New members include:

• Fiona McLeay (Deputy Chair), Executive Director of the Public Interest Law Clearing House
• Gina Anderson, Philanthropy Fellow with the Centre for Social Impact and experienced not-for-profit (NFP) director
• Paul O’Callaghan, Executive Director of Catholic Social Services Australia and former Executive Director of the Australian Council for International Development
• Myles McGregor Lowndes OAM, Director of the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies at the Queensland University of Technology
• Sheila McHale, CEO of Palmerston Association and former member of Parliament in WA
• David Crosbie, CEO of the Community Council for Australia and a member of the NFP Sector Reform Council
• Anthony Lang, board member of the Victorian Council of Social Service and a barrister specialising in NFP law.

The appointees will join Robert Fitzgerald AM who was appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Advisory Board in May 2011.

According to Fitzgerald, the role of the ACNC Advisory Board is to respond to requests from the Commissioner and to provide advice that will enable the legislated objectives of the ACNC to be met in an efficient, responsive and relevant way.

“Our advice should assist the Commissioner in understanding the needs of the Australian public to support ongoing confidence in the sector, as well as the complex environment within which charities operate,” says Fitzgerald.

The ACNC Advisory Board will meet at least four times a year with the first meeting to be held in early 2013. The Board will aim to meet in each state or territory across a two-year period and will conduct community consultations prior to meetings.

Information on the ACNC Advisory Board will be promoted via the ACNC website, as well as through social media and the regular Commissioner Column.