About Us
Our Governance
HeartKids is committed to good governance, and continues to focus on ensuring the right organisational structures, systems and practices are in place to facilitate delivery of our strategic objectives for the CoHD community.
Governance and Ethical Leadership
As a charitable institution and Company Limited by Guarantee, HeartKids Limited is reliant upon community and corporate goodwill to achieve its goals. As a community organisation, HeartKids also has considerable legislative, administrative and other accountabilities that need to be maintained to a high standard.
The Board is comprised of twelve Directors who bring expertise in CoHD, medical science and research, governance and executive management, finance, marketing and communications, not-for-profit administration, as well as extensive networks with the corporate, public and government sectors and the broader community. Many of the board have their own lived experience of CoHD.
Role of the Board of Directors
The role of the Board is defined by HeartKid’s Constitution, being the legal instrument guiding the organisation. The Board, staff and volunteers operate in line with a Code of Conduct.
The Board’s primary role is to ensure a range of strategies that support people impacted by congenital and childhood heart disease is achieved.
To undertake this role, the Board is responsible for the overall corporate governance of the organisation.
This includes:
- Formulating its strategic direction;
- Approving and monitoring financial performance;
- Setting executive remuneration;
- Appointing, removing and creating policies;
- Establishing and monitoring the achievement of organisational goals; and
- Ensuring the integrity of internal control and management information systems.
The Board is also responsible for approving and monitoring finance and other reporting and compliance.
The Board delegates responsibility for the operation and administration of the organisation to the Chief Executive Officer. Responsibilities are delineated by formal authority delegations.
Board Planning Framework
Our Strategic Plan includes:
- A national plan, incorporating five year performance targets;
- An annual business plan and budget relating to the corporate plan;
- A reporting framework against KPIs;
- Delegated authorities, recorded in a policy framework, from the Board to the CEO and staff, built around a performance culture measured by a performance appraisal process;
- A risk management plan; and
- A quality assurance framework supported by a program logic and policy manual/s.
Board Processes
- Finance, Audit and Risk Sub Committee;
- Research Advisory Committee; and
- Health and Clinical Advisory Committee
These committees have written terms of reference and operating procedures reviewed on an annual basis.