Tag: Special General Meeting

NOTICE OF 2025 LANDCARE NSW SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

NOTICE OF 2025 LANDCARE NSW SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING.

On behalf of the Board of Landcare NSW Ltd, Landcare NSW invites Members to join for the 2025 SGM to vote on Constitutional Propositions for change.

The details regarding this Special General Meeting are as follows:

Date: Tuesday 3 June 2025
Time: 8:30am – 9.30am
Location: Online – via Zoom

A Zoom link will be provided by email to those who register (please note *eligible voting members must pre-register to vote by Friday, 30th May at 5pm).

Register to attend SGM: Registration Form

 

Special General Meeting:

A notice for the Special General Meeting outlines the meeting and special resolution to be passed can be accessed here: Notice of Special General Meeting – Landcare NSW 

2025 SGM Agenda and Zoom link will be shared upon Registration

Please register your attendance and intent to vote at the SGM (by Friday May 30 at 5pm) please contact Landcare NSW with any questions via enquiry@landcarensw.org.au

Governance Webinar:

A Governance webinar has been set up for Thursday 15th May, 9-10am to further discuss these changes, allowing for our Members to participate in a Q&A with consultant Randall Pearce, and Landcare NSW.

Register your interest in the Governance webinar (Thu 15th May, 9am): Governance Webinar Registration Form

You can review the full detail behind the propositions for change, by visiting governance-check-up or by downloading the ‘What you need to know’ document.  

VOTING

Voting as a Member Group of Landcare NSW – what does this mean?

Every Incorporated and unincorporated Member group who is a financial member of Landcare NSW is entitled to one vote at our SGM. This must be the Chair or the nominated representative of the group. See ‘who can vote’ below

What are my membership rights?

The Landcare NSW constitution allow members in the following categories the right to vote.

*Group Member – YES

Honorary Life Member – YES

Associate Member – NO

Individual Member – NO

Can I send a proxy instead?

No.

As outlined in the Constitution, Proxy voting must not be undertaken at or in respect of a general meeting. Therefore, a committee cannot delegate this to a coordinator or paid employee if they can’t attend the meeting.

Who can vote?

Group Member – Chair or Nominated Representative of a Group Member (‘Group’ does not include district networks)

Honorary Life Member – Current Life Members on our Honour Roll

I want to vote and have my say on behalf of my group. What should I do?

Please ensure you pre-register with your name, email and group you are voting on behalf on before Friday 30th May, and you will be sent a link in advance to cast your vote.

 

*’Groups’ do not include district networks. The Landcare NSW Constitution defines a District Network member as representing ‘two or more Landcare Member Groups’ –  (iii) District Network Member (non-voting) – an incorporated body composed of two or more Landcare Member Groups (whether incorporated or unincorporated) that is recognised by the relevant Regional Body.

Published: 18 April 2025

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?

LNSW will be holding the SGM on 3 June 2025 8.30-9.30am, where these propositions will be put forward to Members for voting. See Notice of SGM for more detail.

A Governance webinar has been set up on Thursday 15th May, 9-10am to further discuss these changes, allowing for our Members to participate in a Q&A with consultant Randall Pearce, and Landcare NSW.

Register your interest in attending the Governance webinar (Thu 15th May, 9am): Governance Webinar Registration Form

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, which is scheduled for 19 May 2025, 1-2pm. 

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