Board Director (Voluntary)

About the Opportunity

The St Vincent de Paul Society NSW (SVDP NSW) is seeking expressions of interest from an experienced, values-driven Board Director who can bring new perspectives, strong governance capability and relevant skills, together with a commitment to our mission of supporting people experiencing disadvantage and strengthening communities.

We are seeking to fill a Board vacancy arising at the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM). Shortlisted candidates may also be considered for other governance opportunities with the Society as they arise.

We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Financial management and accounting
• Corporate governance and risk management
• Strategic and inclusive leadership
• Organisational resilience, innovation, transformation and agility
• Practice or clinical governance, service research, evaluation and redesign

We also seek to maintain diversity across age, gender, culture, geography and lived and professional experience. We particularly welcome applications from:

• People of all ages, including young people
• Women, consistent with the Board Charter's objective of at least 40% female Directors
• First Nations people
• People with lived experience relevant to our services, including homelessness, disability, domestic or family violence, and overcoming alcohol and/or other drug issues

About Vinnies NSW

The Society of St Vincent de Paul NSW is a lay Catholic, member and volunteer-based organisation that has supported people experiencing disadvantage in NSW for more than 140 years.

Founded by Frederic Ozanam in France in 1833, the Society was established in NSW in 1881 and now has approximately 4,400 members across more than 400 communities.

The Society is governed by the NSW State Council, comprising Central Council Presidents and Vice Presidents with specific portfolio responsibilities. The State Council also acts as the Body Corporate, holding land and property in trust for the Society's work.

In 2013, the State Council established the Company St Vincent de Paul Society NSW and transferred its business operations to the Company to support the Society's mission.

SVDP NSW is now a large and diverse organisation, including:

• Members, volunteers and employees providing food, financial assistance, energy assistance, budget counselling, school supplies, furniture, clothing, bedding and other essential items to people experiencing disadvantage
• More than 100 local services and programs addressing issues including homelessness, domestic and family violence, and alcohol and other drug use
• More than 220 Vinnies shops and six distribution centres across NSW
• Commercial enterprises including Return and Earn depots, Bag O' Rags and the Vinnies Used Cooking Oil Recycling Program
• Fundraising through appeals, events, corporate partnerships, major donors, bequests and community fundraising

Board Composition

The Board of Directors comprises:

• The State Council President
• Two to three Central Council Presidents
• Two to five other Directors

Company Members appoint the Directors and appoint one Director as Chair of the Board.

Role of the Board

The Board's obligations and powers are governed by the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 (Cth), the Company's Constitution and general law.

The Board is responsible for:

• Providing strategic oversight and ensuring activities align with the Society's mission and the Company's objects
• Monitoring strategic direction and operational and financial performance
• Overseeing risk and compliance, including risk appetite and appropriate controls
• Recommending the appointment or removal of the CEO, subject to Company Member approval, and evaluating CEO performance
• Appointing and, where appropriate, removing the Company Secretary
• Ensuring effective corporate governance and compliance with relevant legislation, the Constitution and good practice

Director Expectations

Directors are individually responsible for ensuring the Board fulfils its role. They are expected to:

• Review Board and committee papers and attend meetings
• Participate actively in Board discussions and decisions
• Complete Board induction
• Evaluate Company performance
• Serve on committees and undertake special tasks where appropriate
• Keep up to date with developments relevant to the Society's services
• Attend appropriate Society, staff and stakeholder events
• Act as ambassadors for the Society
• Undertake ongoing professional and personal development

The Board typically meets six times per year, principally in Sydney, with an annual risk and strategy planning day.

The expected commitment is approximately two days per month, including preparation time, excluding travel.

All Board roles are voluntary. Reasonable expenses associated with Board duties will be met by the Company.

Next steps

Click Apply Now to submit your application. 

For further information, or access to the full Position Description, contact Rhiannon Cook, Company Secretary at companysecretary@vinnies.org.au uusing the subject line: Board Director (Voluntary) enquiry via EthicalJobs or 0432 250 830.