Governance
Board
The College Board met 11 times in 2007, including a retreat. Among the key areas to which the Board directed its attention were: the appointment of new Board members and senior management personnel; monitoring the likely impact on the College of the University’s new ‘Melbourne Model’; the completion of the ‘Woodheap' building and the removal of ‘dog boxes’ in Cowan; undertaking a thorough risk assessment of all College operations; progressing the review of the Theological School; approving the implementation of a new administration system; and the review and renewal of the College Master Plan.
Continuing with the direction of prior years, the Board recommended to the Council that both the Fellowship, and Art Committees become formally constituted as committees of the Board. The Risk Management and Audit Committee carried out risk management workshops throughout the College, identified actions required and reported back to the Board. This has now become a quarterly agenda topic for Board meetings.
During 2007, the Board farewelled Mr David Brownbill and Her Honour Justice Felicity Hampel, reappointed the Rt Revd Andrew Curnow and welcomed Professor David Studdert, Ms Kathleen Bailey-Lord and Ms Jodi Fullarton-Healey, together with Mr Stuart Gooley, who was appointed to commence in January 2008. Mr Gooley has also agreed to Chair the Finance Committee of the Board.
The Senior Management appointments made during the year are detailed in the College Leadership section of this report, while in August, Ms Pip Duffy was followed as Senior Student by Mr Robert Tilleard. Membership of the Theological School Committee was renewed in October and the committee met for the first time in December under the chairmanship of the Rt Revd Andrew Curnow, Bishop of Bendigo.
The Board’s retreat, held on 13 October, focused primarily on the Master Plan and professional development of Board members. This was facilitated by Ms Sue Carter from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and expanded upon the self-evaluation previously carried out by the Board members.
Council
The Council met twice during the year, on 28 May and 29 October, with the May meeting being the first presided over by the new Archbishop of Melbourne, the Most Revd Dr Philip Freier.
At this meeting, the Warden, the Dean of the College and the Dean of International Programs gave an excellent joint presentation of the College’s response to the opportunities and challenges of the University’s new Melbourne Model, many of which were still unknown.
Constitutional changes proposed by the Governance Committee and the Board could not be considered as the required quorum was not present. However, the Council elected Dr David Studdert to fill one of three vacancies for Council representatives on the Board. Council members subsequently elected Ms Jodi Fullarton-Healy and Ms Kathleen Bailey-Lord to the remaining two vacancies by postal ballot.
In the Archbishop’s absence, the Right Revd Andrew Curnow was elected to chair the October meeting, at which Indigenous Programs Officer Dr Jon Ritchie presented a comprehensive overview of Indigenous perspectives at Trinity, including the proposed Step UP program, designed to increase access to, and success in, tertiary education for Indigenous students.
Notice was given of the Foundation Executive’s intention to bring to the next meeting an updated Trust Deed for Council approval. The Director of Advancement also encouraged members to show their support for the College by raising the Council’s own Annual Giving participation rate from the current 56% to 100%.
Changes in Council membership during the year are recorded in the Appendix to this report.