Independent Chair

About the organisation

The Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics (the Partnership) is a collaborative initiative involving business, industry, research, education, community and all levels of government. Its mission is to develop and implement a reporting program that communicates the health of waterways and marine environments and informs management actions in the Townsville Dry Tropics region. The region includes the Black and Ross River basins, and the estuarine and marine environments of Cleveland and Halifax Bays, and Magnetic Island. The Partnership aspires to extend their reporting range to include the broader Dry Tropics region (including the Burdekin and Haughton basins).

About the role

The Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics is seeking expressions of interest for the position of Independent Chair from September 2026 until September 2028.

This is an independent role that will provide autonomous strategic leadership to the Partnership whilst fostering strong relationships with Partnership members to ensure the successful delivery of the Partnership’s annual Waterways Report Card for the region.

Note: This is an advisory role and not a full-time staff position

Key responsibilities

The Independent Chair of the Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics will:

• Promote the Partnership to prospective partners and sponsors to increase membership (as appropriate).
• Advocate the interests of the Dry Tropics region and the Partnership at relevant Great Barrier Reef, Queensland and Australian forums, meetings and other events, and report back to the Partnership on the outcomes of such meetings.
• Promote the Partnership to the general community, including undertaking media interviews on behalf of the Partnership.
• Review reports, documents, and communications produced for the Partnership as required by the Partnership and/or Management Committee.
• Maintain strong relationships with Partnership members to ensure the successful delivery of the Partnership’s annual Waterways Report Card for the region.
• Maintain strong ties and communication with other Chairs of Regional Report Card Partnerships.
• Foster a positive working relationship between the Partnership, Management Committee, Partnership staff, and the Host Organisation.
• Play an active role in providing leadership and mentoring to Partnership staff.
• Be aware of and manage any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Be available for travel including overnight stays to represent the Partnership.

Desired skills and attributes

• Be based in the region OR able to promote the interests of the Partnership from outside the region.
• Commitment to positive environmental outcomes in the region.
• Experience in chairing similar initiatives previously.
• Demonstrate strong conflict resolution skills/experience.
• Demonstrate proven and effective facilitation, relationship building, and communication skills.
• Experience in providing leadership and strategic direction.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of policy, land management, agricultural management, and/or marine management.

Key annual commitments

• Biannual Partnership meetings.
• Bimonthly/quarterly Management Committee meetings.
• Annual Report Card launch events (1 stakeholder evening event and 1-2 community events) and associated media interviews.
• Biannual Regional Report Card Partnership collaboration workshops.
• Regular catchups with Partnership staff and Partners as required.
• General oversight as required at the Chair’s discretion (for document/resource reviews and meeting preparation).
• Completion of biannual Chair KPI report as per Governance Charter.