At AIG we foster an engaged and proactive relationship with our board, they are our most valuable asset. Our board drive our projects, how we work, where we work and who we work with.
Distance is overcome by local knowledge
While AIG is based in Darwin, almost all our work is done in the seven northern regions in the NT. Our board is how we maintain our knowledge of what is happening at ground level in communities. For example, AIG has been in Elliot this past week after a request from our outgoing director who represents the Borroloola Barkley Region. The Kulumindini Aboriginal Corporation are considering the purchase and upgrade of a number of assets in Elliot, and have asked AIG to assist with developing local decision making and capability, to drive economic development for their region. The operational team in AIG trust and respect the judgement of our directors and we rely on them to communicate the needs of their region.
New board, new energy
Recently AIG elected a new board, which has been exciting for two reasons. Firstly, this is the first board in the history of AIG to be autonomous of the NLC (related article: Ending NLC’s ownership of AIG). This autonomy has provided opportunity for community leaders outside of the NLC Executive Council to be involved in working with AIG.
The second reason is because our new board have been elected via a competitive electoral process, to be a part of AIG. This new process drives a renewed eagerness to be involved and to advocate for services that benefit their region. Our new board has swiftly aligned themselves with assisting AIG fulfilling our mandate of building stronger communities, and this is great to see!
Representation from seven regions is key
We rely on our board to be cultural regulators of the organisation. They have the knowledge of what will work and what will not work in community. They know where the real needs are, and who should benefit from AIG support. They have the influence to facilitate engagement with relevant stakeholders to enable success in the delivery of our projects. This insight is vital to our business model, and we cannot do the work we do without them.
Value goes both ways
AIG has a long history of supporting our board with essential training. The NT is a diverse place. Some people have opportunities for learning and upskilling and some less so, this is especially true for people who live remotely. All board members are encouraged to upskill in areas of their choosing.
The CEO and the COO are committed to authentic engagement with the board in matters relating to finance, strategic planning, service delivery and operations of the organisation more broadly. To offer value we understand the board must have the skills to critically analyse our work. We encourage all directors to question, challenge and offer alternatives because this is essence of an engaged and effective board.
This is an exciting time for AIG and we truly appreciate the drive and determination of our AIG Board. Together we are looking forward to a long and productive working relationship where we can build stronger communities together.
