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Grains Research and Development Corporation
Seven non-executive board directors
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is a joint industry/Australian Government funded statutory corporation. It supports the grain industry’s total commitment and dedication to research, development and innovation. The GRDC’s role is to coordinate and invest in research and development activities for the benefit of all stakeholders in the grains industry and the community at large.
Applications are sought for seven part-time, non-executive directors of the GRDC board for terms up to three years. Candidates must be able to demonstrate capabilities and expertise in one or more of the following fields:
• Grains production, processing and marketing
• Economics
• Environmental and ecological matters
• Administration of research and development
• Science and technology
• Finance and business management
• Technology transfer
• Sociology
• Management and conservation of natural resources
• Public administration
All candidates should have:
• An understanding of corporate governance and responsibilities
• Good communications skills and the capacity to represent GRDC to all stakeholders
The selection committee is required to ensure that the directors of the corporation collectively possess an appropriate balance of expertise in as many of the above fields as possible. Remuneration and allowances for directors are prescribed by the Australian Government Remuneration Tribunal. The annual remuneration is $28,370.
Applications (not exceeding 8 to 10 pages) setting out career and personal details, including the relevance of particular skills and experience against the above competencies, should be emailed to:
wryan@iinet.net.au
Closing date for applications is Friday, 26 September 2008
Further information about the GRDC may be obtained through the corporation website: www.grdc.com.au
Inquiries on process and procedure can be made to: Dr William Ryan, Presiding Member of the Selection Committee, wryan@iinet.net.au
GRDC Board member Frequently Asked Questions - what it involves
1. When and where does the Board meet?
The Board meets six or seven times each year. Meetings are usually two days. Most meetings are in Canberra. There are also two regional tours each year, each of two to three days.
In 2008 the Board met or will meet on:
• 6 & 7 February, Canberra
• 7 & 8 April, Canberra
• 4 & 5 June, Canberra
• 31 July & 1 August, Melbourne (alongside the Australian Grains Industry conference)
• 29 & 30 September, Canberra
• 9 & 10 December, Canberra (proposed)
Regional tours were:
• 17 – 19 March, northern WA wheat belt
• 13 – 15 August, Eyre Peninsula SA
The Board Secretary sends papers to the Board one to two weeks before each Board meeting.
2. What Board committees are there?
The Finance, Risk and Audit Committee currently has 3 members, all of whom are GRDC non-executive directors. There are normally four half-day meetings or teleconferences each year.
The Remuneration Committee currently has three members – the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and one other director. It meets briefly as required.
3. How much are directors paid?
Remuneration rates are set by the Remuneration Tribunal. Current pay rates are in Determination 2008/07: Remuneration and allowances for holders of part-time public office. See Schedule C at pages 17 and 18 :
http://www.remtribunal.gov.au/determinationsReports/Current%20Principal%20Determinations/2008-07%20Determination%2012.8.08.pdf
Directors are currently paid an annual fee of $28,370 plus daily travel allowances. The chair of the F,R&A Committee receives an extra $12,910 per year, and members of the F,R& A Committee receive an extra $6,445 per year.
Daily travel allowances are paid at the Tier 1 rate in Determination 2008/14: Official Travel by Office Holders. See Schedule A at:
http://www.remtribunal.gov.au/determinationsReports/byYear/2008/2008-14Determination.pdf
4. What other involvement do directors have?
Directors can regularly attend significant events at GRDC expense, such as:
• one or two days of Review and Priorities Meeting week in March (Canberra)
• one or two days of Investment Planning Week in early July (Canberra)
• Australian Grains Industry conference in late July (Melbourne)
• Regional Panel spring tours in September (regions)
• conferences, grower updates and regional updates (everywhere)
5. Will the GRDC fund training?
The GRDC recognises the importance of directors and staff having up-to-date and relevant skills. The GRDC will fund appropriate training for directors.
6. How are conflicts of interest managed?
The GRDC recognises that conflicts of interest are inevitable and must be carefully managed. Each director will need to sign a declaration of any conflicting interests. The Board Secretary maintains a register of declared conflicts of interest, which is updated at the start of each Board meeting.
7. Where are the GRDC’s key corporate publications?
See http://www.grdc.com.au/director/about/corporategovernance for:
• the 2008-09 stakeholder report
• the 2007-12 Strategic R&D Plan
• the 2006-07 annual report
• the 2006-07 growers’ report
• the current Statement of Expectations and Statement of Intent
8. What induction / briefing will I receive?
GRDC Management will provide new directors with a comprehensive briefing on the GRDC’s strategy, and the administration and governance issues you need to know as a director. These briefings are tentatively scheduled for Monday 8 December (strategy) and Thursday 11 December (administration & governance).
