About the role
Board Member – Non Executive Director
Lort Smith Animal Hospital Melbourne, Australia
About the organisation
Lort Smith was built on its current site in North Melbourne in 1936 by the Animal Welfare League of Victoria. Our founder Louisa Lort Smith was passionately committed to caring for the animals of poor and disadvantaged people.
80 years later, this is still the heart and soul of Lort Smith Animal Hospital.
Today we are the busiest not-for-profit animal hospital in Australia. Our 67 vets and 94 vet nurses provide high-quality veterinary care. We delivered this care to 24,384 animals in 2015.
The hospital has 11 wards including an Exotic and Native Wildlife Unit. Our Adoption Centre cares for animals undergoing medical treatment and also provides shelter, adoption and fostering services for abandoned and relinquished animals.
Lort Smith Animal Hospital is a not-for-profit organisation with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, meaning all donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Our values
Care and compassion – We treat all people and animals with kindness and empathy. Quality and affordability – We work together in a safe environment to provide accessible and sustainable services of the highest standard. Integrity and respect – We have the courage to do what is right, be accountable for our actions, and communicate honestly and courteously.
The Board
The board of directors is a skilled based group of directors who give their time and energy to bring the Vision of Lort Smith (To be the recognised leader in Australia for animal health and well-being) to life. The board is a strong, collaborative team united by common purpose. The board of Lort Smith is regularly reviewed to ensure that the mix of skills on the board remain relevant to the evolving needs of the organisation, it’s client’s and key stakeholders. The board, through its nomination committee, seek to appoint a non-executive director
About the Role
The Lort Smith board is a skill based group of directors that values and embraces diversity of skills, experience, thinking styles and demographics.
Technical Specifications:
• A veterinarian or senior veterinary nurse with experience of small animal practice able to contribute contemporary knowledge of the science and art of veterinary practice.
• An experienced practitioner with knowledge of the practical business aspects of running a successful veterinary business.
Behavioural Criteria:
• The successful candidate must be able to work in a collegiate environment of collective decision making with the ability to constructively disagree without being disagreeable.
• The successful candidate will bring a strong alignment with the values and ethics of the Lort Smith.
Time Commitment:
• The successful candidate will need to be available for a minimum of 10 board meetings and one strategy planning session per annum.
• It is envisaged that the candidate will also have the time to participate in board sub-committees and working groups.
This appointment will be made to ensure that there is an appropriate mix of skills and experience and diversity on the Board. Essential competencies include previous experience at board level, ability to think and influence strategically, an understanding of good practice corporate governance including risk and change management, commitment to the role of the Board member and capacity to work collaboratively.
The Benefits
The Lort Smith offers a comprehensive induction plus support for director development and education.
This role is not remunerated.
Directors are appointed for 3 year terms.
Please submit enquiries and applications to boardapplications@lortsmith.com by February 28th 2017
About the organisation
How to apply
Applications not allowed for this volunteering opportunity.
Please quote in application: Board Member – Non Executive Director via Pro Bono Australia.
