Once a year, a large group of Enhanced Lifestyles members, Board members, and staff gather for our Annual General Meeting (AGM). It’s always fantastic to get everyone together in one room to hear about achievements from the last twelve months. The AGM is also an opportunity to have members ask questions, hear about matters that affect their peers, and nominate new Board members. Here’s what happened at our latest AGM for the 2022-23 financial year!
Reports from key people
Our AGM was led by Board Chair Trudy Gepp and CEO Tim Baker with support from Erin Gray, Office Coordinator.
From left: Tim Baker, Erin Gray, and Trudy Gepp.
First, we listened as Tim presented his CEO report. Here, he touched on many highlights from 2022/23, including customer growth in our Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Support Coordination services, the success of our incredible customer-led marketing campaign, and the use of technology to improve services across all regions and bridge geographical barriers for customers and staff alike. Tim also discussed future plans, such as continuous improvement to services, further investment in customer-facing systems, and initiatives to foster a culture of inclusivity and innovation for all.
Read more in our Annual Report
Next, it was Trudy’s turn to deliver the Chair report. Trudy began with a touching tribute to mentor and friend Deb Clark, our former Board chair, who passed away in September 2022. Trudy then shared the many benefits of our new Nightingale software system and the progress of the constitution review project, which is currently with the Board for feedback and will likely be rolled out early next year.
The last presenter was Nicholas Lopez, the Board Treasurer. He reported on our financial performance. To summarise, 2022/23 saw a lot of investment in services and systems, resulting in a deficit of $35,000. Money owed to us was also reduced, strengthening our cashflow. Nicholas shared some projections, including expected ongoing growth in the number of SIL customers, and members voted to appoint BDO as our financial auditor again for 2023/24.
From left: Nicholas Lopez, Erin Gray, and Trudy Gepp.
Lastly, we got to acknowledge and congratulate several Lifestyle Attendants on their long-service milestones.
Welcome a-Board!
This year, we had three new Board member applications from customers. After hearing the nominations, members voted, and all three people were appointed to the Board!
We extend a very enthusiastic welcome to:
- Maurice Corcoran AM
- Paul McCoy
- Angie Dhondee (you might recognise Angie from our recent customer story all about her experiences)
Members also appointed a new skills-based Board member. Welcome to Nigel Davis!
With the addition of three new customers, we’re looking forward to getting even more valuable input into projects and initiatives. Plus, Nigel brings a lot of Board, advocacy, and management experience to the table.
From left: Angie and Toula.
Farewell, Damien Hern!
The last order of business was a bittersweet one – to say goodbye and good luck to Damien Hern, our Chief Financial Officer. Damien was loved and highly respected by the Enhanced Lifestyles team, Board members, and the customers he worked with. It just so happened that his last day fell on the same day as the AGM, so we got to wish him all the best as a collective.
From left: Trudy Gepp and Damien Hern.
Closing out the AGM
After the formalities wrapped up, it was time for dinner! We enjoyed some delicious savoury treats and desserts from a local caterer as the room filled with the sounds of merry socialising.
Our AGM was over in the blink of an eye, and we’re really excited for the next one! Keep updated on AGM announcements, free customer events, and helpful articles with Lifestyle News – if you’re a customer and would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact us on 8340 2000.
If you’re not a customer, you can still stay up-to-date with all things Enhanced Lifestyles by subscribing to our monthly wrap-up newsletter here.
