Company Secretary

Slade Group; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15% superannuation

Campus-wide F&B discounts

Job summary

University of Queensland Union (UQU) seeks a Company Secretary to lead its secretariat, provide governance advice, and coordinate the governance cycle across Council, the Advisory Board, and committees. The role reports to the General Manager and guides governance reform and compliance across the organisation.

You'll develop the risk management framework, administer the risk register, and support the Risk Committee while ensuring officers understand their duties.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in company secretarial roles and governance.
• Experience supporting elected representatives or volunteers with governance advice.
• Hands-on secretariat experience managing board and committee cycles.
• Knowledge of not-for-profit governance obligations and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Union’s company secretariat and provide governance advice to stakeholders.
• Coordinate governance cycle for Council, Advisory Board and committees; lead a team of three.
• Develop and maintain risk management framework and strategic risk register.
• Maintain compliance and governance registers and advise on governance reform.

Skills

Governance advisory

Board secretariat

Governance calendars

Risk management

Leadership of small team

Education

Law/governance/business or commerce degree

Job description

Company secretary

About University of Queensland Union (UQU)

UQU has been the heart of student life since its founding, led by students, for students. What began as a collective of passionate individuals has grown into a dynamic organisation representing more than 60,000 students across UQ's campuses.

UQU is the spark behind campus's most unforgettable moments, festivals, advocacy campaigns, clubs and societies, and it’s there when students need it most, through free meals and Student Advocacy & Support services that look after their wellbeing.

Every club it supports, every voice it amplifies, every event it brings to life, is done to empower students to get the most from their university journey.

UQU is a team of organisers, campaigners, advocates, and community-builders working collaboratively to back students every step of the way, empowering them to lead its strategic direction based on what students care about. It takes its work seriously, and thousands of students rely on UQU every day.

About the role

As Company Secretary, you'll lead the Union’s company secretariat function and be its go-to specialist for governance advice. Reporting to the General Manager, you'll hold the Company Secretary responsibilities under the Union’s constitution, coordinate the governance cycle for Council, the Advisory Board and committees, and lead a team of three.

You'll work in partnership with the Student Executive Secretary and student leadership, who set the direction and make the decisions, to build the Union’s governance framework from the ground up and progress the pathway to incorporation. You'll bring the expertise, options and coordination, and provide continuity as office holders change each year.

You'll also develop the risk management framework, administer the strategic risk register on behalf of the General Manager, support the Risk Committee and maintain the compliance and governance registers. Through it all, you'll help Councillors, student executives and leadership understand and meet their obligations as officers.

This role is offered as a fixed-term contract until December 2027. As the position is funded through the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), any extension or conversion to an ongoing role will depend on future funding allocations.

About you (Qualifications/Experience)

Essential

• A relevant degree or postgraduate qualification (e.g. law, governance, business or commerce) and extensive relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education and training.
• Extensive relevant experience in company secretarial, board secretariat or governance roles, including as company secretary or senior governance adviser to a board, council or complex committee structure.
• Experience working in partnership with elected representatives or volunteer office holders, supporting them to lead and make decisions while providing expert advice and continuity.
• Extensive hands-on secretariat experience managing the full board and committee cycle, including governance calendars, agendas, board papers, minutes, resolutions, action registers and statutory records, with a high standard of accuracy and confidentiality.
• Demonstrated expertise interpreting and applying governance instruments, and experience establishing governance frameworks and leading governance reform, including working with external advisers.
• Sound working knowledge of not-for-profit, charity and corporate governance obligations, compliance obligations registers and policy frameworks, and experience establishing a risk management framework and risk register (e.g. aligned to ISO 31000).
• Demonstrated people leadership experience, including leading, coaching and managing the performance of a small team.
• Proven ability to give clear, impartial and practical advice to senior and elected stakeholders on sensitive matters, with sound judgement about when to elevate or seek legal advice.
• Experience building governance and risk capability in others, particularly people new to board or officer roles.

Desirable

• A governance qualification (e.g. Governance Institute of Australia Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance and Risk Management).
• Experience in a university, student union or member-based organisation.

What’s in it for you

• A senior role where you'll help shape the student experience and make a genuine impact
• The chance to help build a positive, values-driven culture as UQU invests in its foundations
• A close-knit community across our St Lucia, Gatton and Dutton Park campuses
• A generous 15% superannuation
• Campus-wide F&B discounts at UQU-owned outlets

Inclusion, diversity & culture

UQU believes great teams are built on genuine belonging, where people bring their full selves to work and feel respected, protected, and valued for who they are, whatever their background. If you need adjustments to do your best work, just talk to your manager – inclusion here is practical, not performative. Our values – Integrity, Respect, Inclusivity, Creativity, Openness, and Accountability to students – are the foundation of how it operates, treat each other, and makes its decisions.

Applications due: Friday, 20 November 2026