Vacancy: BGANZ CEO

Following the recent retirement of our long-serving CEO, BGANZ Ltd, the peak member-driven industry body for botanic gardens in Australia and New Zealand, is seeking a new part-time Chief Executive Officer to guide the long-term future of our organisation for the benefit of our members.

Established in 2004, BGANZ has a proud history of delivering exceptional services to our 130+ member gardens by:

• providing a forum for information exchanged and coordinated planning
• fostering best practice standards for developing and maintaining botanic gardens, including building and maintaining links with relevant national and international bodies
• Advocating for the interests of botanic gardens
• providing policy and legislative advice on issues affecting botanic gardens.

In 2016, BGANZ launched the annual Botanic Gardens Day, held annually in May, to highlight the role of plants in our lives and the important work botanic gardens and arboreta undertake.

In April 2022, BGANZ members voted to transition from an incorporated association to a company limited by guarantee to set the organisation up for future growth, better support the successful achievement of our strategic objectives and enable the delivery of an expanded suite of member services.

About the role

Working with a committed and enthusiastic Board, the CEO will define and implement strategic and business plans, building on the progress made by our outgoing CEO, while ensuring the organisation’s policies and processes contribute to the effective management of risk, compliance and governance, meeting all legal obligations.

Your immediate priority will be to lead business development and fundraising activities to identify and secure diversified and sustainable revenue streams. Your other focus areas will be:

• establishing and growing relationships and networks with key stakeholders, including member groups, funding bodies, donors, the media, government, community and business partners
• raising awareness of the important role botanic gardens play in plant conservation and education, climate resilience, social and cultural heritage, and community wellbeing, including representing BGANZ in the media and with ministers, political representatives, senior government officials, other peak and advisory bodies.

The role is offered for an initial period of one year (including a three-month probation period), with the possibility of extension for up to another four years based on the achievement of certain key performance indicators. The role is offered for 20 hours per week/40 hours per fortnight with a salary of up to $120,000 (negotiable) per year (including superannuation), pro rata.

The role is currently delivered from Canberra, working remotely and/or from the Australian National Botanic Gardens. We are open to alternative arrangements.

About you

You are astute and savvy, committed to delivering value to members, and able to advance the interests of botanic gardens with key stakeholders and partners. You will have a sense of vision with proven success in generating organisational income. You will also have:

• an ability to focus strategically, steer and implement change, and deal with uncertainty allowing you to imagine and secure an expanded future for the organisation, in conjunction with our committed and enthusiastic Board
• demonstrated corporate governance experience allowing you to manage risk, budgets and people and undertake necessary reporting to ensure the smooth running and ongoing sustainability of BGANZ
• advanced stakeholder management, negotiation and representation skills, allowing you to establish and maintain beneficial partnerships, advocate with government, business and communities, and represent BGANZ and its members in the media
• genuine enthusiasm for the important role botanic gardens play in the economy and society, including in plant conservation and education, climate resilience and community wellbeing
• previous experience in a member services organisation is desirable but not essential.

How to apply

For an initial confidential discussion please email Marianne Cullen, Board Chair, at secretariat@bganz.org.au to arrange a suitable time.

To express your interest, please email a cover letter addressing why you want to be our next CEO and proposing how you will operate effectively from your preferred location, and a CV, in strict confidence to secretariat@bganz.org.au.

Applications close 4 August 2023.