Townhall 2 recap: Board Structure and Elections

10 Jul 2025

We are now two sessions into the Stage 3 Constitution Reform Townhalls, a key opportunity for members to review the proposed changes and provide feedback before a final version is shaped. It's not too late to register for Townhall 3 this coming Wednesday 16th at 6:00PM AEST.  

We are inviting all members to share their feedback on the current proposal by 31 July 2025. All input received will be carefully reviewed by the Constitution Reform Working Group and the AVA Board, and a revised version of the proposal will be shared with members in August ahead of a vote scheduled for late September. 

If you missed Townhall 2 on Monday 7 July, you can catch up via the recording below. This session focused on how AVA’s Board is structured and how elections would work under the proposed reforms. 

🎥 Watch the recording: Board Structure and Elections

holding image, constitution townhall 2 recap

 

What we covered in Townhall 2 

This session explored the proposed Board composition and how the nominations and election process could work. Here’s a quick overview: 

  1.  A stronger, more representative Board (9 Directors)
    The current proposed structure includes:
  • 4 AVA Directors, elected from across the membership, candidates would need to meet criteria outlined in a position description and the skills matrix to meet the Board’s identified needs.
  • 3 Sector Directors (one each for cattle, equine and small animal), to guarantee sector representation, elected by members. Candidates must meet the criteria set out in a sector-specific position description and the overall Board skills matrix.
  • 2 Independent Directors, elected by members from a shortlist of external/internal candidates. These candidates would be assessed against a position description and the skills matrix to meet the Board’s identified needs for strong governance. The required skills may include (but are not limited to) areas like governance, education, finance or advocacy. 
  1. A clearer nominations process
      A proposed independent Nominations Committee (iNC) would assess all candidates against the published criteria (skills matrix and position descriptions). Only those who meet the requirements would go forward to a member vote. Members would be provided with key information about each shortlisted candidate so they can understand who is standing, how they were selected and how their skills align with the role of an AVA Board Director.  
  2. Sector roles are protected
      We heard several questions about how sector voices would be preserved. In this proposal, Sector Directors, one each from Cattle, Equine and Small Animal are guaranteed. To be eligible, candidates will be assessed against the sector-specific position description and the broader Board skills matrix before being endorsed by the Board and voted on by the membership.  
  3. Independent Directors bring needed skills, not added cost
    This was a strong theme in the live Q&A, with several members asking about why two independent directors are proposed, whether members would vote for them and what it might cost. We’ve taken those questions on board and followed up with more detail. As a mission-driven organisation, we expect to attract a pool of experienced, values-aligned professionals who are motivated to contribute without high remuneration expectations. While final decisions are still to come, the focus would be on capability, purpose and sustainability.

Your questions are shaping the proposal 

This session sparked thoughtful, practical questions from members, which is exactly what we hoped for! These conversations are helping test key elements of the constitution proposal and highlight where more clarity is needed. Some of the questions raised live included:

    • How would the proposed independent Nominations Committee work?
    • Who can stand for Sector Director roles?
    • Do members vote for all Directors?
    • How would Independent Directors be selected and what they would they be paid?

We’ve taken these questions into consideration and followed up with more detail where needed (see attached). Your feedback is directly informing the next version of the proposal.

View a snapshot of Q&A highlights from the session here

20250708 Highlights from Townhall 2 live Q&A- attachment.png

 

One session to go 

There is still one more Townhall in the series: 

Townhall 3: Policy and Member Categories 
📅 Wednesday 16 July | 🕕 6:00–7:00pm AEST 
Register now 

After the final session, members will have until 31 July 2025 to submit feedback on the current proposal. All input received by that date will be reviewed by the Constitution Reform Working Group and AVA Board as they work to refine the proposal. A revised version will then be shared with members ahead of a vote which is currently scheduled for late September 2025.  

We want every member to have the chance to understand the proposal, why it matters and how they can be involved. Now is the time to share your thoughts, questions or concerns. 

Thank you for being part of these important conversations. 

Let’s build a stronger, more inclusive AVA together. 

Kind regards, 
 
Dr Gemma Chuck 
President, Australian Veterinary Association