A message from our President
The focus for the Board over the last year has been on bedding down our new strategic directions and overhauling our governance systems and procedures.
On the strategic front, staff and Board have done a lot of work figuring out and commencing new approaches to mobilising 5 million Victorians to actively look after and safeguard our environment. Getting all 5 million people to take action is actually quite a complicated thing to do. It has stretched us to think about how we engage a whole state in our vision.
We’ve looked at how this fits with our work with members, how to develop stronger partnerships and build our relationships with donors.
We’ve re-examined not just how we frame our programs and campaigns, but also how we reach people and motivate people to act, while continuing to deliver on the big issues of climate change, healthy ecosystems, smart stuff (less waste) and people living sustainably.
The net results are very exciting – we’ve expanded the groups we engage with, how we engage them and on what. For example, with the Brotherhood of St Laurence we produced a report of the green jobs potential for Victoria. We identified 26,000 new green jobs in the areas of home retrofits, recycling and the manufacturing and installation of trains and trams, solar hot water and wind turbines. On the basis of these findings together we organised a Green Jobs Summit attended by 180 of the State’s key decision-makers and leaders to identify key actions for a green jobs plan for Victoria.
As you’ll see further in this report, there’s many more.
The governance work has been similarly busy. We’ve continued to improve our financial, audit and risk systems and capabilities, resulting in better reporting and efficiencies. And we’ve revised many outdated internal policies and procedures to ensure that we are in inline with best practice standards for governance of a not-for-profit. We can happily report that we are in healthier financial position.
Sadly, Pam Keating, a dedicated Board member was tragically killed on Australia Day. Pam joined the Board of Environment Victoria on the 28th June 2005 and brought to the organisation a wealth of knowledge and experience of waste, water and environmental education issues as well as many years service on a range of other Boards and experience in running environmental businesses. Her contributions to Environment Victoria included service on our Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, helping fundraising efforts and in the development of our strategic plan. Pam was always incredibly generous with her advice devoting many hours to mentoring staff and supporting less experienced Board members. We will miss her passion, generosity and commitment to making the world a better place.
Finally, I wish to say a huge thank you to my fellow Board members, our dedicated staff and volunteers, our members, our supporters and our partners for another successful year.
I have no doubt, from my experience in leading this wonderful organisation that together we will succeed.
