Annual General Meeting (AGM) The 108 th AGM of The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne

Thursday, 27 th August 2020 The 108 th AGM of The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne

Pre-Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The CEO/Head of College, Dr Kerry Bennett, commenced pre-AGM proceedings by explaining the processes for conducting the meeting using technology (via the Zoom application) as provided in rule 38. Members participated in a test remote polling voting exercise to prepare for voting during the AGM. Dr Bennett introduced The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC, the President of The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Inc.

Open Annual General Meeting

The President took the Chair of the Meeting, and declared the 108 th AGM of the Association open at 5:35PM, welcomed all Members to the

meeting and introduced members of Council, the Auditors, the Accountant and the Returning Officer, explaining that new Council Members would be introduced and welcomed under Agenda Item 8. The Hon Diana Bryant explained that the documents available online to Members for this meeting were the Rules and Regulations of The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Inc. (the Association); the draft minutes of the annual General Meeting of the Association held 30 th May 2019; the agenda for this 2020 AGM of the Association; the annual report which included the Financial Report for the year ended 31 st December 2019; and the Explanatory Memorandum for Agenda Item 10.

President’s Address

President of The Graduate Union, The Hon Diana Bryant. The Hon Diana Bryant began the President’s Address by noting that this was her first chairing of an AGM as President and that with the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, this AGM was a virtual, and “far from a normal”, AGM. She looked forward to seeing Members in person at the next AGM in 2021. She commended the response of the CEO/Head of College and staff to the pandemic, saying that the Association was fortunate to have Dr Bennett as our CEO with her expertise and academic background to recognise the threat immediately, and to understand how to address it to create a supportive and safe environment for the residents and staff. Dr Bennett has had to deal with the financial modelling, and share the apprehension of what the future holds, including the retrenchment of some longstanding staff, to enable the Association to remain financially responsible and viable. All this required “not just good luck, [but] also good planning and execution”. The President noted that the Association was fortunate to have had Cr Rhys Watson as Chair

of the Finance and Audit subcommittee. The Association is in a sound financial position, but it would be foolish not to acknowledge that there may be worse to come. Graduate House has maintained 50% occupancy of our accommodation, but when the academic year ends most occupants will leave and, along with the higher education sector, we do not know

what the future holds.

Chair of the Finance and Audit subcommittee, Cr Rhys Watson.

The Hon Diana Bryant then addressed the departure of Cr The Hon Gaetano (Tony) Pagone from his chairmanship of, and from, Council. He has served the organisation extremely diligently over many years, including through this difficult year. Cr Vince Mirabelli will be the incoming Chairperson of Council and has been heavily involved in the administration especially this year, as have all the Council. The organisation will continue to be well served by the incoming Chair and Councillors. Finally, the President acknowledged all the Council for their work and particularly for their diligence and application since COVID-19. Special thanks also went out to Dr Bennett and the staff who have borne the brunt of this pandemic.

The President concluded by saying that everyone has been mindful of the students whose safety was entrusted to us, and of the membership who are looking forward to the fellowship we anticipate resuming, hopefully, sooner rather than later. There is cautious optimism about our future, but the Association will not stop being realistic either if difficult decisions are required.

Report from Chairperson of Graduate Council

Chairperson of Graduate Council, The Hon Gaetano (Tony) Pagone.

The Chairperson of Graduate Council, The Hon Gaetano (Tony) Pagone noted that this was his last report as Chairperson of The Graduate Union. He said that times of stress reveal the strength of people and organisations. That is no less true of the Association and the people in it. The staff moved quickly and decisively at the start of the pandemic to ensure the safety of all and the continuation of our activities in accordance with government health, and other, directions. We could not have been better placed, and better served, than by Dr Kerry Bennett as CEO and Head of College. Many hard, and some sad, decisions were taken, but they have been made with knowledge, human compassion and in line with the ethos of the Association. The strains upon the Association during these times have also shown the real strength of our governance structures and of our overall finances. The focus of Council has been to ensure that the Association has continued to be managed appropriately in the changed circumstances. The deputy chair, Cr Vince Mirabelli, was called upon to assist in filling the role as chair whenever Cr Pagone was unavailable to ensure continuity in the transition that will be required after this AGM. The Association is fortunate with the Council members it has had in these troubled and unexpected times. Among those is Cr Rhys Watson who, like Cr Pagone, did not stand for re-election to Council at a time when the impact of COVID-19 was not anticipated. Cr Watson continued in his role of Chair of the Finance and Audit subcommittee of Council and in that role has provided invaluable leadership and important expertise at a crucial time. Thanks were also extended to those new Council members who were elected a few months ago but were not formally able to take their place as Council members until this AGM. However, they were able to participate at all Council meetings since the results of the Council elections were known. This was important to ensure that those who have the tasks of continuing with the governance of the Association through, and after, the pandemic be involved in the decisions that were being taken by Council before they could formally take their position on Council. Continuity in governance and decision making in times of crisis is important. A particular highlight for the Association since the last AGM was the acceptance of the Hon Diana Bryant AO QC to the position of President. The role of the president of The Graduate Union is important. It is not a nominal or symbolic position, although the people who have been the Association’s president over the years, like Diana Bryant, add to the prestige of the Association. We are grateful and honoured by her agreeing to have accepted the position and to have become involved with the activities of the Association as fully as she has in these difficult times. Sadly, we have lost some of our residents and staff as a result of the pandemic. This has been inevitable but has been kept to a minimum. Thanks were expressed to all residents, staff and Members of the Association for the support over these difficult times and during the whole of Cr Pagone’s time as a member of Council and as Chair of the Association. He said that it had been a privilege to be on Council and to have been its Chair. “It is heartening to be able to say that the Association continues to function well and that it will continue to have a strong and long future.”

The CEO/Head of College, Dr Kerry Bennett, thanked the President and the Chair of Council, and informed Members that her report would be of both 2019 activities and of those in 2020 to address the impacts of the global pandemic. With respect to 2019, the CEO/Head of College reported: • the launch and successful implementation of the first year of the Association’s third strategic plan with progress on all key result areas of the strategic priorities of an innovative, influential membership, a culture of giving, planned and achieved major projects, well-managed finances and mitigated risk and effective responsive stewardship; • 22 GU Collegiate events with approximately 1,679 attendees and insightful speakers/ convenors from many different disciplines, walks of life and countries; • 25,346 delegates attending 1,242 events and functions convened by 223 groups, predominantly in the not-for-profit sector; • with now 145 rooms (including 31 bedsits off-site), continued high college occupancy, averaging 89%, and more than 800 residents from many different regions of the world, as well as increasing demand with over 45,000 graduates enrolled in the two key source universities (The University of Melbourne and

RMIT);

progress with the redevelopment of the terraces from 222 to 234 Leicester Street, and with the capital campaign through the establishment of a project control group that met monthly; • impacts from, and progress with, neighbouring construction activities, particularly with the

Parkville Station and University Square; and • gratitude to Members for donating to the annual appeal and for considering the

Association as a beneficiary in their wills. With respect to 2020, the CEO/Head of College reported: • significant impacts on the Association across all revenue-generating units, particularly with respect to residential accommodation and meeting/function services; • the health and safety measures adopted at Graduate House to mitigate the risk of infection transmission, to meet the federal and state governments’ restrictions and to retain business and going concern; • a proactive and responsive approach delivered by dedicated, professional and hard-working staff, and with sound governance and leadership by all members of Council and the subcommittees; • continual defining of different scenarios (worst, likely, best) and financial modelling and forecasting for each; • the receipt of government support through

JobKeeper and cash flow boosts at the federal level, and the Business Support Fund at the state level; • staff redundancies and permanent reductions in hours; • efforts towards new accommodation offerings and the launch of a new Get Advice page; and • gratitude for the continued and strong moral and financial support from Members. In concluding, the CEO/Head of College thanked the Members, the President, the Council and its subcommittees and her much-appreciated colleagues on staff.

Financial Report for the Year Ended 31 st December 2019

The Chairperson of the Finance and Audit subcommittee, Cr Rhys Watson, outlined the key results for the financial year ending 31 st December 2019 indicating that: • operating revenue of $3.797M had increased by 1.6% since 2018 and had been generated primarily from accommodation ($2.36M, 62.2% of revenue) and catering ($1.27M, 33.5%); donations and bequests had increased from $388K in 2018 to $431K in 2019; key expenses continued to include those for salaries and wages ($1.73M, decreasing from 2018 by $56K) and catering ($0.54M, slightly lower than that in 2018); interest payments had increased year on year due to the full year of expenses following acquisition of the Barkly Place apartments late 2018; surplus of $0.42M was $0.13M greater than that in 2019, and total comprehensive income in 2019 of $0.67M was $0.66M less than that in 2018 due to the higher increase to the buildings valuation with the late 2018 acquisition of the Barkly Place apartments; cash flow from operating activities of $105K was $137K lower than in 2018; cash and cash equivalents by the end of the financial year increased from $117K to $208K; borrowings included $7.052M from NAB and $4.297M from Bank Australia; and total equity (assets minus liabilities) had increased from $28.45M to $29.10M in 2019.

Election of Council Members

From left: Cr Molina Asthana, Cr Natalie Gray and Cr Martin Comte. The Returning Officer, Mr Ron Ritchie, provided his election report, indicating that at the close of nominations on 12 th March 2020, three valid nominations had been received for the three vacancies to be filled on Council, declaring elected Cr Molina Asthana, Cr Martin Comte and Cr Natalie Gray and indicating the terms of office for all three to be until the 2023 AGM. The Hon Diana Bryant welcomed and congratulated the elected Councillors and provided the following short biographies for each. •

Cr Asthana has been a Council member since 2017, and has been actively involved in Graduate House affairs, including as Chairperson of the Governance and

Nominations subcommittee. She is a lawyer by profession and has significant experience on other boards including the Law Institute of Victoria, AFL South East Commission,

Good Shepherd AusNZ and Gymnastics

Victoria. Cr Asthana founded the organisation

Multicultural Women in Sport which aims to empower migrant women from multicultural backgrounds through sport. Cr Asthana is passionate about diversity and understands the issues of our diverse membership.

She is well-connected in community and government through her extensive community work and tries to bring people of all walks and influence to The Graduate

Union. Cr Asthana has spoken at GU events and actively spends time at Graduate House to interact with Members and understand their needs. She has won multiple awards for her community work including the Victorian

Multicultural Award for Excellence twice.

Cr Gray joined The Graduate Union as a Life

Member immediately following graduation from the Bachelor of Town Planning with 1 st Class Honours in 1983. Over the years, she has been watching the organisation, whilst being preoccupied with her career in property and finance. She now has the space to contribute to the Association and believes that it makes a significant contribution to facilitating thinking and learning. Cr Gray’s work requires a strong understanding of ethical governance processes and accepting the time necessary to carry out due diligence for each stage. Her involvement currently is particularly fitting as her skills are relevant to the proposed redevelopment. Much of

her work these days is for not-for-profit organisations such as non-government schools, health facilities and places of worship. She has also established two charitable Foundations linked to education and research. • Cr Comte became a Member of The Graduate

Union after graduating from The University of Melbourne with degrees in Music (1969) and Education (1971). He re-joined more recently. Cr Comte brings experience across three residential colleges as a student and as a member of leadership teams. During his PhD studies (University of Michigan) he lived in a predominantly ‘black’ college. He describes this experience as having helped shape his understanding of the importance of colleges with respect to minority groups.

Cr Comte is vigorously committed to student/ staff wellbeing, supporting gender diversity, and exploring new possibilities for quality cultural, social and educational experiences at Graduate House. He believes strongly in the ‘added’ benefits of college life. University appointments have included Dean of the

Faculty of Education, and Associate Dean,

Cultural Development. Other experience includes being on the Board of The Australian

Ballet School, and National Council of

Musica Viva. Currently he chairs the Advisory

Committee for Worawa Aboriginal Girls

College, Healesville. The Hon Diana Bryant welcomed Cr Gabrielle Reilly, explaining that Cr Reilly had been appointed to Council as provided in rule 48.1(d), and giving the following short biography.

Cr Reilly is a senior executive with a track record of achievement in leadership, strategic planning, managing competing priorities and building positive stakeholder relationships.

She is Executive Director, Human Resources with Victoria Police. Previous positions include Chief Corporate Officer, Court

Services Victoria; Executive Director People and Culture, LaTrobe University; and Deputy

Director, Department of Justice. A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company

Directors course, Cr Reilly has also completed an Executive Management course with

Monash and the Filo Community Leadership

Program. Cr Reilly was appointed to Council in March 2020. Gratitude was extended to retiring Councillors and a short account of their contribution to the Association while on Council was given.

Appointment of the Auditor

The Hon Diana Bryant reminded Members that Mr Sam Claringbold and his team from JTP Assurance had undertaken the independent audit for the past four financial years of the Association and had been recommended for reappointment to undertake the audit of the 2020 financial year. A motion that the appointment of Sam Claringbold of JTP Assurance to undertake the independent audit for the financial year ended 31 st December 2020 was raised and carried.

Motions for Special Resolution

The Hon Diana Bryant confirmed that Members had received notice of two motions for Special Resolution, as well as the detailed Explanatory Memorandum in which was outlined the rationale and justification for the proposed amendments to the Rules of The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Incorporated. Both motions were raised and carried.

Discussion and Question Time

Cr Davis OAM congratulated the President, Council and the staff on the success of the AGM and for their approach and hard work during the pandemic, and noted technology issues for potential remedy at subsequent meetings using technology. The Hon Diana Bryant noted that this was the first time that the Association had held the

AGM entirely online and that continuous quality controls would be implemented to ensure best participation by Members at such meetings in the future. No further comments or questions were received from Members.

Honorary College Fellows

Associate Professor Kate MacNeill and Professor John Polesol.

The Hon Diana Bryant announced the appointments (in absentia) of Associate Professor Kate MacNeill and Professor John Polesel as Honorary College Fellows, noted that both had volunteered as the academic mentors for the two 2018 United Board Fellows who had resided at Graduate House and gave the following short biographies. • Associate Professor Kate MacNeill is Director of the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) in the Faculty of Arts.

She continues to teach in the Master of Arts and Cultural Management program, in the

School of Culture and Communication. With a background in law and economics she had extensive experience in policy work in the government and non-government sector prior to returning to study art history and obtaining a PhD in Art History (Identity and contemporary Australian art). Her research interests include the intersection between law and artistic practice (in particular, cultures of intellectual property and censorship), leadership in the arts and cultural sector, and ethics and creative practices. • Professor John Polesol is Co-Director of the

Centre for Vocational and Educational Policy and Director of International Centre for Classroom Research, Melbourne Graduate School of Education. His research interests include the relationship between schools and vocational training, models of education and training, VET in schools and youth transitions from upper secondary schooling in Australia and internationally. He has played leading roles in winning and conducting more than 70 major educational research grants and consultancies, focusing on young people, education and VET, including: the ACACA national longitudinal VET in Schools study tracking Year 12 students’ development of career and life skills across time (2018-2020), the Careers Guidance: defining and measuring quality project for NSW DEC (2014), the NSW BVET Destinations and Expectations Survey for the Office of BoS and NSW BVET (2013), and the Evaluation of the Senior Secondary School Pilots (DEECD Victoria 2012). He has written journal articles, book chapters and commissioned reports, including in some of the most prestigious international journals such as Oxford Review of Education, Comparative Education, British Journal of Sociology of Education, Journal of Education Policy, Australian Journal of Education, and European Journal of Vocational Training. He also has chapters in major publishers, including Springer and Oxford University Press.

Date of Next Annual General Meeting

The Hon Diana Bryant advised Members that the next AGM was scheduled for Thursday, 27 th May 2021.

Close of Meeting

The Hon Diana Bryant thanked Members for attending the AGM and for embracing the technology and thanked the CEO/Head of College and staff for their significant efforts in preparing and hosting the meeting. Dr Bennett extended gratitude to The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC for chairing the meeting and joined the Members participating at the meeting in applauding such. The Hon Diana Bryant declared the meeting closed at 6:38 pm.