Council and Council Committee support

Under the leadership of the University Secretary, the Governance and Assurance Services team helps the University make good decisions. They do this by providing professional governance support and advice to Council, its standing committees and Academic Senate and its committees.

We can help you with

  • Committee and Council reporting timeframes and deadlines
  • Upcoming committee agendas items
  • Reporting formats: which template to use
  • Report content and the key elements requiring Council consideration
  • How to draft and develop a resolution
  • Meeting actions and outcomes reported to the Executive Leadership Team
  • General governance advice
  • Election information, forms and advice

Who to contact

Team Member Contact me about
Dianne Allen, University Secretary

The University Secretary serves as the University's most senior advisor on governance and associated administrative, compliance and regulatory matters and is the key contact point for Council.

Melinda Wellham, Executive and Council Communication Officer

Executive support for the Chancellor.  Extending invites to Council members and Council member information distribution.

Hamish Lithgow, Governance Manager

Secretariat services for:

  • Council; and
  • Council Committees

secretariat@newcastle.edu.au

Secretariat services for:

  • People and Culture Committee;
  • Finance Committee;
  • Controlled and Associated Entities Committee;
  • Development Committee;
  • Risk Committee;
  • Nominations and Governance Committee;
  • TUNRA Board;
  • NUservices Board; and
  • NUsport Board

ELT-secretariat@newcastle.edu.au

Secretariat services for:

  • Executive Leadership Team
academicsenate@newcastle.edu.au

Secretariat services for:

  • Academic Senate;
  • Research Committee; and
  • Teaching and Learning Committee

What does a 'Secretariat' team do?

  • We provide governance advice to the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, President Academic Senate, Committee chairs and other senior staff to help them understand and carry out their governing and management roles in a way that complies with our legislative obligations
  • We set annual meeting cycles and reporting plans
  • We prepare agendas, running sheets, minutes and actions
  • We facilitate and provide advisory papers to Council
  • We organise, promote and conduct formal member elections and ballots for University bodies like Council, Academic Senate and College Boards
  • We induct new Council and Academic Senate members
  • We monitor the University’s interests in controlled and associated entities
  • We facilitate the University's governing groups to operate and make decisions according to the University of Newcastle Act 1989 , University of Newcastle By-law 2017, and other relevant rules, policies, procedures and statutory obligations
  • We help staff and students understand what good governance looks like
  • We maintain the University’s internal legislative framework
  • We execute documents under the University Seal

Council cycle of support

Council cycle of support