Download Position Description – Director

Position Description – Director
Role
Reports to
Location
Non-executive director
College members
Australia-wide
Company overview:
Vision
Better health for rural and remote people through access to skilled rural doctors.
Mission/purpose
To provide leadership, training and support for rural generalist doctors that promote effective systems of
care for their communities.
Values
We are professionals: We work with expertise, dedication and care. We take pride in our achievements
and always work in a manner that is respectful and friendly.
We are innovators: We actively encourage and look for better ways to achieve results. We are pragmatic,
adaptable, flexible and forward thinking.
We are advocates: We are committed to making a positive difference for our members, colleagues and
communities. We work together and with others to improve policy, systems and outcomes wherever we
can.
We are one: We are a team of strong and diverse individuals unified by a common purpose. We inspire
and support each other.
Company details
Public company limited by guarantee
Membership
Approximately 4700
Annual turnover
2015/16 Approximately $14M
Staff
National headquarters in Brisbane
Approx 60 full time equivalent staff
Approx 200 contracted clinical staff (examiners, educators,
instructors)
Accreditation
Australian Medical Council – to set standards for
vocational medical training, assessment, certification and
continuing professional development in the specialty of
general practice, particularly for rural and remote
contexts.
Medical Board of Australia - Fellowship recognised for
vocational recognition as a specialist general practitioner
Rural Generalist Medicine – Fellowship recognised as
preferred qualification by State Health jurisdictions.
Current Board:
*Denotes positions that are due for election in 2017.
President (Chairman)
Associate Professor Ruth Stewart
MBBS, PhD(Flin), FACRRM, DRANZCOG
Dr Stewart is a rural generalist in obstetrics on Thursday
Island in Far North Queensland. She had previously
worked in Camperdown Victoria for many years. Dr
Stewart also holds an Associate Professor of Rural
Medicine appointment with James Cook University. She is
currently the Vice Chair of the Torres and Cape York
Hospital and Health Service.
Non-executive directors
Dr Sally Banfield *
MBBS. Dr Banfield is the Registrar-elected director. She
has been involved in medical education and advocacy at
both local and state levels. She has a passion for rural
generalism and Indigenous health.
*Retiring at this election.
Dr Mike Beckoff
MBBS, FACRRM, FAICD, Assoc. Dipl. Agric (Dist). Dr Beckoff
is a practising rural generalist from South Australia with 38
years’ experience, most recently as a rural locum. He is
involved in number of state-wide professional roles.
Dr Dan Halliday
MBBS, FACRRM, FRACGP, DRANZCOG (Adv.), B.BioMed.Sc,
GAICD, GCAHM. Dr Halliday was elected as the
Queensland representative on the Council in 2014. He
works as a Senior Medical Officer Rural Generalist based at
Stanthorpe Hospital, with special interest in obstetrics. Dr
Halliday holds a number of advocacy and representative
roles supporting rural doctors and their communities.
Dr Susanne Harrison*
DA; FACRRM; MSP Medicine; Grad Cert Health Prof Educ.
Dr Harrison is a rural generalist in Echuca and part time
medical educator for Melbourne University. She is
currently President of Rural Doctors Association of
Victoria, a Board member of Rural Doctors Association of
Australia and chair of the Rural Workforce Agency Victoria.
*Retiring at this election.
Dr Ewen McPhee
MBBS (Hons), FACRRM, FRACGP, DRANCOG (Adv)
Dr McPhee is a rural generalist in obstetrics who has been
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practising in Emerald Central Queensland since 1989. He is
actively involved in a range of state and federal
government health policy, particularly eHealth and
primary health care. Dr McPhee is also the current
President of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia.
Ex-officio non-voting members
Associate Professor David Campbell, Censor in Chief
Marita Cowie, Company Secretary and CEO
Professor Lucie Walters, Immediate Past President
The role:
The College seeks to appoint two non-executive directors for a term of three years. One of these two
positions must be President of the College. The positions are vacant due to the retirement of directors in
line with rotations outlined in the constitution. The constitution requires one third of directors to retire
from office each year. Retiring directors are eligible to renominate for a maximum of three consecutive
terms unless they are President. Retiring Presidents are invited to remain on the Board as ex-officio nonvoting members for a period of three years.
The role requires directors to:
 attend bi-monthly Board meetings (6 by teleconference and 2 face to face each year)
 attend College Council meetings (minimum of 1 teleconference and 1 face to face each year)
 participate in strategic, governance and business planning for the College (held in association with
Council meetings)
 attend the Annual General Meeting
 attend Special General Meetings, if required
 participate in committees or ad hoc working parties from time to time, if required
The duties of directors are:
The Duty of Care and Diligence
 to act with care and diligence as would a reasonable person in like circumstance.
The Duty of Loyalty
 to act in good faith, in the best interests of the organisation and for a proper purpose;
 to avoid conflicts of interest;
 to not misuse the position;
 to not misuse information; and
 to retain independence and objectivity in judgment.
Other Specific Duties
 to prevent insolvent trading;
 the duty of continuous disclosure;
 the duty to disclose related party transactions; and
 the duty to disclose director's interests.
Extraordinary Duties
 Extraordinary duties include representation of the College on outside bodies, participation in
meetings, courses and events which specifically require the attendance of a director and where
outcomes of such events would be seen by any reasonable person to benefit the Board in its
operation and/or the College as a whole.
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Skills (governance related):
Corporate governance - Knowledge and experience in corporate governance and compliance and the ability
to identify governance issues and ensure corporate compliance following the best level processes.
Strategy – Ability to think strategically and identify and critically assess strategic opportunities and threats
and develop effective strategies in the context of the strategic objectives of the College and relevant
national policies and priorities.
Policy development - Ability to identify key issues and opportunities for ACRRM within the Australian health
system, and develop appropriate policies to define the parameters within which the organisation should
operate.
Risk and compliance oversight - Ability to identify key risks to the organisation in a wide range of areas
including legal and regulatory compliance, and monitor risk and compliance management frameworks and
systems.
Commercial experience - A broad range of commercial/business experience, preferably in the small to
medium enterprise context, in areas including communications, marketing, branding and business systems,
practices and improvement.
Financial performance - Qualifications and experience in accounting and/or finance and the ability to:
• analyse key financial statements
• critically assess financial viability and performance
• contribute to strategic financial planning
• oversee budgets and the efficient use of resources
• oversee funding arrangements and accountability.
Executive management - Experience at an executive level including the ability to:
• appoint and evaluate the performance of the CEO and senior executive managers
• oversee strategic human resource management including workforce planning, and employee and
industrial relations
• oversee large scale organisational change.
Skills (industry related):
Health policy, planning and delivery - Knowledge, experience and networks in health including general
practice policy, community health and well-being, population health needs assessment, social determinants
of health, health planning, resource allocation and service delivery.
Rural Generalist and or GP education and training - Experience in Rural Generalist and General Practice
education and training, for example, ACRRM training and assessment programs, Australian General Practice
Training Program, Regional Training Organisations, GP Supervision.
Clinical governance - Knowledge and experience in clinical leadership, practice and governance, safety and
quality standards of service delivery in rural practice, and associated performance measurement and
reporting.
Community and stakeholder engagement - High level reputation and networks in the local community
including with community members and organisations, and the ability to effectively engage and
communicate with those stakeholders.
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Skills (industry related):
Integrity - A commitment to:
• understanding and fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of a director, and maintaining knowledge in this
regard through professional development
• putting ACRRM’s interests before any personal interests
• being transparent and declaring any activities or conduct that might be a potential conflict
• maintaining Board confidentiality.
Communication - The ability to:
• listen to, and constructively and appropriately debate, other people’s viewpoints
• develop and deliver cogent arguments
• communicate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders
Leader - Innate leadership skills including the ability to:
• appropriately represent the organisation
• set appropriate Board and organisational culture
• make and take responsibility for decisions and actions.
Constructive questioner – The preparedness to 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 ACRRM
Commitment - A visible commitment to the purpose for which ACRRM has been established and operates,
and its on-going success and the ability to give sufficient time and effort to the Board role.
Influencer and negotiator - The ability to negotiate outcomes and influence others to agree with those
outcomes, including an ability to gain stakeholder support for the Board’s decisions
Critical and innovative thinker - The ability to critically analyse complex and detailed information, readily
distil key issues, and develop innovative approaches and solutions to problems
Other qualities:
The College will consider other qualities to ensure the Board has an appropriate balance and diversity to
guide the organisation including: gender, geographic, cultural diversity, age and conflicts of interest.
Remuneration and benefits:
Annual remuneration
This is a voluntary position.
Travel and other expenses
The College will meet the costs of all Board related travel,
accommodation and other relevant out of pocket
expenses associated with the requirements of this
position.
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