Call for Policy Sub-Committee

Position Description
for members of the
SEQ EIANZ Policy Sub-committee
(As at May 2010)

Our transition to a sustainable society depends on achieving quality environmental outcomes in everything we do.
Improving environmental outcomes in the environmental profession depends on continuously building the capacity of environmental practitioners to enhance and update skills and knowledge in environmental practice.

The Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) is a leading professional body in Australia and New Zealand for environmental practitioners, and promotes independent and interdisciplinary discourse on environmental issues.

Our Vision
Sustainable and equitable management of the environment through excellence in environmental practice.

Our Mission
We will lead environmental practitioners, set standards for best available environmental practices, support and enable practitioners to promote and achieve a sustainable and equitable management of the environment.

The Primary Purposes of the Institute (published in the Statement of Purpose) are to:

(a) facilitate interaction among environmental professionals.
(b) promote environmental knowledge and awareness, and
(c) advance ethical and competent environmental practice.

The Institute was formed to meet the needs of environmental practitioners. It is a non-profit, politically independent professional association. Founded in 1987, the Institute is multi-disciplinary in membership and provides scope and opportunity for professional and academic interchanges across all sectors of the diverse environmental industry.

The Institute has a key role within the Australian and New Zealand communities as a major contributor to the formulation of effective and responsible policies in the broad field of environmental management. The practical consequence of the Institute’s involvement in environmental management reform processes is a long-term improvement in the quality of environmental management. This must, in turn, lead to a better protected and managed global environment as Institute members pursue their endeavours and apply their skills to local environments.

The South East Queensland (SEQ) Division Committee is an active and proactive body of volunteer professionals, addressing and delivering on the mission and objectives of the EIANZ at the SEQ level, and providing proactive input to EIANZ at the International level.

The SEQ EIANZ Policy Sub-Committee is a sub-committee of the SEQ EIANZ Division Committee and is responsible to the SEQ EIANZ Division, and through SEQ to the International EIANZ.

The Sub-committee, as with the SEQ EIANZ Division committee, is made up of volunteers from the environmental profession, mainly members of EIANZ.

The purpose of the Policy Sub-Committee is to pro-actively engage with and reactively respond to Governments on issues affecting environmental outcomes in South East Queensland; and to enhance the profile of the EIANZ through this professional engagement. This may also include National or International issues that impact on South East Queensland if there is a coordinated National or International response being prepared. There will be proactive as well as reactive opportunities.

The sub-committee member’s involvement might include:

• Identifying EIANZ and environment professionals’ issues of concern
• Prioritising issues to be addressed
• Identifying opportunities to provide professional comment on regional initiatives
• Developing submissions and responses that are consistent with EIANZ’s objectives and policies
• Establishing and leading – or contributing as a member in – groups of professionals coordinating a submission on a particular issue
• Liaising professionally with other stakeholders including government departments, community groups and other professional bodies.
• Liaising with other sub-committee members
• Attending, participating in and reporting to the SEQ Division Committee monthly meeting on behalf of the Policy Chair
• Contributing to analysis of, evaluation of and develop strategic directions for EIANZ, SEQ Division and its members.

If you are interested in participating in the SEQ EIANZ Policy Sub-committee, please contact Lindi Bowen bowen.needs@gmail.com (Policy Chairperson).