All members just received this newsletter blast from auDA. It concerns the appointment of Dr Michaella Richards (late last year) as a Demand Class Director to replace the duly elected Miguel Wood who resigned.
The probity of this recruitment has been questioned in recent times, and was raised by a few members at the Special Members Meeting on Monday 31st July. Cameron Boardman (CEO) and Erhan Karabardak (Deputy Chair) both said her appointment was totally above board.
David Goldstein from DomainPulse summed the situation up beautifully in this article.
Tonight’s auDA newsletter seeks to excruciatingly try and defend the indefensible. Unbelievable – they haven’t learnt a thing from Monday.
Questions For auDA
Given that you’ve now pledged that you’re listening to members, and that communication would improve from last Monday, can you please answer the following:
Your statement today says “Statement by the auDA Board regarding Dr Michaella Richards, Non-Executive Director“.
♦ Was this a unanimous decision; or a majority decision; or a decision by a quorum of Directors? Did you have any dissenting Board members?
♦ Who from auDA actually put Dr Michaella Richards on the interview list for the position? She must have been suggested by someone who knew of her?
♦ Did Cameron Boardman put her name forward for consideration? Or suggest to her that she put her name forward?
♦ Was the current CEO (Cameron Boardman) in effective control of Dr Michaella Richards when they both worked for the Victorian Government? The facts say yes.
– Cameron Boardman – Executive Director, Innovation, Technology & Industry Programs – State Government of Victoria
– Michaella Richards – Director, Innovation & Technology Research/Programs – State Government of Victoria
♦ Did Cameron Boardman interview Dr Richards for the position – along with the ex-Chair (Stuart Benjamin)? He was asked this question at the SGM last Monday, and his answer was “I don’t believe I did”. This is on audio tape.
The October auDA Minutes say differently.
Conclusion
Not a good look auDA. To the innocent bystander (pub test), your CEO seems to have had an “unbelievable or unexplainable” lapse of memory with regards his former subordinate.
As I said in an earlier article today, no one – least of all me – is casting any doubts on Dr Richards integrity and character. She would probably make an excellent “Independent Director”. However, members just want to know how and why she was appointed when she had little or no “Demand Class” experience?
You should both consider your positions. Seriously.
Ned O’Meara – 7th August 2017
Disclaimer
31 names were put forward for consideration. 30 names from them and 1 from us (Shane)?
Control the candidate pool considered.
Control the position description.
Control the outcome.
Board Meeting 10th October 2016 at 1:00PM
The Chair and CEO advised they have interviewed Dr Michaella Richards and recommend her appointment to the auDA Board.
Drumroll…..and the minutes tell us,… He did!
https://www.auda.org.au/assets/auDA-Board-Minutes-10-October-2017.pdf
Why did and do some at auDA and on the auDA Board still want to censor the auDA minutes, agenda’s and resolutions?…..
Through this statement, the auDA Board are showing a willful disregard for the primary concern raised by members.
Nobody is questioning Dr Richards’ credentials or whether she would be a good Director.
The main issue always was, and continues to be: how is she the BEST candidate to represent Demand class members? As Shane has previously indicated, his experience with the selection process seems to indicate that criteria better suited to selected to an Independent Director were applied for this Board seat.
Only when the appointment failed the “pub test” of whether Dr Richards was the most appropriate candidate did members’ attention turn to the question of “if not, why was she selected?”.
The answer is either the selection criteria and process were flawed and / or there were linkages with other auDA representatives. And that is when the close link to Boardman came to light.
Heck, if we were applying the same rules of association, we would look at Leonie Walsh and Cameron Boardman’s inevitable prior interactions when she was Victorian Chief Scientist and her had a senior role at DSDBI. Yes, they interacted previously, but no one has questioned that.
Because the denial of a representative voice for Demand class is the main issue, not perceived conflicts of interest. And to say “oh well, she wont last beyond the AGM” is not a point of comfort. She will go but the stain from the machinations of auDA executive and Board indifference to this will remain.
In my opinion.
Exactly, the consideration should be “What would demand members want“, not “What does AUDA management want”.
Bingo.
And what is more annoying is that, instead of letting the matter pass without comment (which would be bad enough), the Board has adopted a siege mentality and felt the need to aggressively defend one of their own. All while misrepresenting members’ concerns as “misinformation” and attempting to control the narrative.
This does not lead to goodwill, trust and the healing of relationships. And it shows the Board has heard and learned nothing.
By the way, how is the publication of 8 months worth of missing Board Minutes going? I assume these materials were readily available when the Board issued its Communique five days ago….
Agree, this is where Cameron has learnt nothing (I’m assuming this press release is his work). There is no point defending this, it is another one of AUDA’s past “serious mistakes”.
He is now digging a hole and and making an even bigger deal of the whole issue. They did the same thing with both the code of conduct and the minutes. Instead of simply admitting the mistake early they defend it until the death and when they realise 95% of members think their actions are outrageous they have their “mea culpa” moment.
Wake up Cameron.
You’re right Snoopy. This is getting bigger because they have already forgotten last week.
Jeff
Officeworks banned them from buying all the white-out! Last seen at bunnings paint dept with jumbo trolly at the self serve register and a strange fellow murmering “Redact”, Redact ReeeeRedact”…ReeeeeDact! LOL
Ned, interested to see if Boardman answers any of your questions. Why does he seek to die in the ditch over this issue?
Jeff
Please someone just cue the Benny Hill music because this becomes more laughable by the minute.