Young People on Boards – A Panel Discussion

Jan Stewart, CEO of Lotterywest, The Honourable Helen Morton, Minister for Mental Health and Disabilities and Matt Rutter, Chair of Volunteering WA make up this panel discussing the case for inclusion of young people on Boards. Some of the interesting points raised include:

• Aspiring young Board Directors need older advocates to connect with them and connect them with opportunities
• Younger Directors can bring diversity, challenge cultures, fresh ideas and innovation
• It’s important not to engage a token young person and perhaps Boards need to consider a couple of younger Board Directors
• Experiment with ‘audacious campaigns’ where you give a younger person an opportunity to run a project
• Nominations committees need to include younger applicants into the mix when considering new Board members. If they aren’t included in the consideration, they can’t be nominated or elected.
• Good orientation processes help new Board members feel welcome and valued
• Many organisations are giving their staff time to volunteer on a Board. It is a good development opportunity and doesn’t cost them money!

(Engaging Young Leaders on Aged Care Boards: Finding Potential Unconvention, February 2013).