ACNC Advisory Board Announced

The Federal Government has announced the long-awaited appointments to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Advisory Board under the part-time chairmanship of Productivity Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald – three months after the ACNC was established.

Robert Fitzgerald was announced Chair of the ACNC Advisory Board at the Commission’s launch in December 2012. Fitzgerald was presiding Commissioner of the Productivity Commission’s 2010 report Contribution of the Not-for-Profit Sector.

The Executive Director of the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) in Victoria, Fiona McLeay has been appointed as part-time Deputy Chair.

In addition, the following people have been appointed to the ACNC Advisory Board:

• Gina Anderson, Philanthropy Fellow with the Centre for Social Impact and experienced NFP director
• Paul O’Callaghan, Executive Director of Catholic Social Services Australia and former Executive Director of the Australian Council for International Development
• Professor Myles McGregor?Lowndes OAM, Director of the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies at the Queensland University of Technology
• Sheila McHale, CEO of Palmerston Association, a large Western Australian NFP drug and alcohol organisation
• David Crosbie, CEO of the Community Council for Australia and a member of the NFP Sector Reform Council
• Anthony Lang, a barrister specialising in NFP law and a Board Member of the Victorian Council of Social Service

The ACNC Advisory Board is established by section 135-5 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act (2012)with members appointed for a term of three years under section 140-10.

”Our role as an Advisory Board is to respond to requests from the Commissioner and to provide advice that will enable the legislated objectives of the ACNC to be met in an efficient, responsive and relevant way,” Fitzgerald said.

“Our advice should assist the Commissioner in understanding the needs of the Australian public to support ongoing confidence in the sector, as well as the complex environment within which charities operate."

The Minister for Social Inclusion Mark Butler said that representatives from the Governments of New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory will form part of the ACNC Advisory Board in their capacity as ex-officio members.

“The Federal Government is working with the States and Territories to deliver a coordinated and streamlined approach to NFP regulation,” Butler said.

“The appointment of the four ex-officio members from the states and territories will add an extra dimension to the level of advice, sharing of information and insights available to the Commissioner and the ACNC as a whole,” Robert Fitzgerald said.