Expressions Of Interest

The Mparntwe Alice Springs Community Foundation’s purpose is to help build a stronger community and shared future for everyone who lives in our very special town.

We NEED a stronger community ⇤ less negativity, more together, less waiting for someone else to ‘fix things’,

And NEED a shared future ⇤ where everyone’s ‘in this together’, there’s hope.

Community foundations are UNIQUE – not ordinary charities.  We’re the only one in the Territory:

Board expansion is especially targeting YOUTH, MULTICULTURAL, and additional ABORIGINAL PERSPECTIVES and experiences to better reflect the WHOLE community, although other expressions of Interest would be welcomed. Up to three additional board members are sought. The gender balance of the board is an objective.

• Board members must be willing to volunteer real time and the very best of themselves.
  • Board experience is not essential, but a commitment to best practice governance is;
  • Commitment to our town, evidenced by DOING positive things in and for our community, is essential.
  • We need do-ers, not talkers
    • You would be expected to participate in community working groups.
  • You need to be a great team player, happy to have robust conversations and be a respected member of our town.
  • This is a non-party-political community-driven board, which will ‘hold’ a diversity of views and perspectives – you need to be willing and able to work together like that.
  • The Foundation is an ASIC-registered company and registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission so there are legal requirements and expectations of board members. 

This is a great opportunity to help lead and build a community asset that is dedicated to helping people, community groups and organisations work together and build the community and town we need for a shared future.

Our Board positions are voluntary.

The board has created a ‘Board Matrix’ of the skills and perspectives that we believe is needed so the board can best do its job of governing and supporting the Foundation’s work at this stage of the Foundation’s development. Youth, multicultural and additional Aboriginal perspectives are particularly sought.  The board will use the information provided in EOIs to make a first assessment mapped to the Board Matrix.

Our expectation is that we will receive a number of Expressions of Interest that will enable us to expand our current board with the best possible mix of skills, experience and perspectives, and a board that reflects the diversity of our town. 

EOI respondents may be:

• Contacted for clarification or further information
• Invited for a chat/interview and/or for a without obligation board meeting experience

• Your EOI will be considered against the Board Matrix and considered in the context of the existing and potentially new skills and perspectives available.
• It’s unlikely that every EOI respondent will be able to be appointed.  Your interest is appreciated, and we will explain why you weren’t appointed if that is the case.  The decision at that stage will be final.
  • Your EOI must be offered in a spirit of openness and good faith
• You will need to commit to confidentiality and ordinary board expectations – you need to do what you say you will do, be open, honest, deal fairly,
• This is a ‘working board’.  While the Foundation board operates on contemporary board principles and in compliance with regulatory expectations (e.g. separation of roles, director-mindset, director/operations separation of roles and responsibilities) the Foundation board is a ‘working board’ – there is an expectation that board members will be active in supporting the work of the foundation.
• A commitment of at least two hours per week is the board norm.  
• We may seek referees or references from youThis is a confidential process.  Your EOI will be held in confidence and all discussions (both ways) are expected to remain confidential.

A letter and brief resume are all that’s needed.

Your letter should cover the things outlined above, including:

• Why you would like to be a board member of the Foundation – your motivation
• The particular skills and perspectives you believe you would add to the board
• Your commitment to be a working board member and to ‘play team.’
• Your experience working to strengthen the community and leadership you have done
• If you have board/committee/team experience, please outline that; if you don’t, then your commitment to learning and being mentored should be stated (note that board experience is NOT a threshold requirement, but being committed to learning is).

Please send your letter and resume to:

Chair@mascf.org

If you would like to discuss the role or have any questions, you can contact any of the board members (Link) to the page that you might know, or you can contact the Chair via chair@mascf.org or the Foundation’s Executive Director, John Huigen, on ed@mascf.org.

EOIs close by Friday, 30 May 2025.