Leading a national peak body with significant economic and social impact
The Brief
In 2024 the Board of a national peak body sought to appoint an influential CEO to build on the legacy of a long time CEO and drive continuing support and impact for members well into the future.
Reporting to a Board of pre-eminent industry leaders, the CEO’s remit is to drive advocacy, policy, financial management, member services and business development as well as organisational best practice. The newly appointed CEO would play an active role in engagement with policy makers, legislators and regulators, exchanging information and knowledge. and influencing for positive industry outcomes.
Candidate net Promote Score
Future Leadership combines truly personalised relationships with innovative technology solutions to ensure an approachable and efficient process for all our Net Promoter Score across clients, successful candidates and unsuccessful candidates is well above industry standard.
Candidates supported every year
We maintain genuine relationships with past candidates and continue to support them with leadership solutions long term, after they land their role.
Senior Women Appointed since 2002
Over half of the executive search assignments undertaken by our team have resulted in the appointment of outstanding female or LGBTQI+ leaders to high profile roles.
Candidate Retention Rate for 12 months since 2002
Our thorough briefing process and ability to engage passive candidates mean that we go to great lengths to find the right person for the role – long term!
The Process
Future Leadership undertook a full briefing and discovery exercise with senior leaders to obtain all relevant details of the position requirements and characteristics of the ideal candidate.
The Future Leadership Consultant leading this search, Deborah Komesaroff, was briefed by key Members of the Board and by the outgoing CEO. This ensured a strong understanding of the current and emerging challenges and opportunities, along with the particular nuances of the role as well as the desired skills, experience and characteristics of the successful candidate. Future Leadership undertook an in-depth targeted search process across Australia combined with an online media campaign. The proactive search focussed on high calibre potential candidates with specific and relevant experience in membership organisations, peak bodies and industry associations who had a proven record of driving growth and advocacy. The search process included constant formal and informal progress updates and calibration sessions to discuss the emerging candidate field, along with formal reporting, Consultant participation in panel interviews, and 360 degree reference checking to support the Board’s selection.
Emerging Capabilities
Culture and Engagement
Fosters a positive culture, creating a sense of belonging and inclusiveness. Creates an environment that encourages diverse perspectives and facilitates a psychologically safe environment.
Sustainability, Ethics and Integrity
Prioritises the environment in making decisions and leading others. Operates with integrity and aligns self to a high standard of social, cultural and professional standards of conduct. . Adheres to moral and ethical principles. Draws on values to inform behaviour.
Governance and Compliance
Establishes, champions and measures the effectiveness of an organisation’s regulatory and reporting systems. Identifies and evaluates risks, develops strategies to mitigate risk.
Communication and Influence
Articulates messages with clarity and impact to build understanding, inspire action, persuade others and enable information exchange. Considers the audience and draws on different styles to create impact.
Stakeholder Relations
Establishes rapport with stakeholders, builds and sustains trusted and collaborative relationships. Identifies and draws on relevant and diverse perspectives and integrates them to support productive interactions.
Organisational Capability
Understands the organisation's future requirements and identifies opportunities to build potential across the organisation. Seeks opportunities to develop other people and takes appropriate action to address skill gaps in others.
Digital Literacy
Draws on technology to connect with others. Identifies and builds digital solutions to create value for the organisation, while managing risk (with data and well-being). Leverages technology to drive innovation, performance, productivity, and efficiency.
The Outcome
The successful candidate was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer and commenced in October 2024.
The appointee was an experienced senior executive, including in CEO and General Manager roles and had led highly successful operational, advocacy, policy, government relations and public affairs agendas for four national peak NFP industry bodies. As such, they gained an in-depth knowledge and appreciation of the people, priorities and practices across all spheres. Their blend of senior experience is pertinent, having developed and applied their strategic program delivery, advocacy, communications, stakeholder engagement and government relations skills in diverse environments in pursuit of policy, corporate, internal
and external affairs objectives.
