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RSA board

The RSA is an association incorporated under the Victorian Associations Incorporation Reform Act.  It is managed by a board of seven that meets monthly via Zoom.

The board has appointed two subcommittees.  The Finance Advisory Subcommittee monitors the Society’s income and expenditure and the performance of investments and recommends changes thought desirable to maintain a prudent investment strategy. The Editorial Subcommittee oversees the development and production of the Society’s publications.

Until the next AGM, the Committee is:

President

Dr Meredith Doig OAM FAICD
Meredith Doig is a professional company director and governance consultant. After a career in manufacturing (Ford Australia), mining (Rio Tinto) and banking (ANZ Group), she has spent the last 20 years or so consulting in organisation effectiveness and on the boards of commercial and not-for-profit organisations, and university councils. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and for five years taught their flagship Company Directors Course. For 10 years she was a Moderator with the Cranlana Programme on Ethics & The Good Society. Her Australian honour was for service to business, higher education and the community. For 50 years she was a passionate motorcyclist and was Australia's first Chief Motorcycling Instructor.
Vice President

Professor Luke Beck
Luke is a leading constitutional law scholar in the field of separation of religion and government and religious freedom under the Australian Constitution. The principal focus of his research is on developing a deeper and more sophisticated understanding of section 116 of the Australian Constitution in terms of its history and underlying purposes, its relationship and interaction with broader Australian constitutional culture and how it might be best interpreted and applied.
Secretary

Vicki Caulfield
Vicki is a project manager and consultant with qualifications in political science, public policy, and arts management. She has vast experience in strategic planning, policy development, program and project evaluation, organisational development and change management.

She has been a Principal Policy Adviser in a state ministerial office, conducted wide consultations on indigenous governance and housing, and devised award-winning programs in diversity education and employment. 

Apart from her professional skills, Vicki served as Executive Director of the WA Music Industry Association and founded and managed "The Next Big Thing WA", an original music competition
Treasurer

Arash Rashidian
Arash is a business advisor with 30 years of experience in various facets of business and engineering consulting. He has led or contributed to a portfolio of over 250 engagements in the private and public sector in Australia and internationally. His sector experience spans: utilities, infrastructure, government administration, not for profit, higher education, resources, financial services, telecommunications, defence and the oil and gas sector. Arash has an Honours degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, post Graduate Diploma in Air Pollution Control from DeMontford University and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management, all in the UK.
Board member

Chris Botha
With qualifications in both Economics and Political Science, Chris has worked with various state government departments and has been an adviser in both state and federal MPs offices. He is secretary of the Victorian branch of Economic Development Australia, the agency responsible for the professional development of economic development specialists. Over the years, he has helped many local councils with their economic development strategies, and with securing grants to support jobs and capital projects. He has also developed investment strategies, major event plans, trade missions and public relations strategies for multiple business sectors.
Board member

Stella Thomas
Apart from being on the RSA board, Stella is a member of SA Humanists and is the SA contact for FIRIS (Fairness in Religion in Schools). Her journey with religion in schools began in 2005 when her own children were exposed to religious proselytising and she has been an indefatigable lobbyist for genuinely secular state schools ever since. She has a background in business management and administration with her family's truck repair business and is now studying environmental sustainability.

Support

The Committee is ably supported by:

  • Simon Gladman, Campaigns and Communications Coordinator and editor of the RSA’s online magazine Rationale
  • Brett Davis, Accountant (responsible to the Treasurer for financial book-keeping).

Role and Responsibilities

Committee members are responsible for both the good governance of the RSA and for promoting its aims and objectives through active campaigns.  Many campaigns are actively led by members of the Committee of Management.

Operational Responsibilities

  • lead at least two operational activities per year (eg, writing an article for the online journal, organising an event, writing a submission)
  • participate in campaigns run by other Committee members.

Administrative Responsibilities

  • attend all committee meetings or send an apology
  • read committee meeting papers; prepare comments and / or questions
  • follow up on tasks between meeting
  • monitor the RSA’s financial position
  • as part of succession planning, seek and recommend suitable candidates for the Committee
  • persuade people to join or renew their membership of the Society.

Desirable Attributes

  • knowledge of and enthusiasm for the free-thought movement and its issues
  • event management skills
  • submission writing skills
  • time to attend committee meetings and contribute to operational activities.

All the more reason.