Help shape the future of rural, regional and remote Australia
The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) is seeking a new Director to join our Board and help steer the next chapter of our work. This is an opportunity to bring your leadership, insight and experience to an organisation that has championed the impact of leadership for more than 30 years.
Who we are
ARLF is Australia’s national leadership hub for rural, regional and remote communities. Since 1992, more than 5,000 people have taken part in our immersive leadership programs and workshops, backed by over $100 million in partner investment. We understand leadership as action, not position, and we work alongside individuals and organisations to lead with courage, navigate complexity and connect across difference. Through place-based programs, First Nations leadership and a strong alumni network, ARLF continues to build leadership capacity alongside the people shaping the future of rural, regional and remote Australia.
The opportunity
We are inviting expressions of interest for a voluntary Director role from candidates who can contribute at Board level and who bring the capability, judgment and lived experience to strengthen ARLF’s governance and impact. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders to apply.
As a Director, you would:
- Champion ARLF’s mission and extend our reach as Australia’s rural leadership hub.
- Contribute to the strategic direction, governance and sustainability of the organisation.
- Support the delivery of challenging, culturally safe programs and services.
- Engage meaningfully with alumni, funders, program participants and partners across rural Australia.
Directors are appointed on a voluntary basis to fill casual vacancies and serve until the next Annual General Meeting (AGM), where they may be considered for election. The Board meets five times a year, with three meetings online and two in person. One strategy day and one AGM are held alongside the in-person meetings. Directors also serve on at least one Board Committee. The company arranges travel and accommodation, or reimburses expenses.
Who we’re looking for
The Board is seeking candidates who can contribute at a governance level and strengthen its collective capability. Drawing on the Board skills matrix, we have identified the following priority capabilities for this appointment:
- Legal systems, including governance, compliance or regulatory frameworks.
- Fundraising and philanthropy, including experience engaging donors or generating revenue.
- Information systems and technology, including insight into digital systems, data or technology strategy.
- Impact measurement and evaluation, including the ability to interpret outcomes and evidence to guide strategic oversight, demonstrate social impact and strengthen Board-level decision-making.
- Education sector, including knowledge of learning systems, higher education, or leadership and education policy.
- For-purpose sector, including experience in mission-driven organisations or social impact work.
Capabilities that would further complement the Board include financial stewardship, communications and stakeholder engagement, government relations, risk management, rural and regional development, community-led change, advocacy and strategic partnerships. These are secondary to the priorities above but remain valuable in building a well-rounded Board.
First Nations leadership on the Board
This is not an identified position. Yet, we strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates who are recognised within their community and confident bringing cultural knowledge, lived experience and community insight to their broader contribution as a Director.
Inviting First Nations leadership onto the Board carries a responsibility to ensure those perspectives are genuinely heard, respected and able to shape governance and decision-making. As the Board continues its governance development work, it is committed to strengthening how it makes space for First Nations knowledge and community insight in practice.
Board Director responsibilities and commitment
As Directors of ARLF, Board members accept significant governance, fiduciary and legal responsibilities. Directors steward a charitable foundation and must exercise due care and diligence, act in the best interests of the organisation, oversee risk and financial sustainability, and ensure compliance with relevant legal and regulatory obligations.
The role is voluntary, and Directors accept the legal duties associated with governing a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity. The Board meets five times each year, and Directors attend in person wherever possible. Directors also serve on at least one Board Committee, which typically meets four times a year, mostly online.
Beyond meetings, Directors engage with the organisation at relevant community, industry and sector events, and with ARLF’s programs and services, to build a deep understanding of the organisation they govern. Directors should also allow time to prepare for meetings, review Board and Committee papers, take part in strategic discussions and contribute to governance activities across the year.
To nominate, request a copy of the nomination form from Tracy Fairhall, Executive Officer, tracyf@rural-leaders.org.au and return it by Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
For enquiries, please contact Philippa Woodhill, Interim Chief Executive philippaw@rural-leaders.org.au
