Members of the Board, the National Capital Authority

Description

Detail

Position title:

Members of the Board, the National Capital Authority

Classification / Employment Type:

Statutory Appointment, Non-Ongoing for a period of up to 5 years

Salary:

Remuneration and allowance are set by the Remuneration Tribunal, (Remuneration and Allowance for Holders of Part-time Public Office) Determination 2025.

Location:

Various ACT, Various NSW, Various VIC, Various SA, Various QLD, Various WA, Various TAS, Various NT

Security Clearance:

Negative Vetting 1

Contact Officer:

Kim Forbes via or

Closing date and time:

11.59pm AEDT, Wednesday 3 December 2025

About the National Capital Authority and its Board

The National Capital Authority (NCA), established in 1989, is an independent statutory authority established under the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 (the PALM Act). Its role is to secure the planning and development of Canberra as the National Capital, ensuring its function as the seat of government, a centre for national and cultural life, and a place for public enjoyment. Its core responsibilities include preparing and administering the national Capital Plan, managing and enhancing nationally significant public land and assets, approving work in designated areas, and promoting understanding and appreciation of Canberra as Australia's National Capital.

The Board of the NCA, is the peak governing body responsible for leading the NCA. Under the PALM Act, the Board comprises a Chair, a Chief Executive (who is a full-time member) and three other part-time members, all appointed by the Governor General. The Board is also the accountable authority under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act), responsible for the strategic leadership, governance, performance and financial accountability of the NCA.

Key functions of the Board include setting the strategic direction of the NCA through the Corporate Plan; establish and monitor performance measures; oversee risk management and financial governance; ensure compliance with relevant legislation; approve works and major projects and provide oversight on how the NCA delivers its statutory functions, including planning, asset stewardship and public engagement.

The key strategic objectives of the NCA are:

• People – enabling Australians and visitors to celebrate and share the story of our nation through Canberra, our National Capital
• Place – excellence in the care and custodianship of the National Capital's special and symbolic places
• Plan – strategic planning and oversight of the places and spaces of national importance in Canberra

The Board meets regularly and maintains a governance framework that supports transparency, accountability and continuous review of its own performance and that of the NCA.

The NCA operates within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts portfolio (the department) and is responsible to the Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and the Territories

About the opportunity available

The NCA is currently seeking new Members of the Board to provide strong strategic leadership, oversight and direction in fulfilling the NCA's statutory functions under the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 (the PALM Act) and the Authority Charter. Board Members will ensure National Capital Plan and related policies are administered effectively and reviewed regularly, and that the Board monitors performance and compliance across the organisation.

At a practical level, the Board generally meets six times each year with occasional special meetings and out-of-session input required from time to time. The Governor-General appoints members, usually for, and no longer than, a five-year term.

The role

You will provide high-level strategic direction and leadership that harnesses key information and opportunities, whilst demonstrating sound analysis, judgement and intelligence.

Key duties include:

• Help the NCA deliver on their Corporate Plan and organisational outcomes through a focus on safety, managing uncertainty and risk, and developing effective business strategies underpinned by sound financial planning and budget management.
• Foster and maintain strong, effective and productive relationships with the responsible Minister, the department, other government agencies and with the NCA's stakeholders and partners.
• Ensure the NCA as the accountable authority under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act), meets its statutory obligations for financial management, risk oversight and performance reporting.
• Guide the Board's focus on strategic priorities, including administration of the National Capital Plan, stewardship of nationally significant land and assets, and promotion of Canberra as the National Capital.
• Exemplify personal drive and integrity, demonstrating accountability, resolve, resilience and self-awareness throughout tenure on the Board.
• Communicate and negotiate effectively, including with clarity, adaptability and nuance.
• Represent the NCA publicly with veracity and credibility, and where appropriate, advancing its functions and enhancing understanding of its role whilst promoting Canberra as the National Capital.

Who are we looking for?

To be considered for a Member of the Board role, you will have previously held a senior executive or eminent position, where you demonstrated a commitment to the highest standards of governance and personal and professional integrity.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate;

Strategic Leadership and Governance

• Ability to provide high-level strategic leadership in a complex statutory, policy or governance environment, including in environments subject to political, regulatory or public scrutiny.
• Setting strategic direction and overseeing organisational performance, risk and accountability frameworks.
• Appreciation of the national significance of Canberra as Australia's capital, with a demonstrated commitment to promoting and protecting its role, heritage and identity.
• Track record of acting in the best interests of an organisation, balancing stakeholder needs with long-term sustainability and risk management.
• Proven ability to analyse complex information and make decisions based on evidence, strategic priorities and long-term organisational interests.
• Experience contributing to robust decision-making processes, with an understanding of how to balance independence with collective accountability in a Board setting.

Application of statutory or governance frameworks

• Strong understanding of statutory and governance responsibilities under the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 (the PALM Act) and the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act).
• Capacity to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, accountability standards and sound corporate governance practices
• Experience navigating complex stakeholder landscapes, including government, community industry and regulatory bodies

Stakeholder engagement and representation

• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with Ministers, senior officials, stakeholders and the community, representing the NCA with integrity and credibility.
• Proven capacity to manage complex relationships in politically, culturally and publicly sensitive environments.
• Understanding of stakeholder dynamics and the ability to navigate competing interests in a way that upholds the NCA's values and public trust.
• Experience representing an organisation or Board in formal and informal settings, including advocacy, consultation or public forums.

Integrity, Accountability and Transparency

• Exemplary standards of personal and professional integrity

Communication and influence

• Highly developed communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to foster collaborative and constructive board discussions.
• Ability to articulate strategic priorities and complex issues with clarity, to a wide range of audiences, including media.

Candidates are required to possess relevant qualifications and substantial, high-level experience in relevant discipline(s) such as;

• urban planning
• land management / infrastructure development
• community engagement
• business development
• architecture
• engineering
• asset management and/or strategic leadership.
• strong knowledge of how the Commonwealth Government operates
• strong knowledge of marketing and business operations

Eligibility requirements

• Citizenship: Candidates must be an Australian citizen to be eligible for these roles.
• Health Assessment: The preferred candidate may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the department's preferred medical provider.
• Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at Negative Vetting 1. You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information. You must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding ten years for Negative Vetting 1 clearances. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.
• National Police check: The successful candidate must satisfactory complete an Australian Federal Police criminal history check.
• Integrity and Suitability check: The successful candidate must demonstrate integrity and suitability standards expected of trusted public positions, including meeting comprehensive checks covering background, character and financial assessments, and the management of any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Qualifications: Tertiary qualifications in public policy and administration, law, urban and regional planning or a relevant field and/or equivalent experience is desirable.

Timeline and assessment

Applications open: 20 November 2025

Applications close: 3 December 2025

Application shortlisting: 4 December 2025

Further assessments: w/c 15 December 2025

Selection report finalised: w/c 5 January 2026

The above is indicative only, please reach out to the contact person if you have any questions on the recruitment process or timeframes.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome once the process is complete.

How to apply

Applications for this opportunity close at 11.59pm AEDT, Wednesday 3 December 2025.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts as the responsible portfolio agency for these Appointments, will oversee and conduct the appointments process.

To apply to be a member on the NCA Board you will need to provide:

• An Expression of Interest in PDF format, no more than 2 (two) pages, demonstrating your professional experience relevant to the key duties of the role and who we are looking for.
• A copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV) in PDF format of no more than 3 (three) pages.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to attend an online panel interview and assessment and may be asked to undergo psychometric assessments.

Your application should be received through the department's online recruitment system. Applications via Indeed will not be accepted.

If you experience any issues with the system please contact the recruitment team on or via email at to discuss an alternative way to submit your application.

Please advise the contact officer if you require reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. The department is committed to the accessibility of our systems. If you identify as someone with disability and you require accessibility assistance or more information, please email

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