Governance
The Board of Trustees of Brisbane Girls Grammar School is the School’s governing body and is responsible to its stakeholders for the good governance of the School. The School is a statutory body, formed under the Grammar Schools Act 1975, with the Board being directly accountable to the Minister for Education in Queensland.
On 1 January 2017, the Grammar Schools Act 2016 came into effect and replaced the Grammar Schools Act 1975 with modern legislation to accommodate the contemporary needs of the School. The establishment and regulation of the School, including the constitution of the Board of Trustees and the functions of the Board, are now provided for within the Grammar Schools Act 2016.
Under the Act, the Board comprises at least seven (but no more than nine) Trustees, appointed every four years by the Governor in Council. This includes: three Trustees elected from and by the Roll of Electors; four Ministerial nominees; and up to two additional Trustees chosen by the Board and nominated by the Minister.
The Board elects its Chair and Deputy Chair from among its own number and they serve in those offices while they continue on the Board for the four-year term. A Board Secretary, employed by the School, provides support to the Board in carrying out its governance functions.
Trustees hold office for four years and at the end of their tenure, they are eligible for re-election or re-appointment.
Philosophy & Electors
Governance philosophy
The School is governed by a ‘governing’ Board (as opposed to a management board or committee) as this best serves the School and the needs of its community. This means the day-to-day operation of the School is delegated to the Principal. The Board, under its agreed charter, supports the Principal and oversees the School’s strategic planning and her leadership of the School.
The Board discharges its role primarily through the conduct of its regular meetings at least ten times per year, and through the regular meetings of the Board’s Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, with additional meetings of the Board for specific purposes, such as strategy development, as necessary.
Roll of Electors
Members of our community can provide gifts to the School to support its legacy and positive impact on future generations of girls and women. Donors should consider the implications of gifts per the below guidelines, with further information available online or from the Development Team.
The School maintains a comprehensive Roll of Electors based on eligibility criteria determined in accordance with the School’s By-laws, and current and past provisions of the Grammar Schools Regulation 2016. Eligible electors will be offered the opportunity to vote in the Board of Trustees elections.
Under the Grammar Schools Act 2016, gifts of $500 and above (excluding donations made via ASF) entitle the donor to one vote in the subsequent Board of Trustees electoral cycle. Gifts of $2000 and above (excluding donations made via ASF) entitle the donor to a vote in all electoral cycles.
Donations to the School’s Deductible Gift Recipient funds (Library Fund, Building Fund, or Education Fund Bursaries and Scholarships) are gifts to the School for the purposes of eligibility criteria. Donations to the School through the Australian Sports Foundation are not considered gifts to the School for the purposes of eligibility criteria.
For further information regarding elections, or to obtain a copy of the Electoral By-laws that set out detailed eligibility criteria, please contact Secretary to the Board of Trustees via email or phone 07 3332 1309.