Amendments to the governance structure of the Australian Institute of Architects have been passed at the Annual General Meeting in Melbourne.
The changes will see a board of directors established to manage the fiduciary and legal obligations of the Institute, freeing up the member-elected National Council to focus on policy, strategy and the issues most important to members and the profession.
The changes will be written into the Memorandum and Articles of the Institute, and include a mandate for the board to have a minimum of three female and three male directors.
An independent review of the Institute’s governance structure, undertaken by Henry Bosch AO in 2015, identified a number of difficulties in effective governance experienced by the 16-strong national council managing the full duties of directorship.
The new model comes into effect from 22 August and will consist of a smaller board of directors made up of five national councillors including the president, president-elect and immediate past president and two elected members of National Council. The board will also be supported by up to three independent directors with specialized skillsets.
National Council will remain a fully member-elected group of 16 representing each of the states and territories along with nationally-elected members.
Newly appointed national president Ken Maher said it was an exciting time for the Institute.
“These changes will only strengthen the ability of the Institute to advocate on behalf of our members and provide the services contemporary practices need,” he said.
