Express an Interest

Targeting:
Females

Job Title: Board Member: Secretary (includes Governance & Risk Portfolio but role name is Secretary)

Reports To: Chair

Position Type: Director (Volunteer)

Term: 2 years

Applications go to: chair@witwa.org.au

Commitment & Collaboration Expectations:

This is a Volunteer Board role requiring an average commitment of ~5 hours per week.

Workloads may fluctuate throughout the year, particularly in the lead-up to major WiTWA events such as the annual Conference & Awards. Board members are expected to contribute flexibly during these busier periods, supporting other portfolios and organisational priorities as needed.

WiTWA operates as a collective of passionate volunteers who work collaboratively to deliver impact across all portfolios. While each Board role has defined responsibilities; teamwork, mutual support, and shared accountability are central to how we operate.

Purpose of the position:

To contribute to the management of the business and affairs of WiTWA by being responsible for a specific Portfolio of work and performing all duties in line with the WiTWA Constitution.

Why volunteer at WiTWA?

Contribute a key role in driving a positive social impact for gender equity across WA. By volunteering your time to WiTWA, your effort directly impacts WiTWA’s ability to deliver our mission of increasing the representation of women in the technology sector. WiTWA’s mission is achieved by providing networking and educational opportunities for WiTWA’s community and through the implementation of strategic programs of work designed primarily to educate tech women, and influence change in the systems that support them.

Benefits of volunteering at WiTWA

You will benefit from a support network of WiTWA volunteers to learn from, be championed by, and share your knowledge with. Welcome to your very own personal cheer squad.

WiTWA facilitates industry connections for all its subscribers, and as a WiTWA volunteer, you will have first-hand access to some incredible people in our community.

Whatever your public speaking skill or confidence levels, WiTWA has opportunities for you to share your voice (if you chose) through speaking opportunities. This includes participating in or moderating panels, introducing in person and virtual events, presenting at Techtrails, social media announcements, and much more.

We welcome you to submit guest blogs to put on our website.

You are guaranteed a place at no cost at our annual WiTWA [+] Conference & Awards (C&A) events (subject to fulfilling volunteering requirements of the C&A team which will be defined by the individual C&A team each year and communicated to all volunteers), which are THE annual events to celebrate women in Tech [+] in Western Australia.

What are your Board responsibilities?

In accordance with WiTWA’s constitution, the Board is collectively responsible for:

• Governing purpose & compliance

  o upholding WiTWA’s objects and not-for-profit status; ensuring compliance with the Act and Constitution; making/interpreting policies and by-laws and ensuring compliance as applicable.

• Managing the business & affairs

  o setting strategy and priorities; making decisions between meetings; delegating to and overseeing sub-committees/working groups.

• Membership & meeting governance

  o setting fees; approving/rejecting/suspending members; maintaining the register; convening, running and attending AGMs/EGMs, elections, quorums, voting and minutes as applicable.

• Financial stewardship & reporting

  o approving banking/signatories and expenditures; ensuring accurate books, recording retention and handovers; appointing/removing auditor (if required); overseeing financial statements, audits/reviews and statutory lodgements.

• Risk, integrity, disputes and complaints:

  o managing conflicts of interest, conduct concerns and complaints; applying grievance and resolution processes; controlling access to records with privacy/commercial safeguards.

• Organisational formalities & succession

  o electing Board; managing vacancies/co-opt members; executing documents and controlling the common seal; managing constitutional changes; resolving winding-up and transfer of surplus assets.

• Ongoing promotion of WiTWA (Mandatory)

  o actively championing and promoting WiTWA within their personal and professional networks.

  o At a minimum, each Board Member must create and/or share two WiTWA-related posts per week across any social media or communication platforms of their choosing. These activities must be visible, demonstrable, and reportable at Board meetings.

• Ongoing professional development and education (Mandatory)

  o commitment to self professional development that meets the needs of the WiTWA Board and WiTWA more generally including but not limited to specific Director education, portfolio-specific training, Board-level financial acumen, governance, business literacy and strategy.

The Secretary, Governance & Risk Portfolio

The Secretary, Governance & Risk Portfolio safeguards WiTWA’s governance, ensuring our Board operates effectively, transparently and in line with our Constitution and where appropriate, best-practice standards. This role oversees statutory compliance, supports Board decision-making, manages key governance processes and maintains the organisation’s policy and risk frameworks. It helps WiTWA anticipate risks, strengthen accountability and embed robust governance systems that enable sustainable growth and confident leadership.

What are the requirements of your specific role?

As Secretary, in accordance with WiTWA’s Constitution, for the Term this role will primarily include:

• Association correspondence – coordinate all correspondence related to the governance, risk and compliance requirements of the Association; maintaining and retaining custody of all records, books, documents and registers of the Association,

  o Association IP maintained or in the custody of the Treasurer, is excluded.

• Board meetings – keep full and accurate minutes of all Board meetings ensuring review, approval and distribution.
• Member register – maintain full and accurate register of ordinary member applications and appointments.
• General meetings – provide adequate notice for general and special meetings as set out in WiTWA’s Constitution.
• Act as WiTWA’s Chief Governance Specialist:

  o provide advice and implement good governance practices;

  o work with the Chair to review WiTWA’s Constitution;

  o Collect, lodge and regularly review conflict of interest declarations

  o Collate, review and manage organisational risks including those specific to other Portfolios, and escalate to Board as appropriate.

IP & Trademarks – annual review of need for IP and Trademark registration through legal representatives.

Policy reviews – review policies in connection with appropriate Board members, as and when they come up for renewal based on policy register.

Maintaining records with the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety and ensuring WiTWA’s compliance to the Act and the annual renewal process

Key Competencies and Attributes

• Governance expertise – Strong understanding of governance frameworks, constitutional requirements, Board processes and statutory obligations relevant to incorporated associations.
• Risk management capability – Ability to identify, analyse and monitor organisational risks, maintain the risk register and support a proactive approach to mitigation.
• Policy and compliance literacy – Skilled in developing, reviewing and maintaining organisational policies, compliance records, registers and statutory filings.
• Strategic and systems thinker – Can see how governance, risk, policy, operations and decision-making interact across the organisation, ensuring alignment with long-term goals.
• Exceptional organisation and record-keeping – High level of accuracy and attention to detail when maintaining minutes, registers, correspondence and statutory documentation.
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills – Able to communicate clearly and diplomatically with Board members, volunteers, regulators and external partners.
• Integrity and accountability – Demonstrates sound judgement, confidentiality, ethical conduct and the confidence to raise risks or governance issues early and respectfully.
• Problem-solving and forward planning – Anticipates emerging issues, identifies gaps and implements practical governance and risk solutions.
• Collaborative and diplomatic – Works effectively with the Chair, Board and volunteers, building trust while holding firm on governance requirements when needed.
• Practical leadership – Able to turn insight into action by improving governance processes, tracking compliance, and supporting the Board to operate efficiently.
• Commitment to WiTWA’s mission – Passionate about strengthening governance systems that support WiTWA’s long-term impact, sustainability and representation goals.
• Board-level Experience – preferred.

 Applications go to: chair@witwa.org.au

Note: This job description is subject to change based on WiTWA’s evolving needs and priorities.