WOB Standard Plan achieves result for Secure Growth Property Funds

February 2021
Late last year, co-founder and director of Secure Growth Property Funds, Paul Brady, contacted WOB with a view to appointing two independent NEDs to the boards. We swung into action and provided him with comprehensive answers to his questions around the issues to consider when recruiting an advisory or independent board members. (Read Here)
 
The role was posted with WOB under our Standard Plan option which provides the following additional services:
  • Expert review of your posted position by WOB Chair
  • Position pinned to the top of WOB Vacancy Board for up to 3 weeks
  • Position appears at the top of weekly vacancies email for up to 3 weeks
  • Targetted email sent to skills-matched candidates.

As it was over the Christmas period, WOB principals Ruth Medd and Claire Braund both put in extra effort to be in touch with the right candidates. This included notifying the Alumni from our WOBSX program, several of whom spoke with Paul about the role.

Two WOB Members appointed


Rhyll Gardner, a member of the second WOBSX Syndicate, who was one of two people appointed to the board of SGPF, had this to say:
 
“I had seen the board role for Secure Growth Property Funds on the WOB site and then Claire sent me an email prompting me to apply.  I have funds management experience and I was confident I had the background they were looking for. The zoom interviews were very relaxed and I enjoyed meeting the founders and talking through their plans and how I could add value.  Thank you Claire and WOB - a great outcome.”
 
Lucy Partridge, a real estate funds manager with experience in corporate advisory and executive funds management, was also appointed to the board of SGPF. She has the following observations on the process of securing the NED role:

After twenty odd years as an employee with one executive director role under my belt,  I took the leap into consultancy in April 2020. Part of my plan was to secure a portfolio of non-executive roles (NED, responsible manager or compliance committee member) to complement hands-on consultancy projects, with an aim to shifting the balance toward non-executive roles over the next 10-15 years. Having subscribed to WOB’s newsletters, browsed their resources and watched their number of roles on offer grow, I decided to become a member last year.

I took part in an Introduction to WOB session early in the process and found it hugely informative. It gave me insight into the typical expectations of directors, particularly in terms of education and qualifications. I plan on enrolling in some of the WOB/GIA directorship courses this year.

As compared to other online “job platforms”, I’ve found WOB is focussed on creating a direct relationship between the advertiser and the applicant. For example, applications are made directly to the advertiser as opposed to being submitted via a platform. This also seems to generate a much higher response rate on applications. It speaks to the ethos of WOB, which is to support women in securing board positions.
 
SGPF Co-founder and director, Paul Brady, dropped Ruth and Claire this note:
 
I just wanted to reach out and thank you both for your work and the wonderful candidates we were able to speak with in recruiting our two NED roles. After much zoom interviewing and deliberating we have decided to appoint Lucy Partridge and Rhyll Gardner. Two fabulous people from your organisation.  Both ladies have informally agreed to the roles, and we are in the process of formally confirming the appointments.  We are very delighted with everything about WOB.”

About the new NEDS

 
Rhyll Gardner is a non-executive director and portfolio executive with value added to boards through deep finance and financial expertise along with broad experience across governance, marketing, strategy and M&A, risk management, digitisation, people and culture.   Over a 30 year career in banking and financial services with St.George, Suncorp, Bank of Queensland and Westpac, Rhyll filled CEO and general management roles in treasury, risk and compliance, marketing, corporate banking, retail banking and group strategy.  She has lead teams of up to 1000 through turnaround, growth and integration.  Rhyll is currently a director of Innovation & Business Skills Australia (IBSA) Ltd, Community 21 Ltd and Foodbank (Qld) Ltd. She is a past director of Foresters Community Finance Ltd, Social Investments Australia Ltd, Qld Symphony Orchestra, St. Margaret's School and the YWCA.
 
Lucy Partridge is a real estate fund manager with over twenty years’ experience in corporate advisory and executive funds management roles. She held the role of Head of Funds Management for two successful property fund managers across the listed and unlisted space, each of which achieved a strong growth trajectory during her tenure.  She now offers fund advisory and administration services through her consultancy, Pinto Advisory, which also encompasses responsible manager and non-executive director roles.