Contemporary Non-Profits: Challenges and Opportunities

If you are on a Board, an Executive, or interested in leadership in the NFP sector this ZOOM event will provide an opportunity to discuss issues with a panel of four members with extensive and diverse experience in Governance and Leadership in NFPs.

NFPs positively impact the social cohesion, democracy, and fairness of society through improving and empowering lives and creating a voice for disadvantaged and disenfranchised communities.

But to ensure sustainability and social impact they face key challenges such as:

• NFP Governance through recruitment for Boards and Executives for the right culture while balancing lived experience (representation) and Governance capability (expertise)
• Sustainable business models with diversification of income; while managing different funding frameworks and knowing when, how and why you say No
• Strategic Alliances to avoid duplication of services, improve/expand service delivery, governance, compliance and reducing risk.

Join our panel discussion for insights into this dynamic and critical sector.

Tony Nippard   FGIA, FCG (CS, CGP), FCHSM, GAICD MA, B Com (Hons), BA
Tony is a governance professional for over 35 years as Board Chair, Director, and Committee Member of NFP and public entities from micro, small, medium to large public sector and NFP organisations. Areas include mental health, secondary and tertiary education, vocational training, circus and comedic arts, health, health information, housing, children’s services, alpine resort management and public sector governance. Tony has been a facilitator for the Australian Institute of Company Directors for 5 years up until 2022. Tony offers expertise in NFP governance training and advice, board evaluations, investigations, inductions, risk management and strategic planning.

Sandie de Wolf AM
Sandie has spent her professional life working with, and advocating for, women and children impacted by violence and abuse, initially in the Department and then the community sector. As the CEO of Berry Street for 26 years, she significantly grew the organisation’s capability, reach and impact. She has chaired national and State peak bodies, advisory groups and been active on Government councils. She currently chairs FVREE and the Western Integrated Family Violence Committee and is on the board of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Sandie understands the critical importance of a collaborative and trusting relationship between the Chair and the CEO and uses this experience to assist NFPs with governance issues.

Catherine Easton   GAICD, MSF, BBus, DipTeach(Prim)
Catherine has worked in both the commercial and for-purpose sectors in strategy, program delivery, transformation and shared service executive roles and has over 15 years board experience. She is a previous Chair of Linden New Art and Arts Project Australia and is currently a member of the Policy & Planning Committee at Arts Project and the Palais Theatre Community Fund Committee.  Catherine is Deputy Chair of First Step, a Board Director of You Matter (Aus) Ltd and a mentor at Fitted for Work.  Catherine is an alumna of Leadership Victoria, graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Women on Boards.

Richard Hilton
Richard is a Director with EY. He has over 20 years of professional experience in finance working with a variety of clients across the energy, infrastructure, renewables, technology, retail, hospitality, sport industries. For over 15 years Richard has also brought his experience in assurance, external audit, internal controls, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), transactions, equity and debt raisings, project and risk management, budgeting and forecasting and people leadership to non-executive Board roles in the NFP sector, including Environmental Justice Australia, Australian Tapestry Workshop, and Australian Institute of Energy, among others.

This NFP Leadership Forum brings together those interested in sharing perspectives and exploring key issues with fellow members. The intimacy of the experience is enhanced when everyone who attends gets to comment and exchange ideas. The hosts are members whose role is to gently guide the group’s conversation.