Governance
Board
The Board continued to play an important role in the College’s governance during 2006, with active attention being paid to, among other matters, issues concerning University relations, student leadership, finance including GST issues, student enrolments throughout the College, and staffing and structural matters in the College, including the review of theological education, the appointment of Head of International Programs, and the search for and selection of the new Warden.
Taking a new direction, the Board commenced the year with the establishment of a
number of committees to deal with risk management and audit, buildings and grounds, and international education strategy. During the year the existing Governance and Nominations Committees worked to establish and staff these new Committees, as well as making necessary adjustments to the terms of reference and membership of the existing Committees.
At the end of 2005 the Board farewelled the Rt Revd James Grant, Mr Barry Capp, and Mr Tony Buzzard. Joining the Board in 2006 was Ms Oshana de Silva, a senior manager in operational risk at the National Australia Bank. Ms Ceri Lawley resigned from the Board at the end of June, in order to undertake studies in the USA, and Ms Mary Wooldridge resigned following her election to the Victorian Parliament. Mr Tim Foster was followed as Senior Student by Ms Pip Duffy in August, and Professor Don Markwell took leave of absence from July until his resignation took effect in January 2007.
The Board’s retreat, held at the Swanston Street precinct of Trinity College Foundation Studies on 21 October, focused on the changes to the University of Melbourne brought about by the introduction of the Melbourne Model from 2008. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University, Professor Peter McPhee, made an informative presentation to the Board on this subject.
Guests during the year included Mr John Lewis of Marts & Lundy and Mr Charles Sitch,
senior director of McKinsey & Company.
Council
The College Council met twice during 2006, on 22 May and 27 November. On each
occasion, The Hon Justice Clive Tadgell, QC, presided as acting Chairman, due to the
vacancy caused by the retirement of the Archbishop.
Some changes in the Council’s composition occurred with retirements or conclusion of
terms of membership. These are recorded in the Appendix to this report.
At its May meeting, the Council approved a number of changes to the College Constitution to improve clarity, update titles, delete transitional arrangements, bring the constitutional provision into line with current reality, and improve effectiveness. These changes had been fully investigated by the Governance Committee and recommended to the Council by the College’s Board.
At its November meeting, the chief item of business before the Council was the decision to appoint as seventh Warden of the College the Revd Dr Andrew McGowan, a decision that was made unanimously and with acclaim.