SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2007–08

Michael James Martin
B. Eng (Chem)
Mike, a company director, has been President of Life
Saving Victoria since 2006. He has been involved with
Surf Life Saving since 1964. His current term is due to
expire in September 2008.
BOARD MOVEMENTS
Brett Harrod tendered his resignation from the position of
President, Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) on 5 May 2008
and consequently as a state director of SLSA Ltd. SLSNSW
subsequently advised that Tony Haven has been appointed
as its state director of SLSA.
Mike Smith’s term as President of SLSWA expired on
6 September 2008, and as a consequence his place on
the AC. SLSWA have advised that Mark Irwin has been
appointed as its state director of SLSA.
Tony Haven
Tony, a senior manager at the NSW State Transit
Authority Brookvale Bus Depot has been involved with
Surf Life Saving since 1965. His current term is due to
expire in May 2010.
Mark Irwin (not pictured)
Mark, a company director, has been involved with Surf Life
Saving for more than twenty years. He has been a member
of SLSA’s Board of Development since 2006.
SECRETARY
Brett Williamson OAM BHMS Ed, BEd
Brett is CEO of SLSA and has been professionally
involved with Surf Life Saving since 1984. His role
on the AC is non-voting.
Michael James Martin Tony Haven
IMPROVING OUR
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Our corporate governance policy is set out in
Policy 6.8 which is available on our website.
THE ROLE OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
As one of Australia’s largest volunteer movements,
our board and committee structure is critical to ensuring
volunteer representation in key decision making processes.
The various committees outlined on page 50 meet as
required, and their recommendations are then considered
by one of the six boards, with the Australian Council
having ultimate oversight of all boards and committees.
As noted elsewhere, as well as in previous annual reports,
the improved functioning of our board and committee
structure has been identifi ed as a business priority for
the organisation. The plethora of committees has meant
that much time at board level has been spent reviewing
committee recommendations and this is an area identifi ed
for streamlining in coming periods.
During the reporting period the Australian Council
(AC, which functions as the board of SLSA Ltd) spent
some time discussing the need for corporate governance
change. An important initiative resulting from these
discussions is that meeting schedules were re-arranged
and agendas were refi ned to allow the AC to focus on
the broader strategic issues facing the organisation.
Previous board meetings had been held in conjunction
with those of the Board of Management (BOM), resulting
in a tendency to devote signifi cant time to reviewing
decisions by that board. The AC now meets separately
with a focussed agenda and the minutes of the meetings
of all other boards are taken as read.
All other boards (see page 49 for full list) have been asked
to similarly review their roles and responsibilities with a
view to a better delineation of their roles and this process
is currently underway.
SECTION 02—OVERVIEW OF OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
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