Our Standing Committees
The Board of Gondwana Rainforest Trust is supported by a number of standing committees that provide specialist advice, oversight and strategic guidance across key areas of the organisation’s work.
Each committee draws on relevant skills and experience to support strong governance, informed decision-making and effective risk management, while helping to ensure the Trust delivers on its conservation mission with integrity, transparency and accountability. The committees operate in an advisory capacity, supporting the Board and Executive to strengthen organisational performance and achieve long-term conservation outcomes aligned with the strategic plan of Gondwana Rainforest Trust.
Fundraising & Communications Committee
The Fundraising & Communications Committee is responsible for ensuring strategic alignment of our communications activities to fundraising outcomes. It provides oversight and guidance to GRT’s communications and fundraising activities to support the overall stability and financial viability of the organisation.
This Committee is responsible for developing communications strategies and plans to support the development of GRT’s corporate and business partnerships program, philanthropic and large donor programs, one off and regular giving programs, grants, endowments and bequests, and to support all other income and fundraising generating opportunities for the organisation when required.
Key responsibilities of the Committee:
- Review and approve communications and fundraising plans
- Review and approve fundraising propositions and associated communications
- Review monthly comms and fundraising reports, assess performance and make recommendations for improvements
Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee
The Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee is a committee of the Board. Its purpose is to assist the Board in its oversight of:
- The integrity of the organisation's financial statements and the effectiveness of the organisation's independent audit process
- The effectiveness of the organisation's risk management and internal control frameworks
- The effectiveness of the organisation's processes for ensuring compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements
Members of this Committee keep track of the organisation’s assets and liabilities. The committee will assist in preparing the annual budget and making recommendations to the Board. The financial statements appear on all Board meeting agendas and the finance committee should be prepared to answer questions about it.
This committee also has many oversight duties, including overseeing the work of employees and contractors, overseeing endowments and other significant financial assets, and overseeing investments and tax strategies. All members of this committee should have some degree of financial expertise, and at least one person should have major expertise in the area of finance.
Key responsibilities of the Committee:
- Oversee budget development
- Review P&L
- Review income and expenditure (variations report)
- Review cash flow projections
- Obligations (for example, grant gifts received and not yet acquitted) review
- Track audit process
- Gondwana Rainforest Revolving Fund
- Retained funds
- Oversight and reporting on Gondwana Rainforest Charitable Trust
- Loans
- Financial risk
Gift Fund Committee
Members of the Gift Fund Committee are responsible for administering and controlling the organisation’s ‘public fund’.
The public fund must be controlled by a committee made up of a majority of "responsible people" and must be set up so that it is not possible for public control to lapse. We refer to this as the responsible person requirement. The daily operations, however, may be delegated to other persons.
Members of this Committee must be people or institutions who, because of their tenure of some public office or their position in the community, have a degree of responsibility to the community as a whole.
Key responsibilities of the Committee:
- Ensure records are kept evidencing the receipt and use of money and property belonging to each public fund.
- Ensure that gifts made to the gift fund, and any money received because of them, only be used for the principal purpose of the corporation.
- Ensure the Gift Fund complies with the Trust’s Conduit Policy and does not act as a mere conduit.
People & Culture Committee
The People and Culture Committee is focused on assisting the organisation to develop strategies that will help find and secure the best talent that we can, making sure that our people are challenged and supported in their roles, and that remuneration matches market expectations.
The People & Culture Committee is expected to undertake detailed work in this area and where necessary, make recommendations to the Board. As required the Committee assists the CEO in managing staff and can be advisory should any issues arise. The People & Culture Committee will also be responsible for overseeing employee performance improvements and professional development.
Gondwana Rainforest Trust is committed to the safety of staff, customers and visitors and the People and Culture Committee will also oversee the Work Health and Safety aspect of the business.
Key responsibilities of the Committee:
- Recruitment - find and secure the best talent
- Ensure remuneration matches market expectations
- Ensure staff are challenged and supported
- Assists the CEO in managing staff when required
- Work Health and Safety
- Make recommendations to the Board
Conservation & Science Committee
The Conservation & Science Committee provides independent, expert advice to the Board and Executive on the scientific, ecological and conservation integrity of Gondwana Rainforest Trust’s land acquisition and rainforest restoration activities.
The Committee plays a critical role in ensuring that decisions relating to property acquisition and restoration are informed by robust ecological assessment, contemporary conservation science, and a clear understanding of long-term conservation outcomes. Its advice supports the Trust’s commitment to protecting high-value rainforest ecosystems, maximising biodiversity outcomes, and maintaining credibility with donors, partners, Traditional Owners and the broader community.
In fulfilling its role, the Committee provides strategic guidance on the identification, assessment and prioritisation of properties for acquisition, and on the planning, design and evaluation of rainforest restoration and rehabilitation programs. The Committee also supports a science-led, evidence-based approach to decision-making, consistent with the Trust’s strategic objectives, values, and risk management framework.
The Committee operates in an advisory capacity and does not have delegated authority. Its recommendations are intended to strengthen governance, ensure ecological rigour, and help deliver measurable, long-term conservation outcomes across the Trust’s land buyback and restoration portfolio.
Key responsibilities of the Committee:
- Property acquisition planning & assessment
- Rainforest restoration planning & assessment
Committee Guidelines
Committees are ideally made up of people with a range of skills, qualifications, knowledge and experience that can add to its overall strength. Committees may include Gondwana Rainforest Trust employees, directors and members of the broader community including people who represent particular interests such as environmental conservation, finance, fundraising, philanthropy or indigenous issues.
The organisation may provide a payment or honorarium to a committee member in return for services rendered by or goods supplied by that person to a committee in the ordinary and usual course of business. If any payments are to be made to committee members (apart from reimbursement of expenses), the circumstances under which payment may be made and the payment amount must be approved by the Board.
Committee members should anticipate being able to contribute an average of 2-3 hours every month. Committees shall meet as frequently as it may determine to be necessary to complete its key tasks and hold a minimum of 4 meetings a year and no more than 12.
Committee Expectations:
- Provide written reports and recommendations to the full Board of Directors (through the CEO) of any actions taken, meetings held or discussions that have occurred.
- With support from staff, annually submit objectives and a work plan for the committee as part of the planning and budgeting process.
- With support from staff, annually evaluate its work as a committee and the objectives it has committed itself to and report the same to the CEO.
- Annually, the Committee will review the committee charter, committee work plan and committee membership. Any members who have not attended regular meetings or documented activities to promote the committee’s objectives for a period of 6 consecutive months may be removed from the membership.
- The committee will meet at least 4 times each year, either in person or via online conference call.
- Each committee will have a convener.
Committee Member Responsibilities:
- Serve in an advisory role to guide the committee.
- Express ideas and provide constructive input.
- Act in good faith and for a proper purpose.
- Act with reasonable care, skill and diligence.
- Not misuse information or position.
- Disclose and manage conflicts of interest.
- Actively participate in meetings, contributing to the discussion, brainstorming and sharing innovative ideas.
- Review material and provide input for improvement.
- Serve as an internal/external link for the organisation to open doors to further the organisation’s mission and vision.
- Participate in the development and implementation of the committee work plan.
Committee Chair Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership for the committee.
- Facilitate communication and discussion during the meetings.
- Serve as spokesperson within the organisation for the committee.
- Facilitate the meeting according to the agenda.
- Create the agenda in partnership with staff support.
- Provide research as needed for the committee.
- Send out meeting reminders and agendas
- Take minutes during the meeting and create the monthly Board report.
- Stay in regular communication with the CEO.
- Bring the viewpoint of the Board of Directors to the committee discussion.
- Bring action items and recommendations from the Committee to the CEO when necessary.
- Report relevant Board decisions back to the committee.