• 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 Perkin, B.Bus, CPA, is the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia Limited.  Keith has an extensive commercial background primarily in the fields of management and marketing, having held senior positions in BP, Dymocks and Retravision.  Keith joined the Board in 2004, is a member of the Finance & Audit Committee and the Nominations and Remuneration Committee.  He is a Member-elected Director.

Jeanie YOUNG (Deputy Board Chair)

Jeanie Young (known as Jenny), B.Bus., is Executive Director, NBN Transition at Telstra Corporation Limited.  She has held senior marketing positions for Unilever, Lion Nathan, Pepsi and Telstra, and has worked in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia.  Jenny has a son with an autism spectrum disorder.  She joined the Board in March 2010 and is a Member-elected Director.  Jenny is a member of the Client Services Committee and Finance & Audit Committee.

Robert J. BROWN (Hon. Treasurer)

Robert J. Brown, B.Sc., M.A., Grad, Dip. Applied Finance, is Head of Client Management with HSBC Securities Services, Australia.   Rob was formerly a principal with Alford Brown & Associates and has also held senior executive roles with Westpac, the Commonwealth Bank and State Street Bank & Trust.  He is experienced in the governance of not-for-profit organisations, and has a personal interest in special education and the needs of children with learning difficulties.  Rob joined the Board in June 2008 and chairs the Finance & Audit Committee.  Rob is a Member-elected Director.

Henry CAPRA

Henry Capra, B.Ec., ACA, is the Chief Operating Officer at BlackRock.  Henry has more than 22 years of senior management and finance experience in the financial services industry.   He has held senior positions at AMP Capital, Colonial First State Investments, BNP Paribas Asset Management and Barclays Global Investors after commencing his career with chartered accountants KPMG.  Henry joined the Board in December 2010 and is a member of the Finance and Audit Committee.

David EPPER

David Epper, A.N.Z.I.I.P. (Senior Assoc), is the Managing Director of Accident and Health International Underwriting Pty Ltd and is also a Board member of SLE Holdings Pty Ltd and Dynamiq Pty Limited.  He has extensive insurance industry experience, specialising in Accident and Health.  David has a son with an autism spectrum disorder.  He joined the Board in 2001 and is a Life Member of Aspect. David is a Member-elected Director.

David FOSTER

David Foster, B.E., F.I.E. (Aust), is a retired engineer with management experience at Pacific Power.  David has an adult son with autism. He is particularly interested in services for adults and also convenes a group associated with the Norton Road Specialist Supported Living Village.  David joined the Board in 1975, is a member of the Finance & Audit Committee and represents the Board on the Corporate Risk Management Committee. He is a Life Governor of Aspect and a Member-elected Director.

Julie HAMBLIN

Julie Hamblin, B.A., LL.B (Hons) (Syd), LL.M (McGill), is a partner of HWL Ebsworth, providing specialised  legal and policy advice to the health sector .  She also manages the firm’s pro bono program.  She has served on numerous  government and non-government advisory bodies including international work with the UN on HIV policy.  Julie is a Director of Plan International Australia.  She joined the Board in April 2010 and is a Member of the Client Services Committee.  Julie is a Member-elected Director.

Ian JOSEPH

Ian Joseph, B.Bus, Grad Dip Ed, FAMI, AFAIM, is Head of Strategy – Service and Sales, with Regional and Agribusiness Banking at the Commonwealth Bank. Ian and his family care for his sister, Sara, who has an autism spectrum disorder.  With the knowledge gained over Sara’s life, Ian is well positioned to appreciate what it takes to care for a person over an extended period of time.  Ian joined the Board in March 2011, and is a Board-elected Director.

Malcolm McEWEN

Malcolm McEwen, B.Bus., M.Bus., is an executive search and selection consultant with Carmichael Fisher.  Malcolm is the father of a child with an autism spectrum disorder.  He joined the Board in 2004, is a member of the Nominations & Remuneration Committee and the Research Committee.  He was also previously a member of the Finance & Audit Committee.  Malcolm is a Member-elected Director.

Robert PESAVENTO  

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

Dr David STARTE

Dr David Starte, M.B.B.S., M.R.C.P.(UK), F.R.A.C.P., is the Service Director of the Royal North Shore Hospital's Child Development Service, and a Clinical Associate Lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Sydney. His interests include development paediatrics, including autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and audiology. David joined the Board in 2004 and chairs the Research Committee. David is a Member-elected Director.

Peter WERNER

Peter Werner, B.Comm., is an executive search consultant and a Director of Richfield Consulting and Carbon Careers.  He has previously worked in the banking industry with BT Australia and Citibank.  Peter is the father of a child with an autism spectrum disorder.  He joined the Board in 2001, and chairs the Nominations & Remuneration Committee.  Peter is a Life Governor of Aspect, a former Board Chair 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.