Written by Mandy McFarland, CEO, Educate Plus
Over the past three years, the Educate Plus Board has placed deep focus on strengthening our governance and, as a result, has completely transformed the way we operate. Research shows 81% of Australian NFP Directors believe governance in their organisations has improved and Educate Plus certainly reflects this national momentum. Our focus has also been on making these improvements tangible for our members through fair decision-making, risk anticipation and transparent reporting to underpin a healthy and sustainable organisation.
Good governance is more than compliance (and there is a lot of that too). For our members, it means trust: trust that your association is well-run, transparent, contemporary and focused on delivering value. It also provides confidence that your voice is heard through structures and processes that are accountable and effective. Processes like the upcoming AGMs in each Chapter, where you elect your own Chapter Committees for 2026.
For our Sponsors, stronger governance signals reliability, which is evident in the increased number of Sponsors wanting to support us and the community we serve. It reassures everyone that Educate Plus is safeguarded by oversight, strategic and values alignment and a culture of collaboration and integrity.
So, what has the Educate Plus Board achieved?
1. A complete review of the Constitution with changes being implemented incrementally (watch out for a list of those changes prior to the AGM in March 2026)
2. Two new sub-Committees of the Board:
- Finance and Risk Committee which meets five times per year
- Nominations Committee which meets three times per year
3. New Charters for each Committee to define the guiding principles by which they operate
4. An Asia Taskforce to steer the strategic growth in this region
5. Appointment of two new external Board members to add significant finance and strategic risk expertise. These Directors bring an important commercial aspect to our business and as non-Advancement professionals, they question extensively which strengthens our accountability
6. A Risk Management Framework to guide our decision-making and future-proof Educate Plus
7. 20 new Policies to ensure compliance and rigour around our operations
8. A Board where 50% of the Directors have an AICD qualification compared with around 34% across the broader NFP sector, showing our commitment to professional governance
9. Detailed monthly reporting that means Directors are fully informed of every detail of our business and exceeding the standard quarterly cadence common in many NFPs
Building for the future
The improvements and reform we have implemented is not an end point but a solid foundation and we are indebted to the Board who have worked so hard to realise these changes. Strong governance allows us to be bold – pursuing new initiatives, expanding across regions and investing in professional development because we know our base is secure.
We know who we are and what our worth is and it positions Educate Plus, not just as a professional community, but as a sector leader with credibility, stability and vision. In short, strong governance is the invisible architecture that allows Educate Plus to thrive!
