Governance

Landcare Victoria Inc. is governed by a volunteer Committee of Management (also known as the Board) which oversees and steers the organisation by setting strategic direction and providing governance. The Board is supported by the Members Council, which represents community landcare in Victoria, advises on policy and landcare issues and assists in two-way communication between Landcare Victoria Inc. and community landcare.

Role of the Board

The Landcare Victoria Inc. Committee of Management (referred to as the Board to recognise its strategic, rather than operational role) consists of up to 14 people, 10 of whom are regional representatives elected directly by the Member Groups allocated to their respective Voting Region (see map below), two who are professionals (elected at large by those registered as Professional Landcarers), and up to two skills-based members (elected at large).

The Board is responsible for the control and management of the business and affairs of Landcare Victoria, including setting the strategic direction, management of staff and the establishment of sub-committees.

Board members are expected to attend all Board meetings which are held approximately every quarter, usually lasting at least half a day. Some of these may be held online. In addition, Board members are expected to participate in on one or more sub-committees and attend Landcare Victoria Inc. events. 

Read more in the Board Role Description. 

The Election Cycle

Regional and Professional positions on Landcare Victoria Inc's Board and Members Council are declared vacant every three years in accordance with the following election cycle:

2023: Glenelg Hopkins, North East, West Gippsland, 1 * Professional Landcarer
2024: North Central, Port Phillip & Westernport, Wimmera, 1 * Professional Landcarer
2025: Corangamite, East Gippsland, Goulburn Broken, Mallee

After these dates the elections will follow the same three-year cycle, with any extraordinary elections being held at the same time for the period up to the next scheduled election.

Become a Director

Nominations for Board vacancies in 2024 are NOW CLOSED.

Successful candidates will be announced at the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2024.

Resources

Landcare Victoria Inc Rules of Association

Download the Landcare Victoria Rules of Association here.

Landcare Victoria Annual Reports

Our Annual Reports can be downloaded from our Annual Reports page.

Nomination Forms

To be considered for a vacancy on the Landcare Victoria Members Council, please download the relevant Nomination Form and seek endorsement from two eligible Voting Delegates in your region.

Please ensure your form is completed in full and signed by all parties prior to submission to ensure its validity. Forms may be completed in Adobe Acrobat or Reader and submitted by email ([email protected]), or completed by hand and returned by post (PO Box 509, FLINDERS LANE VIC 8009).

Voting Delegates

Each Member Group's Voting Delegate is the only individual authorised to vote on special resolutions on behalf of their organisation, endorse nominations for the Members Council, endorse nominations for Regional positions on the Board, and vote in elections where more than one valid nomination is received for the Board position in the relevant Voting Region.

Voting Delegates may be changed at any time except during the 48 hours prior to a General Meeting where a vote of the membership will be taking place, or during an election period where the Member Group is eligible to cast a vote.

To view the current list of Voting Delegates, click here.

If a Voting Delegate would like to nominate a proxy to vote on their behalf at a particular meeting, a Proxy Form must be completed and received by Landcare Victoria at least 48 hours prior to the commencement time of the meeting.

Role of the Members Council

The Council brings together a group of landcarers who are diverse in the roles they fulfil, the issues they deal with and the personal skills they have. Members Councillors have the capacity to reach deeply into the broader landcare membership as required when specific skills or experience is needed on matters of policy.

The Members Council consists of up to 30 people – two community volunteers and one professional landcarer from each of the 10 catchment regions across the state. Members Councillors are appointed by the Board.

Broadly, a Members Councillor’s role is to:

• Be a part of Landcare Victoria Inc’s policy response/policy development work, either directly or by linking in other appropriately skilled people
• Be a conduit for ideas and issues that directly relate to the effectiveness of Landcare in Victoria, particularly as they affect multiple groups
• Understand the work and activities of Landcare Victoria Inc. so that they can communicate with members more effectively

Read more in the Members Council Charter. 

Join the Members Council

Joining the Members Council is a great way to collaborate, share information and have your say on issues affecting the landcare community. Recommendations, ideas and advice from the Members Council are routinely shared with the Board and utilised by Landcare Victoria in policy response and development.

The following positions on the Landcare Victoria Members Council are currently vacant (last updated 11 April 2024):

Corangamite - 2 volunteer positions
East Gippsland - 1 professional position, 1 volunteer position
Glenelg Hopkins - 2 volunteer positions
Goulburn Broken - 1 professional position, 1 volunteer position
Mallee - 2 volunteer positions
North East - No vacancies
West Gippsland - 1 volunteer position

To nominate for any of the above vacant positions, please download the relevant Nomination Form in the column on the right-hand side of this page and refer to the list of Voting Delegates to find people in your region who can endorse your nomination. Nominations for these vacancies may be accepted at any time.

All positions in the Port Phillip & Westernport, North Central and Wimmera regions will be declared vacant at the AGM on 22 May 2024 in accordance with the Landcare Victoria Inc election cycle. Nominations for these three regions are now closed and will be considered by the Board at its first meeting after the 2024 AGM. Late nominations will only be considered after this, where any remaining vacancies exist.

If you're not sure whether you are eligible to nominate, please contact us.

Annual General Meeting 

Landcare Victoria Inc held its 2023 AGM online, on Friday, 19 May 2023. Jane Carney was re-elected to the Board for the North East Region and Ric Oldham was re-elected to the Board in the West Gippsland Region.

The 2024 Landcare Victoria Inc Annual General Meeting is scheduled to be held online on Wednesday 22 May 2024. Further details will be sent to members by email in the lead up to the meeting. We hope to see you there!