Governance

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.

Membership of the Board of Trustees, whether by appointment or election, carries significant responsibility and requires a substantial commitment to the School. The term of appointment is four years.

Key Responsibilities

Board members are collectively responsible for the following:

• determine and oversee the implementation of the strategic directions of the School
• appoint, support, and monitor the performance of the Principal
• work with the Principal to ensure the School obtains the necessary resources to implement the School’s strategic objectives and legislative requirements
• ensure that students and their wellbeing remain the central focus of the School in all its activities
• ensure appropriate policies and review processes are in place to monitor and enhance the quality of all School activities and business arrangements
• ensure that the School meets all legal requirements and remains accountable to its stakeholders, including the State Government
• assume the responsibilities contained in the Acts and Regulations to which Board members are accountable (see below). This includes overall financial responsibility for the School, ensuring that the School is managed in a financially responsible manner
• confirm that adequate risk management systems and processes are implemented to ensure that risks are adequately minimised
• take responsibility for the development and maintenance of the physical and virtual infrastructure of the School
• co‑ordinate and be involved in the generation of other revenue for the benefit of the School, including fundraising activities
• institute and review continuous improvement in governance policies and the performance of the Board itself.

Time Commitment

Board membership is a voluntary role and is not remunerated.

• The Board meets at least ten times per year, with meetings lasting up to 3–4 hours
• Additional special meetings may be held as required
• Board members are expected to attend key School functions and activities
• Preparation for meetings and consideration of School matters outside meetings require a significant time commitment.

Committees and Working Groups

• The Board has one standing subcommittee: the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, which meets quarterly and as required and makes recommendations to the Board
• Temporary working parties may be established from time to time
• Board members may also serve on specific-purpose management committees as required.

Legislative Responsibilities

Brisbane Girls Grammar School is a Queensland statutory authority established under the Grammar Schools Act 2016. Board members are appointed by the Governor in Council and are accountable to the Queensland Minister for Education (currently the Minister for Education and the Arts).

Board members are subject to common law duties, including the duty of care, as well as obligations under relevant legislation and government policy. Key legislation includes:

• Child Protection Act 1999
• Financial Accountability Act 2009
• Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Industrial Relations Act 1999
• Fair Work Act 2009

Further information is available in Welcome Aboard: A Guide for Members of Queensland Government Boards, Committees and Statutory Authorities (Department of the Premier and Cabinet).

Blue Card Requirement

Under the Child Protection Act 1999, all Board members must be eligible, as individuals, to obtain a Blue Card through the Department of Justice and Attorney-General’s Blue Card Services.

Conclusion

Membership of the Board is demanding and requires a strong commitment of time, attention, and effort. Prospective Board members should be prepared to make a wholehearted contribution to the School through active involvement both inside and outside Board meetings.

Enquiries regarding nomination for election to the Board may be directed to:

secretarytotheboard@bggs.qld.edu.au

+61 7 3332 1300

Eligibility

The requirements for nomination are set out in the Grammar Schools Regulation 2016 (Part 4, Section 10).

A person may be nominated as a candidate for election to the Board only if they:

• are an eligible person for the election; and
• are nominated by at least two other eligible electors.

A valid nomination must:

• be submitted in writing;
• be signed by the candidate and the nominators; and
• be received by the Secretary to the Board before the nomination closing date and time.

Nomination deadline

Nominations must be received by the Returning Officer (Secretary to the Board of Trustees), Brisbane Girls Grammar School, by noon on Friday, 17 July 2026.

Only persons listed on the Roll of Electors may:

• stand as candidates;
• nominate candidates; or
• vote in a poll.

Candidate Statement

Each nominee must provide a Candidate Statement of no more than 250 words.

The statement may be:

• typed into the Candidate Statement form included with the Nomination for Appointment; or
• submitted by email to secretarytotheboard@bggs.qld.edu.au.

The statement should include:

• a brief CV;
• relevant Board or governance experience;
• the candidate’s connection to the School; and
• a summary of skills and experience that would benefit the School.

If a poll is required, Candidate Statements (and the names of nominators) will be distributed with ballot materials. To ensure consistency, the Secretary to the Board may edit statements prior to distribution.

Lodgement and Verification

All nominations will be checked against the Roll of Electors at noon on Friday, 17 July 2026.

Late nominations, or nominations that do not meet eligibility requirements, will be declared invalid.

Withdrawal

If a poll is required, a nominee may withdraw their nomination at any time prior to the Secretary to the Board completing preparations for the poll.

Roll of Electors

For the purposes of the 2026 nomination and any election process, the Roll of Electors will be finalised and sealed on 12 June 2026.

In accordance with the Grammar Schools Act 2016, only names (not addresses) are recorded on the 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.

The term of office for the current Board of Trustees expires on 29 March 2027.

The Board of Trustees comprises at least seven but no more than nine persons appointed by the Governor in Council, each of whom serves for four years. Four positions are nominated by the Minister for Education (presently the Minister for Education and the Arts), three appointments are filled following an election process with candidates nominated from the School’s Roll of Electors (the Electors’ positions) and up to two additional members may be chosen by the Board and nominated by the Minister. If more than three nominations for the Electors’ positions are received, a poll to determine the three appointments is conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Trustees (the Returning Officer). 

Membership (whether it be by appointment or election) of the Board of Trustees carries with it a significant responsibility and involves a major commitment to the School. The Term of Appointment is four years. Membership of the Board is a voluntary activity and there is no remuneration for this commitment.

The Board of Trustees election will be performed in accordance with the Grammar Schools Act 2016 and Grammar Schools Regulation 2016. The Act may be accessed on www.legislation.qld.gov.au.

To be able to nominate for and participate in the poll to determine the three Electors’ positions of the Brisbane Girls Grammar School Board of Trustees you will need to be on the Roll of Electors. To be eligible for placement on the Roll of Electors, a person is required to have subscribed or donated a prescribed amount to the School. The current prescribed electoral eligibility amounts are as follows:

• As and from 1 January 2009, the electoral eligibility amount for a single electoral cycle of the Board of Trustees shall be $500.
• As and from 1 January 2009, the electoral eligibility amount for all electoral cycles of the Board of Trustees shall be $2,000.
• In accordance with Regulation 5(2), for the purpose of calculating the electoral eligibility amount of a donor:

1. for a multiple-term, the amount must be donated as a lump sum
2. for a single-term, the total eligibility amount must be donated within a 12 month period.

The 2026 nomination and poll dates are as follows:

12 June 2026

Finalisation of membership of the School Roll of Electors

15 June 2026

Notice forwarded to persons on the Roll of Electors seeking nominations for the three Electors' positions

17 July 2026

Return date for nominations for the three Electors' positions

17 August 2026

Notification of poll arrangements to persons on the Roll of Electors, should more than three nominations for the Electors' positions be received

11 September 2026

Poll date (12 pm deadline)

14 September 2026   

Result of the poll notified to the Minister for Education and the Arts, the outgoing Board of Trustees, and all nominees for the three Electors' positions

30 March 2027

Incoming Board of Trustees assumes office

If you are interested in being nominated as a Trustee, further information, including the role and responsibilities of Trustees and details regarding the election process, is available from the Secretary to the Board of Trustees by email secretarytotheboard@bggs.qld.edu.au or phone 3332 1300.