Express an Interest

Targeting:
Females, People with Disabilities, Seniors/Retired People, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander, English as an additional language or dialect, LGBTQI

The successful applicant will seamlessly connect with and lead our existing Board of Management and organisation, while bringing new understanding and experiences to inform the TUSA’s ongoing strategic vision. It is essential that the new Chair demonstrates alignment with the TUSA values - Student-Led, Connected, Bold, Effective, and Kind.

Board members at the TUSA are expected to be across the wide range of issues TUSA encounters. Additionally, the chair role requires demonstrated past governance experience and chairing responsibilities, strong communication, stakeholder management skills, excellent judgement, and an understanding of the principles of organisational governance and strategy. Exposure to community or social impact, major strategic projects or funds generation, and an understanding of the education sector, not-for-profit or commercial businesses is highly valued by the TUSA.

The Chair provides an encouraging atmosphere in which the talents and capacities of the members are identified, developed and put to the service of the Association.

The Chair’s leadership responsibilities include:

a. Role-modelling the Values of the Association at all times, both in interactions with internal and external stakeholders;

b. Facilitating the effective functioning of the Board including managing the conduct of meetings, the frequency and length of board meetings. This includes the facilitation of any additional meetings of the Board in addition to the annual schedule, as determined by the Board from time to time;

c. Supporting the Chairs of Committees, and acting as Deputy Chair in their absence from time to time;

d. Being the primary point of contact between the Board and the GM between Board meetings;

e. Working with the GM to ensure Board members are briefed on material matters arising at or between Board meetings;

f. Guiding the Board to reach clear decisions and provide clear direction to Management at Board meetings, and ensuring that these decisions and directions are properly reflected within the Board minutes;

g. Ensuring the Board’s decisions are implemented through regular contact with the GM;

h. Promoting an environment of trust, respect, constructive challenge and transparency to ensure consultative and constructive relationships between the Board and the GM;

i. Leading the process for the GM’s annual performance and achievement or non-achievement of performance targets (if applicable) in conjunction with other Directors as required by the Board;

j. Providing personal support to the GM in fulfilling the Association’s strategic and business plans and identifying professional development needs and opportunities;

k. Being mindful of succession planning within the Board and Management and working with the relevant Committee Chair in this regard;

l. Representing the Association in developing high level relationships with the Association’s stakeholders as identified by the Board in consultation with the GM;

m. Representing the Association at key events as otherwise required from time to time;

n. Acting within the delegation of authority granted to the Chair by the Board as set out in the Delegations Manual.

The TUSA Chair role receives a small honorarium of $8,000 annually in recognition of their contribution to the Association. Other Board member positions are voluntary and unpaid. Reasonable reimbursement of costs is also available.

Meetings of the Board are held bimonthly, and Subcommittee meetings held on the alternate month. Regular fortnightly meetings are held with the General Manager.

While the Chair may be located anywhere within Tasmania, applicants from the greater Hobart area are particularly encouraged to apply given the concentration of students and TUSA operations in the south. A successful applicant located outside Hobart would be expected to show a presence in Hobart via some board meetings and engagement opportunities. Interstate applicants are not encouraged to apply.

Appointment to the role will be for an initial period of three years.

Applications close COB Wednesday 8th April 2026. For a confidential discussion or to assist with enquiries, please contact the TUSA Interim Chair, Rachel Baird, on rachel.baird@utas.edu.au or 03 6226 1029.

Applications may be submitted at tusa.org.au/join-the-team/

Duty Statement: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftusa.org.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F03%2FTUSA-Board-of-Management-Chair-Applicant-Pack-Feb-Mar-2026-v2.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK