WHADJUK ABORIGINAL CORPORATION
EXPERT DIRECTOR
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
The South West Native Title Settlement between Noongar People and the WA Government is the largest and most significant native title settlement in Australia. This is an exciting opportunity to get involved and contribute to the success of the Settlement.
The Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation is seeking an Expert Director.
If you are a leader in your field, an experienced director and have a genuine desire to contribute to the social and economic advancement of the Noongar Community, please lodge your expression of interest by COB Wednesday 21 January 2026.
Your application should include:
* a detailed CV that defines your expertise; and
* a letter addressing each of the selection criteria, clearly defining how your experience will be applied to the director role and which confirms you meet eligibility requirements.
* Director ID
* National Police Clearance
Deadline for applications 5:00pm (AWST) Wednesday 21 January 2026.
Please send your completed application by email to: applications- Subject: WAC Expert Director EOI
Should you have any questions about the application or the selection process, please contact:
Nominations Committee
Secretary of the Nominations Committee applications-
OUTLINE OF SELECTION PROCESS
The Noongar Nominations Committee will assess the eligibility of candidates. Short listed candidates will then be interviewed by a panel of the Corporation's directors.
A director can only be appointed to one corporation within the Settlement structure.
ELIGIBILITY
A person is eligible for appointment as an Expert Director if they satisfy the following (in accordance with the Trust Deed):
a. is an Australian citizen
b. is at least 18 years old;
c. has no conflicting commitments;
d. has not been disqualified from managing corporations or companies, or from doing anything else contemplated by the role of Director, under any applicable law;
e. has not been convicted in a criminal proceeding or named a subject of a pending criminal proceeding
(excluding traffic violations and other minor offences);
f. has not been found in a civil proceeding to have violated any federal or state securities or commodities law;
g. is not a person who has been convicted of an offence against or arising out of a law of the Commonwealth, a State, a Territory or a foreign country, being an offence in respect of dishonest conduct (including fraud), other than where:
i years has passed from the time of conviction; or
ii. 10 years has passed from the time of conviction and:
* the conduct resulted in a term of actual imprisonment of less than 3 months; or
* the conduct resulted in a fine of less than $5,000;
h. is not a person who is not permitted by the Corporations Act (or an order made under the Corporations Act) to be a director;
i is not an employee, director, officer or committee member of an Eligible Noongar Entity or the Trustee
(except the Trustee Director);
j is able to produce a National Police Certificate of no less than 12 months validity;
k. has financial literacy;
l has leadership experience;
m. has completed a director's course approved by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) or a suitable equivalent to the AICD;
n. has as a minimum, 5 years' experience as a director of an Australian company governed by the Corporations Act or the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) and can demonstrate a preparedness to question, challenge and critique and a willingness to understand and to commit to the highest standards of governance;
o. is of high repute and recognised integrity; and
p. is a Responsible Person and has such other characteristics as may be considered appropriate for membership on the Board.
Responsible Person means an individual who:
* performs a significant public function; or
* is a member of a professional body having a code of ethics or rules of conduct; or
* is officially charged with spiritual functions by a religious institution; or
* is a director of a company whose shares are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange; or
* has received formal recognition from government for services to the community; or
* is a Responsible Person as described by the Commissioner of Taxation in Taxation Ruling TR 95/27 or as otherwise approved by the Commissioner of Taxation from time to time.
Independent Expert - Selection Criteria
Education requirements:
* Has a Degree and/or Post Graduate qualifications in a law, accounting, economics, community development, social policy or other relevant field, and/or a recognised qualification or work experience in lieu of experience, including not-for-profit sector management;
* Relevant qualifications in Company Directorship e.g. Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Essential experience requirements:
* Minimum 3 years' experience as a director of an Australian company, governed by the Corporations Act or the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
* Can demonstrate strong financial acumen skills; an ability to read and comprehend a company's accounts and financial material; and
* Strategic thinking, demonstrated ability to review strategy and contribute to effective decision making – flexibility and open to other ideas
* Experience with legal compliance and governance including legal, ethical and fiduciary responsibilities
Essential Leadership criteria:
* Can demonstrate transparency and high integrity leadership or management experience;
* Can demonstrate a preparedness to question, challenge and critique, and a willingness to understand and to commit to the highest standards of governance; and
* Is of high repute and recognised integrity, acts ethically with appropriate independence, putting the organisations interests before personal interests.
Highly regarded criteria:
* A passion for contributing to the social & economic development of Noongar People through the South West Settlement;
* An understanding of cultural matters and has experience working in a cross-cultural environment;
* An active contribution to the South West Settlement or other similar native title settlements throughout Australia;
* Experience dealing with similar corporations
* Noongar or Indigenous Australian
APPOINTMENT PROCESS AND TERM
The term of appointment will be two (2) years. A director can be appointed for up to two consecutive terms.
REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES
Conditions and term of appointment including remuneration will be discussed in detail with the appropriate candidates after the shortlisting process. Please provide your remuneration expectations in your cover letter.
Travel and accommodation expenses for attendance at Board meetings will be reimbursed in accordance with the Travel Allowance Policy.
TIME COMMITMENT
The successful candidate will be required to attend and participate in Corporation meetings as determined by the Chair, expected to meet approximately every second months, and attend to Board to matters in between meetings.
REFEREE REQUIREMENTS
Please accompany your application with two (2) professional references
Further information:
Should you have any questions about the application or the selection process, please contact the Secretariat of the Nominations Committee at applications-