3.Broaden the Board Skills Matrix to include ‘perspectives’ and add ‘geographic location’ as a search criterion for Board candidates

Composition of the Board

4.Create a single class of LNSW director

5.Add Landcare experience to the Skills and Perspectives Matrix. ‘Landcare experience’ is any experience gained through direct volunteering as a Landcarer, NRM expertise and experience gained through employment or through appointment to boards and commissions.

Size of the Board

6.Allow the board to function with between seven and ten directors

7.Continue to reserve a minimum of one seat for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Terms and conditions of directors

8.Allow directors to be nominated for a third term (given satisfactory performance and attendance)

9.Make a provision for payment of a stipend to all directors subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting

What’s Next?

We anticipate in holding the SGM before the end of June 2025 (TBA), where these propositions will be put forward to Members for voting.

A Governance webinar will be set up to further discuss these changes, allowing for our Members to participate in a Q&A with consultant Randall Pearce, and Landcare NSW.

You can register your interest in the Governance webinar (date TBC), by emailing your details to: enquiry@landcarensw.org.au

Please ensure you state you’d like to register for the ‘Governance Webinar‘, include your name, contact details, region, group name, and any questions you’d like answered.

You can review the full detail behind the above propositions, in the ‘What you need to know’ document.  

Membership

There are no propositions to change the LNSW Constitution with respect to membership.

Landcare NSW has determined that it will seek to better implement the existing arrangements rather than undertaking greater change at this time.

Changes to the LNSW Membership and Insurance packages, will be addressed separately.

It is felt that the current structure is adequate but that some rules around the benefits (such as access to insurance and the Landcare Enabling Program) need to be clarified instead. 

If you’d like to keep updated on this, please email through your EOI so we can register you for future communications, including an FAQ and Webinar with the Insurance Broker. 

Email to register your interest or with any Membership and Insurance questions: memberships@landcarensw.org.au

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