Board of Directors Elections 2025
Board of Directors Elections 2025
Nominations declared
The Returning Officer has announced the nominations for the 2025 Director and BMC elections. You may read the Returning Officer’s notice here.
In summary: elections will be held for the National President, Torres Strait Islander Director and the three Ordinary Director vacancies.
Candidate Statements, Responses to Key Attributes and Curriculum Vitae for each member who have nominated for office may be found below.
| Candidate for National President – Brooke Kooymans | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
| Candidate for National President and Ordinary Director – Elizabeth Little* | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
| Candidate for National President and Ordinary Director – Julianne Whyte | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
| Candidate for Torres Strait Islander Director – Jaime Ahwang | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
| Candidate for Torres Strait Islander Director – Rachel Bruce | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
| Candidate for Ordinary Director – Mark Brown | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
| Candidate for Ordinary Director – Marshall Callaghan | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
| Candidate for Ordinary Director – Michael Elwan | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
| Candidate for Ordinary Director – Charlie K Evans | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
| Candidate for Ordinary Director – Fotina Hardy | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
| Candidate for Ordinary Director – Andrew Richardson* | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
| Candidate for Ordinary Director – Jenny Rose | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
| Candidate for Ordinary Director – Leonie Vela | ||
| Candidate Statement | Responses to Key Attributes | |
- Candidate Statement – Brooke Kooymans
- Candidate Statement – Elizabeth Little *(please refer to the enclosed company statement regarding this candidate)
- Candidate Statement – Julianne Whyte
- Candidate Statement – Fotina Hardy
- Candidate Statement – Andrew Richardson *(please refer to the enclosed company statement regarding this candidate)
- Candidate Statement – Leonie Vela
- Candidate Statement – Michael Elwan
- Candidate Statement – Charlie K Evans
- Candidate Statement – Jenny Rose
- Candidate Statement – Mark Brown
- Candidate Statement – Marshall Callaghan
- Candidate Statement – Rachel Bruce
- Candidate Statement – Jaime Ahwang
Terms of office
The Association’s Constitution provides for the term of office for a Director of the Association to commence at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) in the year in which their election is declared and terminate at the conclusion of the third following AGM.
“Meet the Candidates” webinar
A “Meet the Candidates” webinar was held on 29 September 2025. If you missed the webinar, you can review the recording here:
A list of questions submitted by Members to candidates on the night may be found here.
Note: Existing Board members who nominated for re-election were advised by the Moderator that they should not divulge confidential Boardroom discussions or how they voted on a particular resolution during their time in office. Accordingly, any questions to existing Directors of that nature were not considered. Questions specifically relating to operational matters were also not considered.
“First Past the Post” Voting System
The Association has adopted a “First Past the Post” voting system, whereby the candidate who polls the highest number of votes is elected.
Returning Officer
The Association has appointed Vero Voting (“Vero”) as the Returning Officer for the 2025 elections. Vero will handle the nomination process, the electronic voting process and declare the results of the election within 24 hours of the polls closing.
If you need help during the elections process, please email Vero at [email protected]
Audited Financial Information
The Association provides the following financial and membership data as at 30 June 2025 for the benefit of those candidates who have nominated for Directorship of the Association.
What happens next
Further information about the Board election process (including voting instructions and key dates) will be emailed to members by Vero Voting, when the ballot opens on Tuesday 23 September 2025. If you can’t find your email from Vero Voting, please check your spam or junk folders, as it may have been mistakenly filtered there.
Election procedure timetable
| Nominations open | Tuesday 2 September 2025 |
| Nominations close | 12:00pm (AEST) Thursday 11 September 2025 |
| Declaration of Nominations by Returning Officer | Friday 12 September 2025 |
| Publish 750-word candidate statement (50-word candidate statement for Officeholders) on AASW website | Monday 15 September 2025 to |
| Record date for eligibility to vote | 5:00pm (AEST) Thursday 18 September 2025 |
| Voting opens | 9:00am (AEST) Tuesday 23 September 2025 |
| Webinar – “Meet the Candidates” | Monday 29 September 2025 at 6:00pm (AEST) |
| Voting closes | 5:00pm (AEDT) Tuesday 7 October 2025 |
| Declaration of Ballot by Returning Officer | Within 24 hours of polls closing |
| Publication of election results on AASW website | As soon as possible after candidates have been informed of the outcomes but in any case, no later than 5:00pm (AEDT) Wednesday 8 October 2025 |
Expected Behaviour of Nominees and Members During AASW Board Elections
The AASW is committed to ensuring that its Board election process is fair, transparent, and respectful. All nominees are expected to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct throughout the election period.
Nominees and members are required to:
- Demonstrate integrity, honesty and respect in all communications and campaign activities.
- Engage in conduct that reflects positively on the profession of social work and on the Association.
- Avoid making false, misleading or disparaging statements about other nominees, the AASW, or its members.
- Use campaign materials and platforms responsibly, ensuring that information shared is accurate, relevant and professional.
- Comply with all election procedures, guidelines and directions set by the AASW Returning Officer.
- Refrain from any behaviour that could be perceived as harassment, intimidation, or undue pressure on members.
The AASW reserves the right to take appropriate action where behaviour is inconsistent with these expectations.
By standing as a nominee, individuals acknowledge and agree to these standards, recognising that their conduct contributes to the integrity of the election process and the reputation of the profession.