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ANZSOG’s inaugural Alumni Advisory Council was appointed in 2018 to represent our 4000-strong alumni community of influential public sector leaders and give them greater involvement in ANZSOG’s activities and the chance to advise on our future direction, education, research and alumni activities. The Council is ANZSOG’s peak alumni representative body.
The Council’s objectives are to build a strong, engaged and cohesive alumni community, and foster two-way communication between alumni and the ANZSOG executive, and between alumni and public services. It represents alumni interests and views and provides a formal channel to communicate with ANZSOG, including acting as a National Steering Committee for established jurisdiction alumni chapters.
It also provides strategic advice to ANZSOG on program delivery, support capability and leadership development in the public service, and encourages equity and diversity in ANZSOG program participation.
The Council continues to evolve and adapt, reflecting ANZSOG’s deep and genuine commitment to strong public administration and the aspirations of – and our close relationship with – our government creators. The current Alumni Advisory Council consists of 15 members from across ANZSOG’s jurisdictions in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, led by Chair Cheryl Leavy and Deputy Chair David de Carvalho.
The Council meets regularly and is also in contact with the ANZSOG Dean and CEO and Executive Management Team.
A message from the Chair:
“As ANZSOG alumni, we are charged with strengthening public sector leadership and ultimately improving the lives of the communities we serve. ANZSOG itself continues to be a global leader in education and government-focused research helping guide us through everything volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous during this historic time.”
“Please feel free to reach out to me via alumni@anzsog.edu.au if you have any feedback or suggestions to help us with the Council’s important work or to notify us of an alum’s achievement” – Cheryl Leavy.
Image: Cheryl Leavy
View current council members below.
Purpose
The ANZSOG Alumni Advisory Council is the alumni peak representative body.
The ANZSOG Alumni Advisory Council (AAC) is the alumni peak representative body. The Council represents the interests and views of a diverse alumni community and contributes to ANZSOG activities including, but not limited to alumni programs and activities, stakeholder relations and engagement, marketing and communications, program development.
The Council provides advice to the ANZSOG Dean/CEO and Executive Management Team.
The Council draws on the expertise and engagement of Alumni to ensure that this important community can influence the future direction of the School.
The Council acts as an advisory body, reporting to the ANZSOG Dean and CEO (Chief Executive Officer), and working closely with the ANZSOG Executive and Academic Management Teams via an ANZSOG representative (Engagement & Experience Deputy Director).
Objectives
To build a strong, engaged, and cohesive alumni community.
To foster appropriate, two-way communication between alumni and the ANZSOG executive and academics and between alumni and the public service.
To ensure the delivery of high quality, high value and innovative alumni programs and services.
To encourage support of ANZSOG as a demand driven agency owned by Australian and New Zealand governments.
To act as a national steering committee group for jurisdiction alumni chapters.
Membership
A member of the ANZSOG Alumni Advisory Council is selected to hold the position based on:
- demonstrated involvement, support and/or commitment to ANZSOG
- demonstrated leadership professionally and personally demonstrated skills and capabilities that add value to the Council
- commitment to the Council purpose and objectives and the values of ANZSOG.
Council members must agree to actively participate in and accept the responsibilities of Council membership. Council members will:
Advise ANZSOG management on strategically important alumni-related issues, including strategies, programs and services that benefit alumni, and propose actions to enhance the wellbeing of the alumni community.
Provide insightful input on ANZSOG directions and priorities.
Communicate the interests and concerns of alumni broadly to ANZSOG management and faculty.
Evaluate how decisions will affect/benefit both ANZSOG and alumni in the short and long- term.
Build relations between alumni, students, management and faculty, public sector departments and agencies, and engage with local alumni to build understanding of their needs and expectations.
Be visible advocates for ANZSOG and the alumni community by serving as ANZSOG’s representatives and spokespeople in the community, workplace and other professional networks.
Advise on, endorse and provide visible leadership of ANZSOG’s alumni program and engagement strategies and encourage alumni involvement in ANZSOG.
Accept leadership and participatory roles in ANZSOG’s strategic project teams, programs, activities and events as needed and work closely with staff on behalf of ANZSOG.
Remain engaged and committed to the Council during the length of their term and attend and participate in Council meetings each year and online conference calls as needed to fulfill the Council and project team commitments.
Represent the diverse views of alumni and actively seek to broaden the influence of alumni and ANZSOG.
Composition and terms
The Council is comprised of a minimum of 10 members from the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand alumni community. An ANZSOG representative (Deputy Director Engagement & Experience and/or Engagement Coordinator) will be present at all Council meetings and act as the key liaison between ANZSOG and the Council.
One or two alumni members will be selected from each jurisdiction:
• ACT
• Commonwealth
• New South Wales
• Aotearoa New Zealand
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia
A member of the ANZSOG Engagement & Experience team will provide secretariat support for the Council.
Council members will serve a two-year term and may apply for re-selection for one additional term. After the maximum membership time of four years, Council members must step down for at least one term before being eligible once again for Council membership. Council members will begin their term at the first Council meeting of the calendar year and end their term at the last.
The Chair will be decided by a self-nomination process and a council member vote. In the event of a tied vote, rotating Chairs may be considered. The Chair will serve a two-year term and may apply for reselection for one additional term. After the maximum membership time of four years, the Chair must step down from the position (but not necessarily from the Council). The Chair must step down for at least one year before being eligible once again for the position. An acting Chair (Deputy Chair) should be nominated to allow for a council member to fill the position in the unexpected absence of the Chair.
Where possible, Council members to direct ANZSOG staff to relevant Public Service Commission contacts to assist with succession planning/centralised EOI (Expression of Interests) submissions (in addition to open EOI process via ANZSOG comms channels).
Meetings and work program
The Council will meet four times per calendar year (default online meeting format with time to be advised). ANZSOG will fund members to attend one in-person meeting per term if this is not able to be accommodated within agency/jurisdiction budgets. Meetings each year will be via video conference. Meetings will be scheduled to ensure timely advice to ANZSOG executive meetings. The Council may meet more than four times a year should the need arise.
Council members will establish an annual work program that may require some activity in between meetings. This may include representing ANZSOG at education, advisory or research programs and events, communicating and meeting with local alumni and strategic partners.
Selection
ANZSOG will call for expressions of interest from alumni. Interested alumni will be asked to submit their CV and a one-page statement summarising how they will deliver on the membership requirements outlined above.
The Dean and CEO, Deputy Director Marketing and Communications and other key staff will review applications and oversee the selection process. The composition of the Council will ensure:
• all jurisdictions are represented
• diverse and inclusive representation (50/50 gender split, Indigenous representation, senior executive representation and alumni from recent cohorts).
• Minimum 50% of members must be currently working in public sector.
ANZSOG reserves the right not to appoint to all 20 possible council positions and to stagger initial appointments to support continuity and knowledge transfer as membership is refreshed. Feedback will be provided to all alumni nominees.
Related Pages
About our Alumni Program
ANZSOG’s alumni is a 3600+ community of influential public sector and public purpose leaders, with members based in about 40 countries. ANZSOG’s alumni embody its values of excellence, collaboration, integrity and respect.
Alumni Ambassadors
Alumni Ambassadors are the champions of ANZSOG, stepping in to mentor the next generation of ANZSOG alumni, while also encouraging networking opportunities with fellow alumni. Alumni ambassadors may also be invited to speak at ANZSOG events or participate in ANZSOG media.
Alumni Benefits
As part of our alumni community, you have a unique opportunity to contribute to the future direction of ANZSOG and the public purpose sectors at large. Getting involved is a great way for you to take advantage of the connections you’ve made and keep your learning alive.
Alumni stories
Browse our collection of Alumni stories.