Mardi Gras has officially announced the results of the Board Election following the Annual General Meeting held in Sydney on Saturday 23 August.
A total of 572 votes were cast in this year’s election with 459 made electronically, 71 made in person at the AGM and 42 by proxy. 2 votes were considered informal, and were not included in the tally.
Following the counting of votes, Returning Officer, Craig A Limkin, declared the new board will consist of: Damien Hodgkinson, Fran Bowron, Darren Bruce, James Brechney, Paul Savage, Brandon Bear, Greg Small and Michele Bauer.
Candidates Michael Douglas, Timothy Nicholls and Craig Richards were unsuccessful in their quest to become directors, while another candidate, Wayne Martin, withdrew from contention prior to the AGM.
The campaign leading-up to the elections was marred by controversy with the revelation that a large number of suspect applications for membership were lodged prior to the AGM, leading to Mardi Gras suspending those applications until an assessment of the bona fides could be undertaken.
The new Board has some important decisions to make regarding the future of Mardi Gras, as well as contending with the organisation’s current operating model following the loss in the vicinity of $178,000 on this year’s festival. Mardi Gras is also due to report back to the membership this week on the outcomes of a number of ‘motions’ put forward to the AGM.
The 2015 Mardi Gras Festival will take place from 13 February to 8 March. For more information, visit: www.mardigras.org.au for details.
Image: courtesy of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras