For our 14th role in this series we’re looking at one of the National Council Executive positions, National Secretary. The current incumbent, Miranda Lai, has held the role for the past six years, so she’s well placed to tell us what it entails, and why you might consider taking it on at some point in your T&I career.
Hours per week:
3
Voluntary?
Yes
AUSIT member for:
6 years
Time in this role:
6 years
Other AUSIT roles to date: none, this is my first AUSIT role
Q1: What does being AUSIT’s National Secretary involve?
All things relating to the governance of AUSIT. I keep track of AUSIT’s constitution and bylaws. When matters arise that require a change to the constitution, an electronic ballot needs to organised to achieve a 75% majority vote of members. Then the special resolution must be ratified in a National Annual General Meeting (AGM). What happens more often is that we need to amend the bylaws. For this, the changes have to be proposed by the National Council and put to the six branches. Then I have to follow up with the branches to see if any objections are received within 21 days. If not, then I will finalise the change and update the bylaw. Each year after the National AGM, I have to lodge the annual ASIC statement to update their record of the National Council members, and also liaise with a Canberra-based member (as Public Officer) to lodge an annual statement with Access Canberra, as AUSIT is an incorporated association in the ACT. All of the above I’m still learning from my very experienced predecessor, Dave Deck. I’m also responsible for membership matters, so I follow the monthly membership report to stay up to date with the membership numbers, and liaise with the AUSIT Secretariat (managed by an external organisation, Office Logistics) to sort out any queries they receive that need a decision from me. I’m also a co-signatory with the Treasurer for any payment AUSIT needs to make from its bank accounts. After each monthly National Council meeting, I’m responsible for checking the minutes and ensuring they are shared with the Council members and the broader membership. I also assist the Secretariat with any matters that they need clarification, assistance or consultation on. Lastly, for the small number of paid positions, I keep track of their contracts and renewals.
Q2: What skills or qualities are needed in this role?
Patience. A lot of it. You also need to have good attention to detail, as the things you have to attend to are varied and something may arise at any time.
Q3: What led you to take it on?
I felt it was time that I contributed to the professional organisation. I am fortunate enough to have an ongoing position as an academic, and I therefore have the flexibility to attend to AUSIT business when I need to and make up the time afterwards for my university work, and vice versa.
Q4: How (much) do you work with the National President and/or other role-bearers?
I work closely with the National President, as we tend to forget that it’s also a voluntary role. So any assistance I can render – such as writing a letter, looking for information, or liaising with a person or organisation – I will do so. I also work closely with the Communications Officer, particularly if she needs clarification about a particular AUSIT rule – in either the constitution or the bylaws – or some information that needs to be made available on the AUSIT website or included in a newsletter, or consultation in relation to improving the website’s functionality.
Q5: What’s the most exciting aspect of being National Secretary?
Learning about how a professional organisation works and developing management and administrative skills. Most importantly, getting to know talented and devoted people in the National Council and branch committees, as well as in the various committees.
