Dedicated to promoting the highest standards of notarial practice through excellence in education, professional development and support for members.

Structure and Corporate Governance

Patron

Professor the Hon. John Harber Phillips, AC, FANZCN (Hon), Q.C.

Provost, Sir Zelman Cowen Centre, Victoria University.

Former Chief Justice of Victoria.

It is with great sadness that the College notes the passing of its distinguished Patron on 7 August 2009. We extend our sincere sympathy to Mrs Helen Phillips and the family.

 

The College

The College is a learned society which was established in June 2007 under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) as a public company limited by guarantee with a licence to omit the word 'Limited' from its name.

The first seat of the College is in Melbourne. In the ordinary course, the seat will remain there for some six years and then will move each four years to a new location in Australia or New Zealand as determined by the board of governors from time to time.

As is so with all public companies, the College's supreme organ is its general meeting of members. The first annual general meeting will be held in late 2008.

The College's affairs are managed by or under the direction of its board of governors which must meet at least twice a year. Between meetings of the full board, the College is managed by the board's Executive Governors.

The Chairman of the Board of Governors, and in the Chairman's absence, the Deputy Chairman is the executive head of the College and is the College's official representative for all purposes.

The Executive Governors are elected by the membership at large. At the time of his or her election, an Executive Governor must reside and hold office as a notary in the state of Australia or the electoral district of New Zealand in which the seat of the College is located.

At the time of election, a Non-executive Governor must reside and hold office in the electoral district which he or she represents. As far as is reasonably practicable, one Non-executive Governor must elected from each of the following nine electoral districts, namely:-

  • New South Wales
  • Queensland
  • South Australia
  • Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia
  • the Auckland District (as defined in the Constitution)
  • the Wellington District (as defined in the Constitution), and
  • the South Island of New Zealand.

Casual vacancies within the board are filled by appointment.