JOIN US – Non-Executive Board Member – Emerging Leader (Indigenous Identified)
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Aboriginal Carbon Foundation (AbCF) has an opportunity for an emerging Indigenous Leader to join our Board as a Non-Executive Board Member. The aim of this position is to provide experience to young Indigenous people who are interested in gaining experience serving on a Board.
The AbCF catalyses life-changing, community prosperity, through carbon farming, cultural fire and strength-based community development. Our aim is to build holistic wealth for Traditional Owners, implementing carbon and cultural fire projects that demonstrate environmental, social and cultural core benefits
We operate on the cutting edge of ideas and community-based solutions. We bring together people with fresh ways of working, professional experience and a desire to achieve outcomes that promote Indigenous prosperity and address climate change through a strengths-based approach. With a strong culture of innovation and collaboration, the AbCF supports carbon farming and cultural fire projects and connects communities who supply carbon & cultural fire credits, with organisations seeking to offset their carbon pollution and invest in the scaling of Indigenous land management.
OUR VISION:
The Aboriginal Carbon Foundation catalyses life-changing, community prosperity through carbon farming, cultural fire and strength-based community development.
OUR OBJECTIVES
- a) the facilitation of Indigenous-led strength-based community development that draws on the collective strengths and resources of communities to meet their own aspirations;
- b) the promotion of Indigenous culture through the application of traditional land management knowledge, that sees Country returning to health because of the unique and sophisticated relationships Indigenous people of Australia have with their land. This caring for Country sees the protection of sacred sites and culturally and environmentally significant landscapes, waterways, fauna and flora;
- c) the promotion of ethical carbon farming with economic, environmental, social and cultural outcomes, owned and operated by Indigenous people on their own land, including:
- i) providing help and assistance to Indigenous people in the fields of research, conservation and land management, scientific and technical development, education, financing, trade, marketing and other carbon development services; and
- ii) generating programs to promote the environmental sustainability, social and cultural wellbeing of Indigenous people involved in carbon sequestration and carbon abatement;
- d) the promotion and scaling of Indigenous cultural fire practice as a way of revitalising traditional fire management; and
- e) doing all other lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the objects or which may be to advance the fundamental object of benevolent relief to Indigenous people of Australia.
OUR VALUES:
- Community development: we listen and engage with communities and Traditional Owners so they can reach their potential and determine their future.
- Innovation: relevance to our suppliers and our buyers is at the heart of the innovation we deliver.
- Entrepreneurship: a culture social entrepreneurship is encouraged.
- Integrity: we act honestly, ethically and are accountable for our actions.
- Collaboration: success comes from supporting fellow likeminded organisations and community groups and play the “long game”.
- Responsiveness: we are a lean organisation that is responsive to the needs of communities and traditional owners.
- Community based: We value a community-based approach to our endeavours in nurturing the carbon industry.
Our Board of Directors bring a range of expertise in several the following skill areas:
- Indigenous Corporate Governance experience – Indigenous governance recognise what makes our culture unique: our beliefs system, knowledge holders and our laws and rules for our society. Indigenous governance combines cultural governance with corporate governance.
- Aboriginal Cultural knowledge and Land Management
- Research and Development
- Conservation and Land Management
- National and International Trade
- Finance & accounting skills
- Industry knowledge and experience
Being on the Aboriginal Carbon Foundation Board requires a minimum time commitment of 2-4 hours per month:
- Preparing for and attending, in person or virtually, a 2-hour board meeting per quarter.
- Preparing for and attending, in person or virtually, one 2-hour subcommittee meeting each quarter.
- Preparing for and attending, in person, a one-day retreat once every year.
- Generally promoting the organisation and its Charter by attending meetings, forums and workshops representing the Board.
- Engaging in urgent governance matters that may present from time to time.
A nominal meeting stipend is provided for each meeting ($400 in person full day meetings $200 half day zoom meetings) in addition to travel costs for in-person meetings.
Please send your application and resume (max four pages) to Rowan Foley CEO AbCF email rowan@abcfoundation.org.au by COB 23 APRIL 2026 and call 0427 013 318 if you would like to discuss the position.
