Council and Committees

The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Inc. (the Association) is:

an incorporated association in the state of Victoria, Australia under the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (with registration number A0023234B);
a charity under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Act 2012; and
registered with an Australian Business Number (556 1066 4963).

The business of the Association is under the direction of Council. Council establishes Committees and other as-needed working parties consisting of members with terms of reference it considers appropriate.

The following gives a schematic representation of the current governance structure of the Association.

Our Council

2026-2027

The Hon Diana Bryant AO KC
President

Cr Martin Comte OAM
Chair of Council
Co-Chair of Advancement Committee

Cr Lawrence Grima
Vice-Chair of Council
Chair of Facilities Committee

Laurice Asmar

Cr Richard Dent OAM

Chair of Member Engagement Working Group

Billy Lee
Vice-Chancellor Representative

Cr Michael Lynch

Cr Russell Maisner

Katherine Nesbitt
Vice-Chancellor Representative

Cr Hisham Shakir

Cr Max Stephens

Co-Chair of Advancement Committee

Our Committees

Facilities Committee

The Facilities Committee exists to monitor and review policies and practices relating to the development and management of buildings and facilities.

Chairperson
Cr Lawry Grima

Vice-Chairperson
Cr Michael Lynch

Cr Russell Maisner
Mr Greg Carter

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee exists to monitor and review policies and practices relating to the sourcing, management, control and auditing of finances as well as monitoring and reviewing the management of financial risk.

Chairperson
To be finalised

Vice-Chairperson
To be finalised

Cr Russell Maisner
Ms Kate Adcock

Mrs Kay Gulenc (External Accountant)
Mr Wayne Tarrant (External Auditor)

Advancement Committee

The Advancement Committee exists to monitor and review policies and practices relating to membership, collegiate activities, member experience, reciprocal arrangements, advancement, fundraising, benefactions, scholarships and endowments.

Co- Chairpersons
Cr Martin Comte OAM
Cr Max Stephens

Ms Diya Gupta
Cr Hisham Shakir
Cr Billy Lee
Mr Tiger Yan
Mrs Cindy Huang

Governance Committee

The Governance Committee exists to establish excellence in governance practice, formulate and review policies and practices relating to the effectiveness of Council and its committees and ensure adequate Council succession planning.

Chairperson
To be finalised

Vice-Chairperson
To be finalised

Cr Laurice Asmar
Cr Katherine Nesbitt

Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration subcommittee exists to monitor and review policies and practices relating to the performance and remuneration of the CEO/Head of College.

Chairperson
Chair of Council
Vice Chair of Council
Chair of Finance and Audit Subcommittee

Member Engagement Working Group

Council established this group to oversee the member engagement process.

Chairperson
Cr Richard Dent OAM

Vice-Chairperson
To be finalised

Cr Laurice Asmar
Cr Martin Comte OAM
Cr Billy Lee
Cr Hisham Shakir

Gladstone Project Control Group

The Gladstone Project Control Group was established by Council to oversee the site options and redevelopment.

Chairperson
To be finalised

Vice-Chairperson
To be finalised

Cr Laurice Asmar
Cr Martin Comte OAM
Cr Russell Maisner

Elections

Each year, The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Incorporated (the Association) holds an election of Members to Council, the governing body of the Association.

The call for nominations for election to Council is released early each year, along with January/February newsletter and is on the Association’s website.

If there are more valid nominations than positions to be filled (usually three each year) a poll is held, with voting closing in the last week of May and the results announced at the Association’s annual General Meeting on the last Thursday of May.

Please see previous sections on this page for the composition of Council, and the Rules and Regulations relating to elections.

[table id=1 /]

Register of Members - non-inclusion

From early in February to mid-March each year, Members may nominate for a position on Council. If the number of nominees is greater than the number of available positions, the Returning Officer will send to all Members voting papers and information about the candidates. Candidates may seek to send additional campaign material to all resident and non-resident Members of our Association. For this ‘proper purpose’ candidates may request access to the Register of Members to gain name and contact/address details. The Graduate Union is then obliged to provide election candidates with a copy of the Register of Members. If you do not want your name and contact details to be included in the copy of the Register of Members given to election candidates, please inform the CEO/Head of College of the Graduate Union in writing (post, facsimile, as an email attachment, through this on-line form or hand delivered). We will then ensure that the copy of the Register of Members given to the election candidate does not include your name and contact details. *** Please note that if you have requested previously non-inclusion of your name and contact details in the copies of the Register of Members provided to other Members please complete and return this form only if you require changes (e.g., you now prefer to have your name and contact details provided to other Members).

X/Twitter
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
I opt out of being listed on the Register of Members given to other Members*
- Please check this box
Name:*
First Last
Preferred phone number*
Mobile or landline. Include country and area codes.
Email:*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Note
The Graduate Union cannot and must not impede the democratic process of elections. If you tick the box above, you will still receive additional election campaign material if candidates ask this to be sent. However, this material will be sent from our offices and candidates will not receive your name and contact details from The Graduate Union.

This downloadable form is to request Non-Inclusion on the Register of Members sent to other Members.

Download request

Email receipt of Notices and Publications

You may elect to receive The Graduate Union notices and publications (“documents”) via email. Email communications reduce our costs for the printing of documents and envelopes, postage (nationally, internationally) and human resources. Our carbon footprint is also reduced. *** Please note that if you have registered previously for the receipt of notices and publications via email please complete and return this form only if you require changes (e.g., you now prefer the Melbourne Graduate to be emailed rather than posted).

Company
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
I wish the following to be sent to my email address:*
- Melbourne Graduate
- Monthly Newsletter
- Notices and papers relating to elections and to General Meetings of Members
- Invitations to Member Functions
Name:*
First Last
Preferred phone number*
Mobile or landline. Include country and area codes.
Email:*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Email 2:
Please enter a 'back-up' email address (e.g., one that will be relatively constant should you change jobs, address, countries or personal assistants).
Enter Email Confirm Email
Terms
Following receipt of your request The Graduate Union will no longer post paper documents to you as per the preferences above. All future documents will be sent to you through email as files attached to the email or made accessible through links to a page on The Graduate Union website. We ask that you regularly check your nominated email address for documents. You agree that you are deemed to have received the email and attached/linked documents when the email reaches your internet service provider whether or not you have opened or read the email, attachments or links. You agree that you will retain the email and documents yourself electronically or by printing them. You can withdraw your request for email delivery of documents at any time by writing to The Graduate Union via email or post, or by so instructing in person at the offices of The Graduate Union. Your request for email delivery of documents will be cancelled if you, or your authorised agent, request cancellation. Upon withdrawal or cancellation of the email delivery service, The Graduate Union will commence sending paper documents to the last advised mailing address, unless otherwise instructed. You will be able to obtain a paper copy of documents on request. If The Graduate Union receives a bounce-back notification from your email address, paper documents will be sent to your last advised postal address unless otherwise instructed. If two or more consecutive bounce-backs occur The Graduate Union may cancel the request for email delivery of documents. An “out of of¬fice” notification will not be considered a bounce-back notification. If you change your email address please advise The Graduate Union in writing through email or post, or in person at the offices of The Graduate Union.

This downloadable form is to request that Notifications and Publications are emailed rather than posted.

Download request

Feedback to Council

Please feel free to give us feedback and suggestions for improvements to our governance, organisational structure, management, financial status or any other area of governance that has come to your attention. For more information, see our Governance page.

Make a difference

Help us build the future of The Graduate Union.

DONATE NOW

Council and Committees

Our Council

2026-2027

Our Committees

Elections

Register of Members - non-inclusion

Note

Email receipt of Notices and Publications

Terms

Feedback to Council

Make a difference

GIVE FEEDBACK

Donate to the Diamond Jubilee Campaign

Amount

Your Details

Payment