NMG to have election

New Mardi Gras will have an election at its August 6 annual general meeting, with nine people nominating for eight board positions.

Current members Peter Urmson, Damon Hartley, David Wilson and Phillip Kershaw are all seeking another term on the board. Current board associates Paul Savage and Liam Miller are seeking to move onto the board.

Former board member Michael Douglas, who in previous year has been an outspoken critic of NMG’s financial reporting, is seeking another stint on the board.

Douglas failed to secure a position on last year’s board after the a significant number of proxy votes he had secured were ruled invalid.

New candidates seeking board position include community identity Lisa Bradley and Fairfax Digital consultant Siri Kommedahl.
Urmson’s current co-chair Steph Sands will not be seeking re-election.

“Last year, around this time, I made a commitment to myself that I would dedicate one last year to the organisation. I have done that with all my energy and best intentions and I continue to work until August 6th in my elected role,” she wrote in her personal blog.

“Despite the request of my co-chair to re-stand and many months of careful consideration, I plan to honour the commitment I made to myself a year ago.”

Long-serving board member and vice-chair Josh Keech is also standing down after three years volunteering with the organisation.

“After three years, I’ve helped the organisation through it’s hardest season, changed how Police interact with us, protected our IP, supported collaborative community inclusion and set up Mardi Gras Legal. Thanks for to all volunteers who made it possible along the way. Time for a break! … Watch this space,” he said.

Keech’s fellow vice-chair Siri May is also not seeking re-election this year. May was first appointed in January last year and elected to the board last year.

Catherine McCourt, who was appointed to the board in December last year after serving as a board associate, will also not seek election this year.

INFO: The NMG AGM is at 1pm on Saturday, August 6 at the new ACON premises, 414 Elizabeth St, Sydney.