Institute for Sustainable Futures Institute Board

* On the recommendation of the chair, the board has the power to approve the co-option of members on the basis of their skills and experience and as may be needed to progress the board’s purpose.

The board provides governance oversight for matters relating to the institute at UTS on behalf of Academic Board. The board is responsible for considering the following matters and making recommendations to the applicable decision-making authority:

1. within the framework of the UTS Rules, including, with the Vice-Chancellor's designation under Rule 1.3 as being equivalent to a faculty board for the purposes of UTS Rules, doing all things required by a faculty board under UTS Rules in relation to the students and functions of the institute
2. leading the development and oversight of the institute’s strategy, including research and teaching and learning strategies and business planning and implementation
3. overseeing governance of the Research Leadership Committee, the Learning and Development Leadership Committee, strategic initiatives and working groups
4. informing institute planning and decision-making
5. evaluating benchmarks and monitoring performance.

Academic Board approved amendments to the board's governance structure at its 23/4 meeting held on 27 September 2023. Further information is available from Institute Board: Terms of reference (PDF).

The length of membership term, including for boards of studies, appointed and co-opted members, will be two years for staff and one year for students, commencing from 1 January, consistent with the term of membership for members of faculty boards. (AB/17-1/18.3).

Gender balance and diversity of the membership of the board will be supported through encouragement of nominations from across the organisation.

If the Chair is absent for a meeting(s), the Deputy Chair will have all of the Chair’s functions for the duration of the meeting(s). In the absence of the Chair and Deputy Chair the board will elect one of its members to preside at the meeting.

There will be at least four meetings in each calendar year. Meetings occur each quarter on a date nominated by the Director in accordance with the agreed meeting schedule.

The quorum shall be one-half of the current members of the committee, if one-half is not a whole number, the next higher whole number shall be used. Vacant positions on the committee do not count toward the total membership of which one-half is required to reach a quorum.

At least seven calendar days' written notice will be given by the head of operations (or nominee) for ordinary meetings, including the meeting’s time and place and the agenda. Special meetings will be convened as per Standing Order 4.5.

The board may establish sub-committees as appropriate. The followings are the sub-committees of the board:

• Research Leadership Committee

• Learning and Development Leadership Committee.