Join our board!

Touch Compass is seeking up to three new Trustees to join the Board as we continue to build for the future.

Who we are
Touch Compass is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading professional arts organisation whose work is disability-led. We deliver high-quality performances and art events, youth and community classes, workshops, and professional development.

Founded in 1997, we have performed, and run inclusive programmes, nationally and internationally, for over 25 years collaborating with diverse creatives and their communities. We enable and encourage disabled artists to lead their work, and our audiences to engage with new readings of the disabled body and broaden their cultural understandings.

Touch Compass provides a platform for disabled artists, choreographers and production crews to advance their skills and capabilities to create, produce and deliver innovative and authentic creative experiences face-to-face and online for local, national and international audiences. Through Touch Compass, individuals and organisations can grow their disability consciousness and awareness, champion diversity and inclusiveness.

Ideal Applicant

What we are seeking:
Our Board of Trustees is responsible for providing effective governance of the company including contributing to the vision, values and kaupapa, and strategic and artistic direction.

Trustees need to support our vision and be prepared to apply their skills, talents, and experience to support our kaupapa by providing effective guidance and decision-making.

We seek people who bring diverse experience and are keen to support a vision that foregrounds disability leadership and supports the intersectionality of multiple voices and perspectives, including Māori and Pasifika.

We are seeking up to three new trustees:
We are interested in both experienced directors who may be interested in a deputy chair or co-chair, and new and emerging leaders who are keen to contribute to our kaupapa. Governance experience is desirable but not essential. We are open to providing governance training for the right people.

What is important to us is:
- An interest in the arts and a strong desire to support our vision and strategy
- The capacity to contribute your time, energy and mahi to Touch Compass
- The ability to work collaboratively and constructively as part of a team

It is a great time to join the Touch Compass board:
We are in a great place and are building for the future. We have a great team, new strategy, and artistic and education programmes in place, with several new works and initiatives in development.

We welcome inquiries from everyone and openly encourage people with lived experience of disability to apply.

What is involved:
The Board meets formally every 6-8 weeks. We vary between online meetings and meetings in-person at Touch Compass Mt Albert base in Auckland. Trustees are expected to participate in conversations and working groups in between Board meetings and may attend additional meetings if they agree to support specific Board initiatives (e.g. a recruitment or donor campaign). Trustees are also encouraged to attend Touch Compass events.

Benefits:
While our Trustee positions are voluntary (unpaid) there are many benefits to working with us.
- Membership of the Institute of Directors
- Periodic governance and disability/cultural awareness training
- The opportunity to attend Touch Compass events, and
- The opportunity to make a difference, supporting our fantastic people and kaupapa

The ask:
We ask Trustees to commit to a 3 year term, with the option of a further 3 year term by mutual agreement. The time commitment varies, but as rough guide we estimate Trustees need to commit up to 4-5 hours a month.

Our annual report is available on the Charities Commission website: https://www.register.charities.govt.nz/Charity/CC23088

Diversity

We particularly encourage applications from Tāngata Whenua, Pasifika, Individuals with a disability.

Expression of Interest

Please submit your expression of interest by sending a cover email/letter and a short CV highlighting relevant skills and experience to Jon Tamihere-Kemeys, General Manager: jon@touchcompass.org.nz

In your cover email/letter, please explain briefly what interests you about working with Touch Compass and outline the relevant skills and experience you would bring to the Board.

Applications close: 28 April 2023, 5pm

Touch Compass reserves the right to appoint suitable candidates in advance of the closing date. Apply early!

https://www.appointbetterboards.co.nz/position/apt21504