• ensuring a skilled, effective and diverse Board with appropriate operating standards and procedures
• appointing, supporting, delegating to, evaluating and remunerating the Chief Executive Officer and providing for a management succession plan;
• setting the vision, and agreeing the strategic direction and objectives of Aspect with management;
• ensuring resources are available to achieve its goals by developing with management and approving Aspect’s Strategic Plan, from which is developed its annual Action Plan and budget, and by regular monitoring of performance using the Corporate Score Card against these plans and the operating and capital budgets;
• advising, approving and monitoring management's activities and performance to ensure the Strategic Plan is being met;
• ensuring a risk management framework is in place to identify and manage those risks that threaten the reputation, earnings, assets and the basic capacity of Aspect;
• approving appropriate policies, guidelines and procedures and ensuring there is a compliance process in place to monitor adherence;
• ensuring the integrity of internal controls for financial and management information systems;
• maintaining adequate personal liability insurance for current and past Directors, and
• ensuring Aspect’s activities are conducted ethically and transparently.

Board Composition and Size

Board of Directors    

Keith PERKIN (Board Chair)

Keith joined the Aspect Board in October 2004 and became the Board Chair in May 2008. He is Chief Executive, Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia, based in Melbourne. Prior to this he was Chief Operating Officer at the Starlight Children’s foundation. Keith has a strong commercial background having held senior positions in Retail and the oil industry. Keith holds a Bachelor of Business degree and has completed Advanced Management programs at Mt. Eliza Business School in Victoria and INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. Keith is also a graduate of the Williamson Community Leadership Program in Victoria and has completed the Not for Profit Board Orientation Series run by Sydney Leadership. Keith is a member of the Finance & Audit Committee, the Nomination &Remuneration Committee and is a Member-elected Director.

Robert PESAVENTO (Deputy Board Chair)

Robert is the General Manager, Customer Engineering with SingTel Optus Pty Limited. Robert is the father of a son with an autism spectrum disorder. Robert joined the Board in 1999 and chairs the Client Services Committee.  Robert is a Life Member of Aspect and a Member-elected Director.

Rob BROWN (Hon. Treasurer)

Rob is Chief Executive Officer of specialist investment administration company Ausmaq, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Australia Bank. An active participant within the institutional investment and services sector with director and working group roles in peak industry bodies, Rob has a close affinity with the needs of children with learning difficulties, and Rob's wife Diane has a long-standing professional interest in special education. Rob joined the Board in June 2008, is the Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee is a Member-elected Director.  

David EPPER

David is the Managing Director, Accident and Health International Underwriting Pty Limited. He joined the Board in 2001. He has a son with an autism spectrum disorder. David is a Life Member of Aspect and is a Member-elected Director.

David FOSTER

David is a retired engineer with management experience with Pacific Power. As the parent of an adult son with an autism spectrum disorder, he is interested in progressive development of plans for growing numbers of adults who have autism spectrum disorders. David joined the Board in 1975 and is a member of the Finance & Audit Committee.  He also represents the Board on the Corporate Risk Management Committee.  David is a Life Governor of Aspect and is a Member-elected Director.

Julie HAMBLIN

Julie is solicitor and a partner of HWL Ebsworth Lawyers.  She has more than 20 years’ experience working in the fields of health law, bioethics and public health.  She has a particular interest in the not-for-profit sector, having been involved in the establishment and management of her firm's pro bono and corporate social responsibility programs.  She has served on a number of Commonwealth and State government boards and committees advising on health policy, and works as a consultant to the United Nations Development Program, AusAID and other agencies on HIV policies and programs in developing countries. Julie joined the Board in April 2010 and is a Member-elected Director.

Malcolm McEWEN

Malcolm is an executive search and selection consultant with Carmichael Fisher. He joined the Board in 2004.  Malcolm is married with two children, one of whom has an autism spectrum disorder. He is a member of the Finance & Audit Committee, the Nomination & Remuneration Committee and the Research Committee.  Malcolm is a Member-elected Director.

Dr David STARTE

David is the Service Director at the Chatswood Assessment Centre and a Clinical Associate Lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Sydney.  He joined the Board in 2004 and his interests include developmental paediatrics, including autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and audiology including universal newborn screening and auditory processing.  David chairs the Research Committee and is a Member-elected Director.

Peter WERNER

Peter is an executive search consultant and a Director of Richfield Consulting and Carbon Careers.  He has worked in the banking industry.  He is the father of three children, one of whom has an autism spectrum disorder.  Peter joined the Board in 2001.  He chairs the Nomination & Remuneration Committee and was a former Chair of the Board.  Peter is a Life Governor of Aspect and is a Member-elected Director.

Jenny YOUNG

Jenny is the Executive Director, Consumer Marketing at Telstra Corporation Limited.  Jenny has a son with an autism spectrum disorder. Jenny joined the Board in March 2010, is a member of the Client Services Committee and is a Member-elected Director.

The Process for Board Nomination

The responsibility for Board nomination rests with the Board’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee.  Its terms of reference are to:

• Engage in the ongoing development of selection criteria for new Board members with reference to the skills, knowledge and experience required to be a director of Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect);
• Take into account such criteria as gender, age, race or ethnicity, professional background and expertise, community connections, understanding the role and responsibility of directors under the Corporations Act 2001, knowledge/experience of the not for profit sector and knowledge and experience of the disability sector and in particular autism;
• Screen suitable candidates according to the selection criteria and make recommendations to the Board.

Members wishing to nominate for the Board are to contact the Chair of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee so that a meeting can be arranged between the nominee, the Chair of the Committee, the Board Chair and at least one other Director to discuss the role and consider its rights and responsibilities.  Not only is the Board looking for new Board directors from time to time it is also wanting to ensure that potential Board directors will be prepared to become part of an effective team, governing the organisation.