c? MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT TE MANATO WHAKAHIATO ORA report Date: 16 January 2015 CONFIDENCE To: Hon Jo Goodhew, Associate Minister for Social Developme? Superu Board Appointments Security Level: Purpose of the report This report provides you with advice on making some new a tmen to eru Board?. These include the option of appointing up to three bers - d, as well as making substantive appointments to the Board Chai Com I - ositions. It recommends that you approve the attached Board ition ?53 and that this 'ates for is used when seeking nominations, and for asses abili appointment. Recommended actions It is recommended that you: 1 note that you have the option a may also be designated . . member as Deputy Chan . mem the Board you must: notify the vacancy in such a quali gible candidates, and take into account the need brea rience and expertise tgir has advised you that the Board has experienced difficulties embers to the Superu Board, ilies Commissioner position, (who 'on, you have the option of appointing a way as to attrac - obt at meetings and that it works best when there is a full atf 5- intment round you look at making a minimum of two Board ber ?nt Agree I Disagree a Board has carried out a self?assessment of its skills. experience, and 'se and believes it would be of benefit to have the additional: governance experience (including Finance/Audit) 0 experience of issues facing Pasifika and other ethnic groups 0 technical knowledge of the use of statistics and social science research 1 Of?cialiy the Board is the Board of the Families Commission. In this repon we refer to it as the Superu Board. 6 agree that the Board Member position description (copy attached) reflects the abovs considerations is used to: seek nominations, and assess the suitability of applicants Agree {Disagree 7 agree that advertisements are placed in newspapers inviting expressions of interest from suitable applicants, and that this process is complemented by a targeted approach of inviting Cabinet/Caucus colleagues to identify and/or nominate suitable candidates so a shortlist of candidates can be assessed by an interview panel ree I Disagx 8 agree to defer the process of appointing a Families Commissioner! 'r unt' have made a decision on who you wish to appoint as memberst th Agree @129 Carolyn Risk Date? Deputy Chief Executive Organisational Strategy i Hon Jo Goodh?ew Date? F. Associate Minister for Superu Board Appointments 2 Background 1 Legislation relating to the Superu Board states that it must consist of between three and seven members. Of these members, one must be appointed as Families Commissioner. That person may also be designated Board Chair?: There is also an option to appoint a Deputy Chair. 2 A CAB 51 form showing the current membership of the Board is attached. This shows that the Board currently has five members, and that the term of one member (Mr James Prescott) was due to end in August 20133. it also notes that Ms Jo?anne Wilkinson?s appointment as Families Commissioner and Board Chair was for a short term and is due to end on 17 April 2015. 3 As things currently stand, you have the option of appointing up tot emb the Board: two to fill existing vacancies, and one as a replaceme esoott. are also required to make substantive appointments to the Fa issi Chair position(s). You also have the option of appointing a Deputy 'ntments i wn Entities - ust: a enables tme 4 As well as the requirements relating to Board member a, Act 2004, Superu?s legislation states the responsibi before appointing a member, notify a . suitably quali?ed individuals to app! A mbers to have knowledge of, or in appointing a member, take in among them a breadth of ex experience in: different aspects rs lik before the Commission; and (it) the needs pira ions fe experiences) of different commu ?@terest tion groups in New Zeaiand society. Comment Board Member Appoint 5 The ?rst decisi ed to? ow many new members you wish to appoint to yo met th uperu last December Ms Wilkinson commented that the 'Wbtain a quorum for meetings. Ms Wilkinson also stated that en there is a full contingent of members with a wide range of exp is basis we recommend that you look at making two to three $3 ments. Ms Wilkinson also noted that the Board had gone through a ow less ?hands on? than in past years, and more focused on its ver nsibilities?. She concluded that it was important that all new members rice experience. son also provided your of?ce with advice on the Board?s own assessment of the experience, and expertise of existing members, and areas of potential gaps that @u be addressed through new appointments. 9 in this advice Ms Wilkinson noted that as well as having governance experience (especially in the Finance/Audit area), it would be useful if new Board members 2 Until now the Board Chair and Families Commissioner positions have been combined. The option exists, though, to treat them as two separate positions. 3 Minister Bennett wrote to Mr Prescott in early 2014 asking that he continue to serve under ?run on? provisions contained in the Crown Entities Act 2004. 4 The previous Families Commissioner/Board Chair's role was more of an ?Executive Chair' position in order to implement signi?cant changes to Superu while a Chief Executive had not been appointed. This type of role is no longer required; and a Board Chair is able to be selected from the existing members. Superu Board Appointments 3 collectively had knowledge of the issues facing Pasi?ka and other ethnic groups. The accompanying stock take of existing skills also highlighted the many areas of expertise (particularty knowledge of the use of statistics and social science research) currently provided by Mr Len Cook, who for the last 18 months has acted as an advisor to the Board. 10 Based on this assessment we recommend that for this round of Board appointments priority is given to candidates with skills and experience in the areas outlined above. A Board member position description reflecting this is attached for your approval. We recommend that this document is used when seeking nominations and for assessing the suitability of candidates for appointment. 11 Superu?s legislation states that before appointing a member the vaca st be not' in such a manner that enables suitably qualified individuals to appl Mini I have chosen to meet this requirement by placing advertisement or ily newspapers inviting expressions of interest from suitable app" 12 We recommend that you follow the same process, compl ente a tar approach of inviting Cabinethaucus colleagues to ide minate ndidates, and liaising with the various government nominat Ie suc .- istry for in Women and Ministry of Pacific island Affairs). 13 Assuming you agree, we will provide you wit ry of - lnominations received in order to identify a shortlist of who assessed by an interview panel. The results of this proc be oduce a list of recommended appointees for your I n. Families Commissioner/Board Ch' 14 You have the option of ru i o. a pointment process similar to that outlined above for the a issioner position(s). Alternativeiy, you 5 until you have decided who you wish to responsib" - . for the 'r position. ecommend that you make this decision once you have deci wh (?avors of the Board will be. 16 of the ommissioner position, apart from the change in title, this as tl ame role and reaponsibilities as other members of the Board. OT oarg@ er, collectively decide to delegate additional responsibilities to the 15 Given the Chen the focus on the Board?s governance stoner. a the . 17 We kthe Deputy Chair position has in recent years either been left vacant, or used of a succession planning process for the Board Chair position. In these noes we also recommend that a decision on this is deferred until after the other bers of the Board have been appointed. steps 18 Should you agree with the process outiined above, we will arrange to place advertisements in major daily newspapers in late January 2015 (we would follow the practice used in previous years of having a relatively small advertisement linking to material on the Ministry?s website). Notices would also be produced for your Office to forward to your Cabinet/Caucus coileagues. We will also tiaise with your Office over the membership of the interview panel for these appointments. Superu Board Appointments 4 '19 We recommend that advertising closes in mid-February, giving applicants around two weeks to register their interest. This would allow us to provide you with a summary of candidates/nominations reCeived by the end of February 2015. 20 These appointments need to be considered by the Cabinet Appointment and Honours Committee prior to any final decisions being made. As responsible Minister for Superu. you have the authority to make Board member appointments. Your letter of delegation from Minister Tolley states that all Cabinet and Cabinet committee submissions relevant to Superu are to be signed out by you on agreement with Minister Tolley. e/Q sh Superu Board Appointments 5 CAB 51:01 Current Membership Form Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee All sections must be completed. This form is available at Organisation Families CommissionISocial Policy Evaluation and Reseagch Unit Current Membership List members, including those being replaced or reappointed, but excluding the proposed new appointce{s). /2 A Name Age CityITown Date of origi Expi appoint pre rm Jo-anne WILKINSON Whangaparaoa 26 Marc 2? (appointed Families Commissioner and Board Chair from 20 October 2014 through to 17April 2015) Paul von DALDELZEN Havelock North <96 201? >27 March 2017 Professor Sir Peter GLUCKMAN Auckland a De@ 30 November 2015 1 up; None 2017 James ember 2010 31 August 2013 Vacant <6 Vacant A James Prescott has agreed to co un rovisions contained in the Crown Entities Act 2004. Brief Outline of cti Responsibilities of the Organisation \2 The Families Commissio as amendemmtl, giving the Commission the additional responsibility to monitor and evaluate program and i ention ial sector, and to provide social science research into key issues, acr?aE r. The amendment also set out to restructure the Commission so that it Haami No drogrammes, a comprises a 3 Co mi nd other members, amends some functions of the Commission and provides for the appoint a Sci Panel to provide academic peer review and guidance. mm The Co has ix ctions which are set out in the Families Commission Amendment Act 2014: I act as an advocate for the interests of New Zealand families in general. In performing this, the u, st identify and have regard to factors that help to maintain or enhance either or both of the following: rammes, and interventions across the social sector. When monitoring or evaluating programmes and interventions as part of its monitoring. evaluation, and research function, the Commission must act independently of the programmes and interventions being monitored or evatuated. The Commission is an autonomous Crown entity responsible to the Minister for Social Development. Use further pages, if required, to provide the information requested. Superu Board Member Position Description Superu Superu1 is an autonomous Crown entity established under the Families Commission Act 2003 (the Act). In 2014 a number of changes were made to the organisation?s functions and governance arrangements. including Superu?s main functions being: - to act as an advocate for the interests of families generally 0 to monitor and evaluate programmes and interventions in the social sector, and provide social science research into key issues, programmes, and interventions across that sector. Superu is based in Wellington and employs around 39 staff. In 2014/2015 it will receive $9.869m in Crown funding. Further detail can be found at Superu Board The Superu Board is the governing body of no more than seven, and no less thant as members. Provision is made for one to be appointed as Families Com in addition to being a Board mom of members are att Board mem of experi Ively 're breadth perti - - the atte liome before @ds an of different uniti st and population groups ea and society. All mem st so meet the eligibility set out in the Crown Entities as Appendix 2). dem strate expertise in at least one or more of the following areas to reflect Superu's current work programme. Particular focus for the 2015 appointment round will be on the following areas: with strong emphasis on the first threeatlon of these techniques 5? the entity with the authority to exercise all powers to perform its functions. it consists the application of social sciences 0 previous experience in board governance, particularly in the public sector, including financiallaudlt literacy - practical knowledge and understanding of the diversity of New Zealand families and family groups, with pa lar referen Maori valuation techniques ith practical experience in Clive relationships ity to create and maintain t. eneral knowledge and understanding :5 of government policy and legislative processes. Families Commissioner ma onai duties as determined by th . Details of the collectiv i dual Term of Appointment All Superu appointments are made by the Minister for Social Development and for a term of up to three years. After this period members are eligible for reappointment. Fees The remuneration of members is set in accordance with the Cabinet Fees Framework. This currently provides for members to receive a daily fee of $565. Members are also entitled to claim expenses such as travel and telephone related costs. Any expenses incurred in carrying out the role are also able to be paid for in accordance with the fees framework. Workload Members are expected to attend all scheduled Board meetings (approximately 10 per year). They may also be required to participate in any specialist committees established by Superu. Most meetings will be held in Wellington. Some meetings may, however, be conducted by telephone conference. Superu. (the Social Policy and Evaluation Unit) is of?cially the Families Commission. As part of changes to the legislation governing the organisation. the Commission adopted the tltie ?Superu? to further define its functions more clearly. Appendix 1 Collective and individual duties of Board members Superu Board members have the following collective duties: 0 to ensure that the entity acts in a manner consistent with its objectives, functions, current statement of intent, and current statement of performance expectations 2 to ensure that the entity performs its functions: - efficiently and effectively - in a manner consistent with the spirit of service to the pubi& - in collaboration with other public entities - to ensure that the entity operates in a financially resp anner prudently manages its assets and liabilities - endeavours to ensure: i. its long-term financial viability; a m. Families Commission Act 2003 her own interests at the expense of the entity?s ii. that it acts as a successful acting in good fait interests diligence, and skill - acting wi it re le not orrn rom exceptional circumstances. Fu Qr matio in the Crown Entities Act 2004 is cg rt". Appendix 2 Eligibility for Appointment The following people are disqualified from being a member of the Superu Board under Section 30 of the Crown Entities Act 2004: a person who is an undischarged bankrupt - a person who is prohibited from being a director or promoter of, or being corned or ta part in the management of, an incorporated or unincorporated body un ompa Act 1993, or the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, or the Takeove - a person who is subject to a property order under the Protectic& 3 0 land Rights Act 1988 a person in respect of whom a personal order has been nde tha re Iects adversely on the person's? i. competence to manage his or her own affairs to 's@property; or ii. capacity to make or to communicate de - ing ny icular aspect or aspects of his or her personal care a . a person who has been convicted of an nish Ierisonment for a term of two years or more, or who has been to i for any other offence, untess that person has obtained a par rved ce, or otherwise suffered the penalty imposed on the person 0 a member of Parliament - a person disqualified rAc Vx @onx