Committee Coordinator Interview

Interview Question:

Can you describe your experience in managing committee inquiries and the process you adopted?

Candidate's Answer:

While you will note from my CV I haven't run Committee before, I do have complimentary experience running an Advisory Group which utilises many of the same skills and processes. About 12 months ago I set up what is called the Local Government Advisory Panel on State Land Matters, which is a collaboration between the Department of Resources and local government to support implementation of the Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023, as well as provide a for discussion regarding new and emerging land tenure issues.

My role with the LGAQ in representing local government has been to advise our management team how best to compose the local government representatives, the number, from what area and what level of seniority. My advice was to pitch at the CEO level to ensure a certain level of knowledge and authority could be brought to the forum. I looked for local governments with known land tenure issues, through the consultation we did when making our submission to the Transport and Resources Committee in the last term of government. Noting the diversity of our 77 local governments I looked to select 10 councils with good geographic dispersal to ensure a wide range of views could be brought forward. Concurrently I worked with the Department of Resources on the Terms of Reference for the group, ensuring it was broad enough to ensure any land tenure issue could be raised.

Now that the group is set up, my role has shifted to working with the Department to prepare the agenda for each meeting, and support local government in raising issues through either written papers or providing verbal updates. We meet quarterly so the commitment is not onerous for local government, but provides enough regularity to ensure they have a regular voice to the State Government.

We've seen some good outcomes, with the delivery by the State Government of a suite of training videos to help implementation, as well as opportunities to provide early feedback on policy proposals

Evaluation:

Your answer effectively highlights your relevant experience in a complementary role, demonstrating your understanding of committee management despite not having directly run a committee. You provide a concrete example of your involvement with the Local Government Advisory Panel, detailing the collaborative nature of the work and the strategic approach you took to form the group.

Your emphasis on the selection process for representatives, the importance of their authority and experience, and the goal of ensuring diverse geographical representation strengthens your response. Furthermore, discussing your ongoing responsibilities, such as agenda preparation and supporting local governments with their issues, shows your commitment to maintaining effective communication and engagement. Mentioning the positive outcomes achieved, like training videos and early feedback opportunities, adds an impactful conclusion to your answer, showcasing the effectiveness of your process.

To improve your answer, consider adding more details about how you managed inquiries specifically. For instance, you could explain how you documented inquiries, followed up with stakeholders, or resolved issues as they arose. This would give the interviewer a clearer understanding of your organizational and problem-solving skills within the context of committee management.

Rating: 4/5. Your answer is strong but could be enhanced with further specifics on managing inquiries directly.