Certificate of Appreciation Awards for Founding Directors

print me print this article

This years Annual General meeting of the Ballarat Foundation saw a major 'changing of the guard' which included three of the original directors stepping down under the Foundation's succession policy.

"With five departures, this is the largest single change in the Board in our history", said Noel Trengove CEO, "Professor David James, John Curwen-Walker and Leo Shanahan have all been Board members since the beginning. Not only that, Professor James has held the key position of Chairman; Mr. Curwen-Walker has been our Legal Advisor and Mr. Shanahan has been Treasurer, Company Secretary and Public officer."

certificate of appreciation 2008
Group shot of Certificate of Appreciation recipients with names from left to right:
Retired Chairman Professor David James AO, retired Investment and Finance committee member John Cornips , Current Chairman James Coghlan, retired Board member Kaye Draffin , retired Board member & Treasurer/Company Secretary Leo Shanahan and retired Board member & Allocations Committee Chairman John Abraham. Absent: Retired Board member & Legal adviser John Curwen-Walker and Neil Jens who provides office facilities for the Foundation. Photograph by Liz Crothers.

Also retired are John Abraham, Board member since 2002 and outgoing Chairman of the Ethics & Allocations Committee and Kaye Draffin who has been a Board member and advocate for the Foundation since 2005.

With every change comes an even greater opportunity and the succession plan ensures that the Foundation regularly brings new people on board, directly influencing the Foundation's ability to update and reinvent its activities through fresh thinking. This will certainly be the case in 2008. The Ballarat Foundation is extremely delighted with the quality of its Board continuing the tradition of gathering a diverse range of skills from standout citizens who themselves are keen to foster the philanthropic interests of
our communities.

Certificates of Appreciation will be presented to recently retired Board members at a Board function, to be held at the YMCA in Armstrong St Sth. Ballarat at 5.00pm on Tuesday June 24th 2008.

Recipients:
Professor David James, Founding Board Member and Chairman 2001 – 2008.
John Curwen-Walker, Founding Board Member and Legal Advisor 2001 – 2008.
Leo Shanahan, Founding Board Member, Company Secretary and Treasurer 2001 – 2008. John Abraham, Board Member 2002 – 2008. Kaye Draffin, Board Member 2005 – 2008.

Also being presented Certificates of Appreciation are:
John Cornips, For services to the Investment and Finance Committee 200 - 2008.
Neil Jens (absent) In recognition of the ongoing provision of pro-bono office space, meeting room facilities and communication services.

In presenting the Certificates of Appreciation, new Chairman James Coghlan will be paying tribute the vital work untaken by these pioneers of The Ballarat Foundation , for without their support and commitment over their respective periods, the Foundation would not be in the position it is today.

The Ballarat Foundation is also extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. James Coghlan, Mr. Craig Coltman, Mr. Andrew Oliver, Professor Wayne Robinson and Mr. John Twomey to the Board.

Of the new Board members, James Coghlan holds the position of Chairman; John Twomey the positions of Treasurer, Company Secretary and Chair of the Investment and Finance Committee and Craig Coltman the position of Chair of the Ethics and Allocations Committee.