Board Directors x4 (voluntary)

Invertebrates Australia is seeking expressions of interest for up to four non-executive directors to join our existing Board. Join us to:

• Shape a future where invertebrates are appreciated and valued and biodiversity is sustained across Australian lands and waters
• Support Australian invertebrate research, conservation and community engagement activities

Established in September 2021, Invertebrates Australia is an environmental not-for-profit and the first of its kind in Australia. Our charity has a sole focus on an integrated scientific approach to the conservation and promotion of all Australian invertebrates.

This is an exciting and impactful period to join as Australians are taking up the urgent call to action to reverse alarming trends in biodiversity loss.

Skills and Experience

We are committed to having a board that is representative of the community with which we work; applications from women, First Nations people, People of Colour, people with a disability, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and people from ethnically diverse backgrounds are encouraged.

We are looking for these skills and experience in our directors:

First Nations Australian Identified Non-Executive Director Position

Invertebrates Australia understands the importance of First Nations representation on our board and a position will be reserved until such time as a suitable candidate has been appointed. We are seeking a First Nations person with a desire to support our mission and vision through sharing insights on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, culture and connection.  

Three Non-Executive Director Positions

Three vacancies are open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and seek Directors with one or more of the following:

1. A working understanding of environmental charities, funders and networks that will support our ability to be recognised as a well-regarded, strategically positioned and impactful not-for-profit.
2. Fundraising and philanthropy – as we await the outcome of our Deductible Gift Recipient Status we need to develop and deploy strategies and networks to financially sustain and grow our registered charity.
3. Legal – there are new and exciting opportunities which will require us to ensure we always maintain compliance and credibili
4. Partnerships and communication – with a strong strategic plan in place, we are eager to communicate our unique value proposition to identify and secure partnerships that financially sustain us and deliver shared value and impact

The successful candidates will also demonstrate:

• Compliance with the requirements of Directors as described in the Corporations Act and the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission Act (mandatory)
• AICD or equivalent company director qualification (preferred)

These roles are unpaid.

Board members will be expected to contribute up to 8 hours a month to prepare for and attend Board meetings, participation in at least one Board Committee (the two existing committees are (i) Finance, Audit and Risk Management and (ii) Fundraising, Partnerships and Communication) plus ad hoc support for the organisation. 

For those intrinsically motivated by making a difference, this leadership role at a pivotal time presents a unique opportunity to create a positive legacy for future generations.

About Us

Invertebrates are the bees, beetles, and flies that pollinate crops and wildflowers; the corals, urchins, and crabs that build reefs; the snails, millipedes, and worms that enrich soil and compost forests; the dragonflies and yabbies that maintain our rivers; the oysters, clams, and sponges that purify our seas; and the cuttlefish, crabs, and moths that migrate vast distances through our lands and waters.

More than 80% of Australia’s 320, 000 invertebrates are found nowhere else in the world. We have named roughly one third of our estimated total species, leaving much to discover.  Invertebrates make up more than half of Australia’s total biodiversity, and 95% of our animal diversity.

Despite their materiality and criticality, they are poorly understood and receive a small fraction of resourcing and attention.

Invertebrates Australia was founded in 2021 by a group of leading Australian scientists working on invertebrates who have the expertise and networks to transform conservation in Australia by championing invertebrates.

Catalysed by the devastating 2019/2020 bushfires, our founders met on a project to assess the impact on Australian invertebrates. Lack of data inhibited any analyses for most groups. The project brought into sharp relief the mismatch between the criticality of these species to human (and non-human) health and economic prosperity and the lack of understanding or misperception of the species.

Since establishment, we have articulated a clear strategy and plan to protect and preserve Australia’s native invertebrate species.

• Mission: To provide an integrated scientific approach to the conservation and promotion of Australian invertebrates.
• Vision: A future where Australian invertebrates are appreciated and valued, and their biodiversity is sustained, across our lands and waters.

Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals we have identified three pillars to guide our priorities and projects:

• Investigate:  To conduct and support scientific research to understand Australian invertebrates and their conservation requirements.
• Inform:  To raise awareness of, advocate for, assess, and provide advice about critical Australian invertebrate conservation.
• Inspire:  To increase people’s interest in and engagement with Australian invertebrates.

Our strategic priorities for Australian invertebrate conservation across 2023-2025 are:

1. Identify protect and restore areas of importance for invertebrates;
2. Secure the animals providing our ecosystem services by developing survey and monitoring standards;
3. Reduce pesticide use and support sustainable pest management starting in cities;
4. Increase and communicate scientific knowledge on the vulnerability of invertebrates to threats, especially fire;
5. Protect iconic and priority invertebrates and engage the public through Community Science; and
6. Increase threatened invertebrate species listings on the IUCN RedList and in Australian legislation.

More detail on the programs by which we deliver these priorities are listed on our website and in our Strategic Plan.