Job Summary
- A$1,247 for the chair A$938 for other members per day
- Applications close:
- Job posted on: 5th Feb 2024
The Australian Government is developing the Nature Repair Market (the market) to mobilise private finance to repair and protect our natural environments. The market is part of the Australian Government’s Nature Positive Plan to protect more of what’s precious; repair more of what’s damaged, and better manage nature for the future. It is being established in close consultation with First Nations organisations, environmental non-government organisations, ecologists, environmental market participants and others.
With a growing interest in nature’s investment potential, the market will make nature-related investment easier and drive nature repair across Australia.
The Nature Repair Act 2023 (the Act) establishes a transparent framework for a national, legislated, voluntary, biodiversity market, whereby Australian landholders can be issued with tradable biodiversity certificates for projects that enhance, protect, manage or restore biodiversity in native species (projects).
The Act establishes the Nature Repair Committee (the committee) as an expert committee that reviews proposed methodologies, which will set the rules for how a project is to be carried out and the circumstances in which a biodiversity certificate will be issued.
Under the Act, biodiversity integrity standards are intended to ensure that projects deliver genuine improvements in nature. Projects may be:
The market will be regulated by the Clean Energy Regulator.
The Nature Repair Committee consists of a part-time chair and four or five part-time members. Each role is appointed by the Minister for the Environment and Water (the minister). The committee will have its own secretariat.
The committee will provide independent expert advice to the minister and Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (department). Responsibilities will include:
In addition to the responsibilities of all members of the committee described above, the chair has additional responsibilities, including:
Under s 198 of the Act, the chair must not be:
Fields
Under s 198 of the Act, in appointing a person to a Role, the Minister must be satisfied that the person has:
in at least one of the following fields of expertise:
The Act differentiates fields (d) and (g) above (bolded for emphasis), requiring the Minister to ensure there is at least one person appointed to a role with substantial experience or knowledge—and significant standing in—those fields.
Each person appointed to a role may have gained their experience, knowledge and standing from a range of sectors, including:
It is expected that applicants will have relevant qualifications in one or more fields; higher degrees will be well-regarded.
In addition to the statutory requirements, those appointed to the roles will demonstrate:
The Australian Government values diversity with respect to the composition of government boards and committees, and considers diversity—in all its forms—a fundamental component of creating a fairer, more inclusive Australia. Accordingly, applications are encouraged from those from the following backgrounds:
Under s 199 of the Act, appointments will be for terms of no longer than:
The chair and other members are eligible for reappointment.
Those appointed to the roles may be based anywhere in Australia. Meetings will be a mix of virtual and in-person, mostly in Canberra. The committee is expected to meet up to 12 times in the first year following establishment, with each meeting typically running for two days. Meeting frequency is likely to reduce in subsequent years.
In addition to preparing for and participating in meetings, the Chair and other members can expect to spend—on average—~two additional days per month working on the committee.
The per day fee for the roles has been determined by the Remuneration Tribunal at:
For a detailed role specification, please contact Helen Johnson at Challis & Company, the consultants advising the department, on +61 2 8039 2223 or at [email protected] using the subject line: Chair and Members - Nature Repair Committee enquiry via EthicalJobs.
To apply for these positions, please click 'Apply Now' to complete the online application form.
The online application form requires you to provide the following information:
Challis & Company is simultaneously undertaking a board search for these roles.