Non-executive Directors

Company background

Applications are being sought for part-time, non-executive directors who are suitably qualified to
provide strategic stewardship to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)
for terms up to three years.

FRDC is a rural research and development corporation, jointly funded by the Australian
Government and Australian fishing and aquaculture. It operates within the portfolio of the
Australian Government Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and is one of the five
statutory Commonwealth Statutory RDC bodies.

The board

More information relevant to the FRDC Board director position can be found on the FRDC
website www.frdc.com.au.

The position

The Minister is seeking to appoint the next FRDC directors in 2024 that have the requisite
collective skill set and expertise as set out in the Primary Industries Research and Development
Act 1989, as well as to enable orderly board succession planning.

The Minister is seeking candidates who are passionate about Fisheries RDC’s work and meet
the selection criteria outlined below.

Expectations

Fisheries RDC directors are individually responsible for ensuring that the board fulfills its role as
set out above and complies with their legal duties and obligations as directors. These duties
include:

• acting openly, honestly, in good faith in the best interests of the RDC as a whole and for a
  proper purpose
• acting with a degree of care and diligence that a reasonable person would exercise if in the
  director’s position
• refraining from making improper use of information gained through the position of director and from taking improper advantage of the position of director
• avoiding conflicts of interest wherever possible and appropriately managing conflicts where
  they arise, and
• monitoring the company’s financial situation.

Personal attributes

The personal qualities required of Fisheries RDC directors are:

• Integrity: A commitment to: (a) understanding and fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of
  a director, and maintaining knowledge in this regard through professional development; (b)
  putting the company’s interests before any personal interests; (c) being transparent and
  declaring any activities or conduct that might be a potential conflict; and (d) maintaining board confidentiality.
• Effective listener and communicator: The ability to: listen to, and constructively and
  appropriately debate, other people’s viewpoints; develop and deliver cogent arguments; and
  communicate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Emotional intelligence: The ability to perceive and evaluate own and others’ emotions and
  adapt thinking and actions accordingly.
• Constructive questioner: The preparedness to exercise independent judgment and ask
  questions and challenge management and peer directors in a constructive and appropriate
  way.
• Contributor and team player: The ability to work as part of a team, and demonstrate the
  passion and time to make a genuine and active contribution to the board and the company.
• Commitment: A visible commitment to the values on which the company operates, and its
  on-going success, as well as a commitment to the role demonstrated through presence,
  responsiveness and accessibility.
• Influencer and negotiator: The ability to negotiate outcomes and influence others to agree
  with those outcomes.
• Critical and innovative thinker: The ability to critically analyse complex and detailed
  information, readily identify key issues, and develop innovative approaches and solutions to
  problems.
• Leadership: Innate leadership skills including the ability to: appropriately represent the
  company; set appropriate board and organisational culture; and make and take responsibility
  for decisions and actions.

Applicants must have high-level knowledge and experience in at least one of the following fields:

• Commercial fishing production
• Technology transfer and commercialisation
• Commercial aquaculture production
• Environmental and ecological matters
• Marketing
• Finance and business management
• Natural resource management and conservation
• Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
• Fisheries and Aquaculture Economics
• Indigenous customary fishing
• Communication and extension
• Administration of research and development
• Public administration
• Recreational fishing/ charter fishing

In line with the Australian Government’s focus on diversity and inclusion, applications are also
encouraged from Indigenous Australia, people from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people with disabilities and LGBTIQ+ individuals.

Candidates are to have demonstrated strong board experience.

How to apply

To submit your expression of interest, visit https://directorsaustralia.com/viewvacancies/fisheries-rdc-non-executive-directors/

Applicants are required to provide the following documents as part of their application:

• their current non-executive director resume (preference is for maximum three pages)
• a covering letter stating what skills and experience they believe they can bring to the role
  given the selection criteria above.

Applications close at 11am on Monday 29 April 2024.

Further information

For further information about the position please contact:
Ms Vanessa Jolly
General Manager - Board Recruitment
0408 450 281
[email protected]