We’re pleased to share with you the Institute’s revised Constitution.
The Constitution can only be amended by the Institute’s voting members at an Annual General Meeting (AGM). At last week’s 2020 AGM, 96% of our members voted to adopt a contemporary Constitution document that is typical of modern not-for-profit organisations.
The new Constitution will provide a refreshed governance framework for the Institute. The aim of this update is to ensure that the Institute operates as effectively as possible and that we’re able to best serve the interests of our members.
The new Constitution is the result of a thorough and detailed process undertaken by the Board and National Council over the last 12 months. This involved extensive member consultations, including 10 webinars.
In summary, the key changes include:
- The inclusion of a Statement of Recognition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- The inclusion of a preamble brief overview of the Institute as a context for the Constitution.
- A revised focus for the Institute as it no longer seeks to be classified as a charity.
- The details of membership (Schedule 2 in the old Constitution) now placed in a Regulation so the Institute can be more agile in changes to the membership structure in the future (Regulations continue to be made by the Board, in consultation with National Council).
- Schedule 3 Disciplinary Proceedings of the old Constitution is now a Regulation. Relatedly, the Code of Professional Conduct is to be reviewed by a National Council approved Working party.
- The roles of the Board and National Council have been clarified so both bodies can work more effectively together. The Board has the overall governance, management and strategic direction of the Institute, under the Corporations Act. National Council retains its focus on the leadership of the profession, advocacy, research priorities and innovation as a key advisory committee to the Board.
- There will be a Chairperson of the Board, appointed by the Board for up to three years. Previously the Chair of the Board was the President, who held the role of Chairperson for one year.
- The Gender Equity policy is now a Regulation and requires that every effort should be made to achieve a 40/40/20 gender balance (40% female and male, 20% any gender) on the Board.
- All Independent Directors are not to be Members. Previously one Independent Director could be a Member.
- The appointment of the Independent Directors will be done by the Board, in consultation with National Council.
- The term of office for Board Directors has been increased from one to three years.
- The number of Nationally-Elected National Councillors has increased from four to six.
- The terms for Nationally-Elected National Councillors has increased from two to three years.
- The National President-Elect no longer needs to be a Life Fellow or Fellow. It has changed to “the National Councillors will elect a National President Elect, who must be a Member who has made a significant contribution to the profession and the Institute, beyond their architectural practice, as determined by National Council, and has a minimum of six years of membership.”
- The Board, in consultation with National Council, will decide the classes of membership, the qualifications for admission to each class, rights of each class, fees, and the wording of the membership form (was National Council). The Board would also delegate this function to the CEO as National Council did previously.
