2026 National Committee and Youth Convenor Election

Background

In accordance with the Australian Republic Movement constitution, elections for the National Committee are held every two years. The National Committee is composed of nationally elected directors, and the Convenors of each state and territory Branch Council who are elected every two years on alternating years.

This year, the election of ARM National Committee nationally elected directors and the National Youth Convenor is due. The National Committee has appointed Emeritus Professor John Warhurst AO as Returning Officer for this nomination and election process. On Thursday 30 April 2026, Members will have received an email with the details of how to nominate and what’s involved.

Please note that to nominate for the National Committee, you must be a current, financial ARM Member as of midnight AEST on Wednesday 29 April 2026. To nominate for Youth Convenor, you must be a current, financial ARM Member as of 4.00pm AEST Tuesday 19 May 2026.

To nominate for the National Youth Convenor, you also need to be aged 18-25 inclusive at the time of the close of nominations (19 May 2026).

If you have not received an email about the nominating process and believe you should have, please contact membership@republic.org.au, noting that this email is monitored on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Rules and how to Nominate

You can read the rules of the 2026 National Committee and Youth Convenor elections here.

To nominate, complete the relevant nomination form, including the details of two other ARM members who endorse your nomination. The form must be completed by you, your proposer and seconder no later than 4pm AEST on Tuesday 19 May 2026. Please note that the National Office is not able to assist you to find other members to endorse your nomination.

Nominees must provide a short statement (maximum 500 characters) supporting their nomination and a colour photograph in jpg or png format. Both the statement and photo are required as part of the nomination process. Statements and photos will be distributed to electors electronically in advance of the opening of the ballot. Your contact details and the details of your nominators will not be disclosed.

Nomination form for the ARM National Committee

Nomination form for the ARM Youth Convenor

For queries about the nomination process, you can email returning.officer@republic.org.au

Criteria

ARM is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. The National Committee is ARM’s Board of Directors and as such Directors must be legally able to serve as company directors under the Corporations Act 2001 and once elected carry the fiduciary and legal duties of company directors. Those candidates seeking to nominate and serve on the National Committee must have a company directors identification number or be able to obtain one before they join. For more information, please visit https://www.abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number.

The company needs to be governed by a professional board to ensure its strategy, finances, risks and governance are accounted for and managed in accordance with best practices for not-for-profits. The Board needs people with a suitable mix of skills and experience. Members are asked to consider these points when applying and voting.

The National Committee welcomes candidates with governance, leadership, collaboration and diverse community engagement experience, an understanding of our contemporary policy and political environment, and a deep commitment to strengthening Australian democracy by securing the future Australian republic.