Welcome to new Scouts NSW Board

Three new Directors joined the Scouts NSW Board following the Annual General Meeting at Baden-Powell Activity Centre on 19 July.

The AGM saw 120 people on-site, and numerous more online, reflect on the past 12 months of Scouting in NSW and look to the future. An essential part of the AGM was the Branch Council electing the new Board which will guide the organisation’s strategy over the next 12 months.

The Scouts NSW Board consists of 12 Directors elected for either a three-year term or appointed on a casual term for a 12-month period after not reaching the required majority vote at the AGM. They are:

• Kaylene Hubbard – Non-Executive Director and Chair
• Philip Cooper OAM – Ex-Officio Director and Deputy Chair
• Bernard Cronan – Non-Executive Director
• Brett Grimmond – Ex-Officio Director
• Cassandra Hammond – Ex-Officio Director
• Benjamin Hendriks – Non-Executive Director
• Niamh Hitchman – Ex-Officio Director
• Richard Hodge – Non-Executive Director
• Lloyd Nurthen – Ex-Officio Director
• Lachie Page – Ex-Officio Director
• Katherine Peters – Non-Executive Director
• Stuart Thorpe – Non-Executive Director and Treasurer.
  
  

Welcome and thank you to our new and continuing Board Directors.

Read more about each Director

At the AGM, Kerryn Boland PSM was also re-elected to the position of Branch Council Vice President. We sadly said farewell to Branch Council President John Price AM, and two retiring Board Directors – Chair Anthea Cudworth and Renee Burkinshaw, who both joined the Board in 2022 – and thank them for their service to Scouts NSW.

Youth members share section successes

In addition to the official proceedings, five youth members shared about the achievements and activities taking place across their sections over the past 12 months, as well as their own favourite memories.

	For Joey Scout Arion Jones of 1st Blaxland Scout Group, his presentation was one of the last things he needs to do to complete his Joey Scout Challenge Award! He looked back on some of the fun camping events for Joey Scouts, including attending the GG’s Camp in Canberra.
	Cub Scout Juliette Kwoka from Cammeray Scout Group was learning important skills for her future in Scouting, from what to pack in her hiking backpack and a first aid kit, to learning how to make spaghetti bolognaise and apple crumble. She also shared about the success of Cub Scouts from 1st/2nd Merrylands (St Anne’s) Scout Group winning the Monopoly Run in Penrith in March, or meeting Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, who is also the Chief Scout of NSW, when she visited 1st Forster-Tuncurry Scout Group.
	Scout representative Tarn Ward of 1st Oatley Bay Scout Group of course had to share about the excitement and fun of the Australian Jamboree in Maryborough, Queensland. He said along with the amazing activities, they also learned how to manage some wild weather, with a massive storm – including a big lightning strike that struck a couple of hundred metres away from his campsite. He also shared about Scouts challenging themselves in the outdoors, from bushwalks, to camps to canyoning.
	Oliver Pritchard from 1st Tambourine Bay Scout Group shared about a massive change for Venturer Scouts this year – the presentation of the first King’s Scouts in more than seven decades. Venturer Scouts were also able to attend the Australian Jamboree as either a participant or a Junior Service Leader for the first time.
	Finally, Leigh Jonassen from 1st Figtree Rover Unit, who’s the State Commissioner for Rover Scouts and the State Rover Council Chair – and probably the only Rover Scout in the state who was not in Portugal for the World Scout Moot – presented on some of the amazing adventure undertaken by members of her section thanks to the Dick and Pip Smith Leadership Through Adventure Fund. Leigh said she was proud of her own leadership achievements over the past 12 months, including achieving her Gilwell Woggle. She also recognised the work Rover Scouts were doing in leadership roles across Scouts.

Annual Review and Strategy presented

The Annual Review for 2024-2025 was presented and Chief Commissioner Lloyd Nurthen was proud to officially launch Scouts NSW’s new Strategy for 2025-2027.

“When envisaging the future of Scouts NSW, we strive to build a strong and growing organisation that understands and respects its past and is confident in its path forward,” he said.

“Our strategy is the cornerstone for defining a direction and course of action to unit all parts of our organisation in working together towards a common goal. We cannot understate the need for a strategy that is collaborative, intentional, future-focussed, and courageous.

“Over the past few months, myself, (Chief Executive Officer) Carolyn (Campbell), and the Board of Directors worked together to define our new Strategy for 2025-2027. This strategy was formed with an intention to be aligned to the Scouts Australia 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, both in timing and in themes, reinforcing our shared national vision for a thriving, contemporary Scouting Movement.

“By echoing the national priorities – such as enhancing member experience, advancing youth-led initiatives, and embedding child-safe practices – our strategy ensures that Scouts NSW not only contributes to, but helps lead, the collective progress of Scouting across Australia.  

“Our strategy has four key pillars – members, safeguarding, governance, and financial sustainability. It builds upon foundations already laid, and projects already underway, such as the Financial Sustainability Review and Pathway to Growth, to deepen and strengthen our commitment for a brighter future for Scouts in NSW.”