Outcomes and next steps

Based on the feedback we received from growers, the review’s outcomes that CBH will seek to implement include:

introduce a candidate assessment panel for member Director elections. Sitting Directors will be required to participate in the panel process, while it will be optional for new candidates. The panel will comprise two independent, external experts and one CBH Director.
introduce an Electioneering Code of Conduct to further support candidates to adhere to expected behaviour during the election process.
reduce the Board size by introducing a hybrid model with 10 Board members (5 district-elected member Directors, 2 statewide-elected member Directors, and up to 3 independent Directors).
require all Directors to graduate from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) company directors course within their first term.
retain 3-year terms for Directors with the introduction of a maximum of 3 terms. This would be for both Member Directors and Independent Directors.
introduce one additional 3-year term for the Chair to ensure continuity of leadership.
introduce the ability for the Board to allow any Director to stand for a fourth term by exception for continuity of Board experience. This would need to be supported by two-thirds of the Board.

Two of the review’s outcomes, the change to Board size and composition, and introduction of limits to Director tenure, require CBH Rule changes and will be put to members at the upcoming AGM in February 2021.The proposed improvements will require two-thirds majority support of members who vote in person or by proxy at the AGM.

The Board has already started work on implementing the other improvements that require a policy change and do not require an AGM member vote.

We have also posted a booklet to our members which provides an overview of information on the findings and outcomes of the governance review. The booklet collates the information from our email communications we have sent on the review previously and provides a handy guide on the process we undertook.

Click here to download

For a summary of the results and the next steps, please watch the video below: