Council Elections 2024

Results of University Council Elections 2024

The voting for the election of academic staff, professional staff and student members of the University Council has been completed. The following persons were elected:

Student member: Kristy Sillman

Academic staff member: Dr Onoriode Coast

Professional staff member: Chanel Hopkinson

2024 University Council elections

The call for nominations for the election of academic, professional and student members of the University Council will commence on 30 April 2024. Voting, if required, is expected to commence on or around 28 May 2024. Please see below, and the general election information page of this website, for important information about the role and expectations of Council members, information for nominees and general details regarding the election timing and protocols.

Notice of Election

The University of New England is calling for nominations for elected members of UNE Council, from the following members of the UNE Community. These categories and terms are as prescribed in the University of New England By-Law 2005 (NSW):

• an Academic Staff member, for a term of 2 years;
• a Professional Staff (non-academic) member, for a term of 2 years; and
• a Student member (may be undergraduate or postgraduate), for a term of 2 years.

The term of service will commence in either mid-August 2024 for the staff members, or mid-October 2024 for the student member.

Nominating for election

Persons who are considering nominating for election to the Council should be aware of the duties and responsibilities of Council membership consistent with Schedule 2A of the UNE Act 1993 and the requirement for members of governing bodies to be fit and proper persons as outlined in clause 6.1 (2) of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021. For more information about the elections, about nominating to be a member on Council, or about the 2024 election process, please review the general election information page or contact the Returning Officer or Deputy Returning Officer at returning_officer@une.edu.au.

UNE will be using election provider BigPulse to issue an “Invitation to Nominate” to eligible persons via email and for the conduct of elections. BigPulse has been used previously to support elections at UNE and they provide a secure and fully automated service.

Persons eligible to nominate in one of the above elections, should receive an email from BigPulse from Tuesday, 30 April 2023.

If you do not receive an email and you believe you are eligible to nominate – please check your “Junk” emails in case your security settings have not recognised the BigPulse email. Your email should be from the “UNE Council Elections” and @bigpulse.com, with a subject including the words “UNE Council Elections 2024”. If you still have not received an email and you have checked the eligibility requirements on the Council Election web pages, please contact the Returning Officer or Deputy Returning Officer at returning_officer@une.edu.au.

Nominations for election close 5:00 pm AEST, Tuesday 21 May 2024.

Voting: Should there be more than one eligible candidate for each of these positions, an election will be required and voting is expected to commence on or around the 28 May 2024. In the event of an election, candidate information and campaign material will also be available via these web pages.

Please direct any enquiries regarding the 2024 UNE Council Elections to the Returning Officer or Deputy Returning Officer by emailing: returning_officer@une.edu.au.

Approved

Kate McNarn

Returning Officer

Information for Nominees

Nominees should read the general election information web page and refer below to relevant information and links as background information for nominees for the 2024 Council elections.

• Nominees for election must meet the eligibility requirements as detailed in Part 3, Clause 10 the UNE By-Law 2005 regarding electoral Rolls, including:
  • for the Roll of Academic Staff, persons are academic staff members of UNE, employed half-time or greater than half-time, with at least 12 months service at the University as at the date of the Roll (22 April 2024);
  • for the Roll of Professional Staff, persons are members of the non-academic or professional staff of the University, employed half-time or greater than half time, have had at least 12 months service at the University, and are not eligible to nominate as an academic staff member on UNE Council as at the date of the Roll (22 April 2024); and
  • for the Roll of Students, persons are UNE students, enrolled as a candidate proceeding to either a bachelor’s degree (including bachelor’s honours), or diploma or certificate of the University, or a postgraduate award or graduate diploma or graduate certificate, and are not eligible to nominate as an academic or non-academic (professional) staff member on UNE Council as at the date of the Roll (22 April 2024).
• Nominees for election agree to abide by Code of Conduct for UNE Council Elections.
• Members of UNE Council agree to:
  • abide by the UNE Act 1993 (including the Duties of Council Members in Schedule 2A);
  • abide by the UNE Council Charter; and
  • make a declaration of material interests.
• Members of UNE Council are to be fit and proper persons as required for members of governing bodies by the higher education sector regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA). If you are elected you will be asked to complete a TEQSA fit and proper person requirements declaration form.
• Personal information collected during this election will be managed in accordance with the UNE Privacy Management Rule.

Please direct any enquiries regarding the 2024 UNE Council Elections to the Deputy Returning Officer, Jenny Croaker, in the first instance, 02 6773 4359 or alternatively, to Returning Officer, Kate McNarn 02 6673 1241. Both are contactable via returning_officer@une.edu.au.