Further information
Constitution of the Forrest Research Foundation at The University of Western Australia.
Constitution
1. Name
The name of the Foundation is 'The Forrest Research Foundation at the University of Western Australia'.
The Foundation has been established following donations by Andrew and Nicola Forrest through The Minderoo Foundation Pty Ltd as trustee of the Minderoo Foundation Trust pursuant to the Deed of Gift. That funding has been provided to create a world-leading, collaborative centre of research and scholarship by attracting outstanding doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows to Western Australian universities and developing their potential to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
2. Definitions
In this constitution:
Accounts means the accounts of the Fund.
Deed of Gift means the deed of gift between The Minderoo Foundation Pty Ltd as trustee for the Forrest Family Foundation and the University dated 15 October 2013 as amended, replaced, assigned or novated from time to time. The rights and obligations of The Minderoo Foundation Pty Ltd as trustee for the Forrest Family Foundation under the Deed of Gift were novated to Minderoo Foundation with effect on 1 July 2015.
Forrest Hall means the buildings known in perpetuity as "Forrest Hall", the construction of which are funded pursuant to the Deed of Gift.
Foundation means The Forrest Research Foundation at the University of Western Australia.
Foundation's Warden means the person appointed by the University, on the recommendation of the Governors, as the warden of the Foundation.
Fund means the fund for the Foundation established pursuant to the Deed of Gift and includes any gifts and grants to the Foundation whether pursuant to the Deed of Gift or otherwise.
Governors means the Governors of the Foundation, appointed as described in clause 4.
Minderoo Foundation means The Minderoo Foundation Pty Ltd as trustee of the Minderoo Foundation Trust.
Objects means the objects of the Foundation as described in clause 8(a).
Senate means the Senate of the University.
The Act means the University of Western Australia Act 1911 (WA).
University means The University of Western Australia as constituted by The Act.
Uses means:
(a) in respect of Stage 1 of Forrest Hall, its use as a hall of residence for the community of Forrest Scholars and Forrest Fellows; and
(b) in respect of Stage 2 of Forrest Hall, its use as a hall of residence for the community of Forrest Scholars and Forrest Fellows or for other purposes proposed by the Governors of the Foundation and approved by the Senate.
Western Australian university includes each of the following:
(a) The University of Western Australia;
(b) Curtin University;
(c) Murdoch University;
(d) Edith Cowan University; and
(e) The University of Notre Dame.
Words importing the singular number include the plural and vice versa.
3. Powers
Noting the ultimate authority of the Senate, as provided for in the Deed of Gift to the greatest extent possible the governance, control, management and conduct of the business and affairs of the Foundation will lie with the Governors. The University and the Governors will work to ensure that the Senate ratifies matters which require its ratification in a manner that ensures fulfilment of the Objects.
4. Governors of the Foundation
(a) The Governors of the Foundation shall consist of:
(i) the Chancellor of The University of Western Australia (ex officio);
(ii) the Vice-Chancellor of The University of Western Australia (ex officio);
(iii) two representatives of the Minderoo Foundation nominated by the Minderoo Foundation;
(iv) two Vice-Chancellors from the other Western Australian universities, selected by the Governors so that all Western Australian universities are represented equally over time (the Academic Governors);
(v) at least two and up to four members of the broader community, appointed by the Senate with the approval of the Governors (the Additional Governors); and
(vi) the Foundation’s Warden (ex officio).
(b) The Governors shall elect one of their members as Chair.
(c) The Governors shall meet no fewer than four times per annum.
(d) The terms of each Additional Governor and Academic Governor shall normally be for three years and they may be re-appointed.
(e) Five Governors shall constitute a quorum.
(f) All Governors are eligible to vote.
(g) A Governor or a member of committee may retire during his or her term.
(h) Any Additional Governor may be removed from office on a resolution passed by the Governors at a meeting convened for the purpose, of which no less than 21 days' written notice shall have been given.
(i) A Governor nominated by the Minderoo Foundation (Minderoo Governor), and an Academic Governor may appoint an alternate Governor to act in the appointor's place during such period as the Governors think fit, for the purpose of attending and voting at, meetings of Governors.
(j) An alternate Governor of an Academic Governor must be an employee of the same University as the appointor.
(k) The appointment of an alternate Governor must be affected by a notice in writing by the appointor, and delivered to the Chair.
(l) An alternate Governor is entitled to receive notice of all meetings of the Governors and is entitled to participate and vote in the appointor's place.
(m) The termination of an appointment of an alternate Governor must be effected by a notice in writing signed by the appointor and delivered to the Chair.
(n) The Governors shall:
(i) appoint the Foundation’s Selection Committee, which will include eminent researchers, including the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) at the University;
(ii) appoint the Finance and Investments Committee, comprising no less than 4 suitably qualified persons, including the University’s Chief Financial Officer, a representative of the Minderoo Foundation and at least one other person who is independent of the University; and
(iii) do such things as required from time to time as required by this Constitution and the Deed of Gift to advance the Objects.
(o) The Governors shall cause minutes to be kept and recorded of all meetings and resolutions of the Governors and of each committee and sub-committees of the Governors.
(p) The Governors shall provide a detailed annual report of the Foundation to the Senate and to the Minderoo Foundation.
5. The Foundation’s Selection Committee
The Foundation's Selection Committee will—
(a) develop and recommend to the Governors the selection criteria that will govern the award of the Forrest Scholarships and Forrest Fellowships, including any changes to criteria that might be appropriate from time to time;
(b) refer the successful scholarship and fellowship recipients to the Governors for endorsement;
(c) maintain an overview of the progress of previous scholarship and fellowship recipients, through advice from the Foundation's Warden;
(d) make observations, from time to time, as regards the financing of the scholarships and fellowships, for the Governors' consideration;
(e) recommend to the Governors from time to time appropriate strategies for the marketing and promotion of the scholarships and fellowships scheme; and
(f) recommend to the Governors from time to time new members for the Foundation’s Selection Committee. Foundation Selection Committee members (other than ex officio members) will ordinarily serve a three-year term on the committee, renewable by the Governors.
6. The Finance and Investments Committee
The Foundation's Finance and Investments Committee will—
(a) develop a 10-year rolling financial plan for the Foundation, for recommendation to the Governors, and monitor achievement against the plan;
(b) advise the Governors on the most effective investment strategies for the Fund and to report on outcomes against those strategies;
(c) monitor performance, controls, and compliance of the Foundation and the Fund in accordance with University audit requirements and broader financial governance protocols;
(d) implement the Foundation's risk management framework and compliance with that framework;
(e) meet in person or by electronic means at least quarterly to receive the quarterly Accounts; and
(f) recommend to the Governors, from time to time, new members for the Finance and Investments Committee. Committee members will ordinarily serve a three-year term on the Finance and Investments Committee, renewable by the Governors.
7. The Foundation’s Warden
(a) The Foundation's Warden will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Foundation, implementation of the scholarship and fellowship scheme and the advancement of the other Objects, including—
(i) overseeing the marketing and promotion of the Foundation internationally so as to attract a field of outstanding scholars to the Foundation;
(ii) overseeing the management of the application process, in conjunction with the scholarships offices of the universities involved;
(iii) overseeing liaison with the scholarships offices of the universities involved to ensure that support is provided to the Foundation’s Selection Committee as required;
(iv) providing pastoral care to Forrest Scholars and Forrest Fellows;
(v) liaising with St George's College to enable Forrest Scholars and Forrest Fellows to undertake mentoring and/or paid tutoring at the College;
(vi) liaising with St George's College to build linkages with College programs as appropriate;
(vii) building the Forrest Research Foundation community through liaison with alumni of the program;
(viii) soliciting donations, gifts and bequests to the Foundation;
(ix) arranging the preparation of the Accounts, on the advice of the Finance and Investments Committee;
(x) making public statements on behalf of the Foundation;
(xi) arranging for lectures, exhibitions and demonstrations;
(xii) assisting in arranging visits to the University by distinguished guests;
(xiii) with the approval of the Governors, entering into any arrangement in connection with clause 8(a)(vi);
(xiv) with the approval of the Governors, enter into any arrangement with any organisation having objects similar to those of the Foundation; and
(xv) do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them.
(b) The Foundation's Warden shall have a reporting relationship to the Vice-Chancellor of the University.
(c) The Foundation's Warden shall be appointed by the Vice Chancellor on the advice of the Governors.
(d) The Foundation's Warden may, from time to time, take a recommendation to the Governors for the engagement of administrative support for the Foundation.
8. Objects
The University will—
(a) establish the Forrest Research Foundation with an initial investment corpus of $48,000,000.00 (Forty Eight million Australian dollars) which will be invested to generate income to—
(i) provide scholarships including PhD scholarships to qualified students who propose to undertake high quality research at a Western Australian university, to be known as 'Forrest Scholars';
(ii) provide fellowships including postdoctoral fellowships to qualified researchers (to be known as 'Forrest Fellows') for the purpose of allowing them to conduct high quality research at a Western Australian university;
(iii) draw such researchers from international and domestic applicants who demonstrate qualities such as outstanding academic ability, commitment to community service and leadership and the potential to change the world;
(iv) administer the Foundation in accordance with this Constitution and the Deed of Gift;
(v) meet the operating and administrative costs of the Foundation from the income of the Fund; and
(vi) do such other acts as will promote Western Australia as a world-class centre of research and innovation and as are approved by the Governors,
together the "Objects";
(b) manage and maintain Forrest Hall as a hall of residence for the community of Forrest Scholars and Forrest Fellows or otherwise in accordance with the Uses and to advance the Objects;
(c) direct any income from the Uses of Forrest Hall first to cover the costs of operating and maintaining Forrest Hall and secondly to provide further income to the Foundation to advance the Objects; and
(d) through the Governors—
(i) safeguard the overall reputation of the Foundation;
(ii) set the strategic direction for the Foundation;
(iii) establish the policy framework for the Foundation;
(iv) provide oversight of the management of the Fund and ensure the appropriate annual auditing of the Accounts;
(v) approve the Finance and Investments Committee's investments plan, 10-year financial plan, risk management and compliance frameworks and all prudent arrangements for audit, governance and review of the Fund and the Foundation;
(vi) recommend the appointment of the Foundation's Warden to the Vice Chancellor of the University; and
(vii) oversee the Foundation's Warden.
9. Funds
a) All moneys received, by or on behalf of, or as a result of the activities of the Foundation, shall form part of the Fund and be vested in the University absolutely.
(b) The Fund shall be held by the University in a fund to be known as the Forrest Research Foundation Fund.
(c) The Fund shall be held by the University in such a way that the income and expenditure of the Fund is separately accounted for and reported on so as to most effectively enable the Governors and the Finance and Investments Committee to fulfil their functions.
10. Ammendment
This constitution may be added to, amended or repealed by resolution of the Senate, on the advice of the Governors, provided that any amendments must not be inconsistent with the terms of the Deed of Gift.
University information
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