In Sydney today the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion officially launched a new service, Independentdirectory, designed to boost the governance and effectiveness of Indigenous corporations.
Independentdirectory is a joint initiative of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations and the Business Council of Australia.
‘Independentdirectory is a website that allows skilled individuals to register an interest in being an independent director at an Indigenous corporation. Indigenous corporations can also advertise board vacancies. It works by matching candidates with corporations, inviting them to contact each other.
‘Last year Business Council member companies contributed over 100,000 hours of pro-bono work to Indigenous organisations and communities,’ said Business Council of Australia Chief Executive, Jennifer Westacott.
‘This is double the amount contributed in 2012, telling us there’s a growing awareness among business of the two-way benefits of business-Indigenous engagement. Independentdirectory is a terrific vehicle for this engagement,’ Ms Westacott said.
‘Independent directors can bring a range of benefits to corporations such as filling a specific skills gap on a board; promoting skills transfer, developing stronger external relationships and assisting with disputes or matters in which other directors may be conflicted,’ said the Registrar for Indigenous Corporations, Mr Anthony Beven.
Over 2700 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations are registered with the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations and provide a wide range of services to their members and communities. More than 60 per cent of the corporations are located in remote or very remote parts of Australia.
Independentdirectory can be accessed at: http://director.oric.gov.au/.
Media contacts
Registrar of Indigenous Corporations
Lisa Hugg
(02) 6146 4738
ORIC MR1516-06
21 October 2015
Business Council of Australia
Scott Thompson
0403 241 128