Nominations now open for DA Australia National Leadership Positions
Nominations for DA Australia Executive Committee (ExCom) officers and voting representatives are open through Saturday April 5, 2025. The following DA Australia ExCom positions will be filled at elections taking place at the DA Australia 2025 Annual General Meeting on Saturday May 3: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and Counsel, as well as Voting Representatives.
Positions have a two-year term in office. Nominees must be members of DA Australia at the time of the election and for the duration of their two-year term. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall not be the same gender. DA Australia ExCom Officers meet at least quarterly by zoom to review DA Australia activities and initiatives. Roles and responsibilities for each officer are listed below.
To place your name or the name of another DA Australia member into nomination please prepare and submit this Google Form by no later than 11.59pmAEDT on Saturday April 5.
Nominations Process
Nominees may submit a Candidate Statement, which should be a maximum of 500 words, highlighting the nominee’s background, relevant skills and experience, motivation and objectives in seeking office, noting any existing involvement with Democrats Abroad or the Democratic Party. It may be helpful to know the amount of time available to devote to DA Australia.
The candidate statements will be posted on the DA Australia webpage. Candidates may also submit a one-minute video of their candidacy in addition to the (optional) written statement.
Nominees are encouraged to submit an optional one sentence Statement of Diversity.
Nominees are asked to identify their gender so that gender diversity mandates for the positions of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and DPCA Voting Member can be observed.
Those interested to run for office are encouraged to contact the Nominations and Elections Committee with questions. The Nominations and Elections Committee members and their contact details are below. None are seeking DA Australia elected positions:
John Chabowski, yodarific19799(at)yahoo.com, 0459 169 999
Kate Eaton, katherine.joan.eaton(at)gmail.com, 0412 443 798
Lisa Lombardi, lismalo(at)icloud.com, 0417 940 813
Susan Wolfe, susan(at)susanjwolfe.com, 0412 370 092
Executive Committee and Voting Representative Roles and Responsibilities
Chairperson
The Chairperson shall be the chief executive officer of the organization, shall call and preside at all meetings of members and of the ExCom, and shall have responsibility for all DA Australia activities. The Chairperson shall sit ex-officio on all DA Australia committees including any Standing Committees, with full voting privileges. The Chairperson shall be a member of the Democratic Party Committee Abroad (DPCA) and attend meetings of the DPCA.
The Chairperson must attend either in person or electronically and vote in the annual DPCA Global Meeting. The next DPCA Global AGM will be held in Washington DC 6-8 June 2025. (The Chairperson may delegate a proxy if unable to participate).
The Chairperson is expected to attend (in person or electronically) and vote in the Asia-Pacific regional caucus and the DA Global Convention which take place in the year of a U.S. general election. (Proxy voting is not allowed).
The Chairperson is expected to attend the monthly DA Asia-Pacific regional zoom meeting. The Chairperson often serves as spokesperson for DA Australia but these responsibilities can be shared or assigned to other members.
The Chairperson may not be of the same gender as the Vice-Chairperson.
Vice-Chairperson
In the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall call and preside at meetings of members and of the ExCom. The Vice-Chairperson shall have such other duties as the Chairperson shall define. The Vice-Chairperson shall become Country Chairperson in case of a vacancy in the office of Country Chairperson until the next member meeting at which Officer Elections are held. The Vice-Chairperson shall be a member of the DPCA and attend meetings of the DPCA.
The Vice-Chairperson must attend either in person or electronically and vote at the annual DPCA Global Meeting. The next DPCA Global AGM will be held in Washington DC 6-8 June 2025. (The Vice Chairperson may delegate a proxy if unable to participate).
The Vice-Chairperson is expected to attend (in person or electronically) and vote in the Asia-Pacific regional caucus and the DA Convention in the year of a US general election. (Proxy voting not allowed).
The Vice-Chairperson is encouraged to share responsibility of participating in the monthly DA Asia-Pacific zoom meeting.
The Vice-Chairperson must not be of the same gender as the Chairperson.
Secretary
The Secretary shall maintain the member database, minutes of all meetings and all files and administrative records of the organization. The Chairperson may appoint member Database Manager(s) to fulfil the obligations imposed by the DPCA for the maintenance of the current list of members. The Secretary shall maintain an active correspondence with the Local Chapter contacts. At meetings requiring a quorum the Secretary shall confirm a quorum of members is in attendance in person or by proxy per the current member database. In the Secretary’s absence the Chairperson shall appoint an ExCom member to serve in the capacity of the Secretary.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall manage the finances of the organization, maintain its financial reports to members and prepare such financial reports and submissions as may be required by law (including without limitation the laws and regulations of the United States and several States applicable to political parties and contributions to them). The Treasurer shall prepare and present to the AGM of DA Australia a Statement of Income and Expenses based on a fiscal year ending 31 March and a Balance Sheet as of 31 March.
The Treasurer shall maintain a full understanding of relevant laws and regulations of Australia and ensure that financial reports, returns and other submissions required of the organization under the laws and regulations/regulatory bodies of Australia are tendered in full and on time.
In association with the Counsel, the Treasurer shall maintain a robust understanding of the DPCA’s FEC guidelines to ensure, to the best of his/her ability, the organization and Local Chapters are operating in compliance with them. The Treasurer shall have signature power over all bank or other financial accounts held in the name of DA Australia.
The Treasurer shall maintain an active correspondence with the Local Chapter contacts.
Counsel
The Counsel shall be available for consultation by the Committee or its officers on legal and procedural questions relating to DA Australia and its activities.
In association with the Treasurer, the Counsel shall maintain a robust understanding of the DPCA’s FEC guidelines to, to the best of his/her ability, the organization and Local Chapters are operating in compliance with them, liaising with the International Counsel of Democrats Abroad as necessary.
The Counsel shall act as parliamentarian at all meetings of DA Australia, unless absent or excused there from.
Voting Representatives (5)
Democratic Party Committee Abroad (DPCA) Voting Representatives shall represent the views of DA Australia at the international meetings of the DPCA. The number of voting members is based on country membership and is determined by the DPCA. The Country Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are Voting Representatives by virtue of their offices, while additional Voting Representatives are to be elected by the DA Australia membership.
DA Australia AGM
DA Australia will hold its annual general meeting (AGM) on zoom on Saturday, 3 May 2025 10am AEDT. All DA Australia members will receive a 30 day notice. The agenda will include the election of national country committee officers and voting reps, amongst other things.
All DA Australia members are eligible to vote in the election. Ballots can be cast in person, by proxy vote or remote ballot. Further details about the AGM, how to RSVP, how to send a proxy and how to vote will be announced with the 30 day notice and electronic ballots. The AGM must have the participation of at least 20 members to meet quorum.
For your reference, here is the link to the DA-Australia by-laws: