TRUSTEE VACANCY

Are you interested in helping shape the future of audio description and captioning in New Zealand? The Media Access Charitable Trust, as part of its board rotation policy, is seeking to appoint a new trustee who will represent the perspective of the blind and vision-impaired community.

The Media Access Charitable Trust provides strategic oversight of the not-for-profit organisation, Able, which produces captioning and audio description for New Zealand free-to-air television broadcasters.

Audio description is an alternative audio track that helps blind and vision-impaired people obtain more enjoyment from television. Captions are similar to foreign film subtitles and enable the Deaf and hard of hearing communities to access television.

The trust board comprises five trustees, including two sector representatives. One offers the perspective of the blind and vision-impaired community and the other offers the perspective of the Deaf and hard of hearing sector. Our trustees have a collegial approach and are very supportive of the chief executive and employees of Able.

The new trustee should be enthusiastic about accessibility and will demonstrate the following personal skills – a team player, strong communication skills, integrity, and a positive and constructive manner that is sensitive to differing approaches. Trustees should also bring experience or skills in one or more of the following areas: finance, law, technology, television broadcasting, governance, marketing, communications, community relations or disability policy.

The trustee positions are voluntary, but travel and meeting expenses are reimbursed. The Media Access Charitable Trust board meets quarterly in Auckland.

Please register your interest by emailing your CV and covering letter to board@able.co.nz. Please feel free to include a letter of support from an organisation serving the blind and vision-impaired community. Applications for this opportunity close on Friday 18 October, 2019.