Board Update

• The Board welcomed Natalie Miller to fill one of the vacant Board positions left after the AGM.
• There is still one Board vacancy available for future appointment.

OA participation funding opportunities

• The Board discussed new participation funding available through OA from the Australian Sports Commission.
• Nina is following up with OA to clarify what OACT may be able to access and what restrictions apply.
• One idea discussed was linking future funding to OA’s Participation Plan and OACT’s Strategic Plan.

MTBO participation ideas

• There is strong interest in developing MTBO participation options with a focus on women and girls, including camp or training-based activities.
• Permanent MTBO courses around Australia were also discussed, likely using MapRun.

Government applications and compliance

• The Board approved submission of the EO’s ACT Government State Sporting Organisations application and thanked Phil for his work on it.
• The Board also noted increasing compliance requirements for major events, including future work on terrorism risk management and traffic management planning.

Remote Area First Aid course

• A Remote Area First Aid course will be coordinated later in the year once John Shelton Agar returns from leave.

Capital O 2027

• Planning for Capital O 2027 is progressing well, with the main Saturday and Sunday events to be based in Cooma.
• There is also discussion about whether to include a Monday morning event, noting that the Canberra Day public holiday does not apply in every state.

Mapping update

• A broad mapping update was provided for coming sprint, metro and ACT League events.
• Work is underway or being explored on a number of areas, including local sprint maps, Palmerville, Northern Narrabundah Hill, Fisher Ponds, Evatt Creek, Majura Pines, Holder Wetland, Cotter Picnic Area, Molonglo Pines, Queanbeyan Escarpment, Whitecliffs, Poppet Hill, Kowen Forest, Googong North and Elm Grove.

Oceania 2026

• Planning for Oceania is continuing steadily.
• Entries opened on 1 June.

Next Meetings

• The next Board meeting will be held on Monday 17 August.
• The Board also noted future meeting dates of Monday 14 September, Monday 19 October and Monday 23 November.

The post Board Shorts – June 2026 appeared first on Orienteering ACT.

OA and governance updates

• The Board noted outcomes from the recent OA AGM, including Marina Iskhakova’s appointment to the OA Board and approval of OA constitutional strategy matters.

Ski-O back on for 2026

• After further discussion, the Board agreed that Ski-O will go ahead in 2026 given the work and promotion already completed.
• The event will be reviewed for 2027, and similar future one-off events will need Board approval.

Grants and State Sporting Organisation work

• Both recent funding applications were approved (ACT Government Sport and Recreation grants), which is good news for OACT. Refer; Funding Recipients – Sport and Recreation
• Work has started on the 2026 State Sporting Organisation Categorisation Application, with Phil coordinating this. The categorisation assessment impacts OACT’s eligibility for ACT government grants in 2027–2029. Refer; State Sporting Organisation Categorisation – Sport and Recreation

Finance and event costs

• The Board reviewed finance papers and discussed a few items in more detail, including Sporting Schools income and the treatment of NOL and Capital O income.

Capital O and NOL 2027

• Capital O and the NOL round proposed for 2027 were discussed, with Ian confirming that he is willing to coordinate the event again.
• The Capital O carnival in 2026 was a huge success for the organisation, setting it up as a major annual carnival for OACT.

Capital O to continue

• The Board agreed that Capital O was a successful weekend and thanked Ian Prosser for overseeing it.
• The Board also agreed that Capital O should continue as an annual event, while recognising that the Canberra Day long weekend may not always be the best fit.
• OACT has also lodged a bid with OA to host a NOL round in 2027 in conjunction with Capital O.

Coaching and athlete development

• The Board discussed coaching governance, WWVP and accreditation matters.
• An international coaching visit by Frank Townley from Edinburgh has been locked in for September to March, with tasks and structure still to be developed.
• The current on-demand model for elite coaching appears to be working well.

Blue Lightning coaching

• Alastair George has been appointed as the Blue Lightning coach for this season. He will work with the Blue Lightning Manager, Grit Schuster.

MTBO

• The Board noted that Emily Stewart-Reed will take over the ACT MTBO Coordinator role in 2027.

Athlete support funding approved

• The Board agreed unanimously to provide athlete support in 2026 at the following levels: JWOC – $1,000; WOC – $500; WUOC – $750.

Uniforms and communications

• Uniform updates were noted.
• The Board also supported, in principle, the idea of engaging a junior to help with regular content for OACT’s social media.

Remote Area First Aid Course

• ACT Government has provided funding for the Remote Area First Aid Course.
• Up to 15 participants will complete the course, and they will be expected to volunteer at least two events. If you’re interested in participating, watch this space!

Welcome person roster

• Andrew advised that he will no longer continue as the event welcome person for Saturday Metro events.
• For 2026, Board members will rotate through this role instead. Come and say hi!

Oceania 2026

• Planning for Oceania is continuing steadily.
• Entries will open on 1 June.

Board succession and development officer role

• The Board discussed broadening Board membership and future succession. Nina will approach possible candidates.
• The Board also discussed formalising the development officer role, much of which is currently being covered by Susanne.

Next meeting: Monday 22 June 2026.

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AGM completed

• The AGM was held and all business was completed.
• The 2025 AGM minutes were accepted with no changes.

Annual report and finances

• The Annual Report was accepted unanimously.
• Asset write-offs reduced the reported surplus.
• The underlying financial result remained positive (~$7k).
• Audited financial statements were presented.

Board elected for 2026

• The Board for 2026 is: Nina Davis (President), Emily Stewart-Reed (Secretary), Andrew Cheffers (Treasurer), and Valerie Barker, Tate Needham, David Stocks and Ian Prosser.
• John Shelton Agar and Alison Inglis were thanked for their contribution.

Auditor appointed

• Dipak Mehta was appointed as auditor for 2026.

Affiliated clubs confirmed

• Affiliated clubs for 2026 were confirmed: Abominable O-men, Bushflyers, Parawanga Orienteers and Red Roos.

Service award

• Darryl Erbacher received the 2026 Bob Mouatt Award for Services to Orienteering Australia.
• The award recognises his long-term contribution as National Statistician since 1990.

The post Board Shorts – 2026 OACT AGM appeared first on Orienteering ACT.

Strategic direction for event series

• The Board had a big-picture discussion about OACT’s event program, using participation data and a strategic discussion paper to look at what is working well and what may need to change.
• A total of 132 events were run in 2025, but some series are stagnating and volunteer workload remains a concern.
• The Board agreed that future decisions should focus on attracting younger people, families and new members, with trial changes to be reviewed after a season.

Wednesday winter Midweek Series to stop

• The Board agreed that the Wednesday winter Midweek Series will not continue, due to declining attendance and the workload involved.
• This is part of a broader effort to simplify the calendar and focus effort where it will have the most impact

Summer series proposal under discussion

• The Board discussed merging the Wednesday summer Twilight series with the Sunday summer series into a new Summer Series on Sunday mornings.
• This would still offer a range of terrains and event styles, but better suit families and the summer heat.
• Feedback will be sought from club convenors before any final decision is made.

Ski-O not to run in 2026

• Because of low participation and the volunteer effort required, the Board agreed that OACT will not run Ski-O in 2026 and that another state may be invited to take it on.

Street-O relaunch planned

• The Board wants Street-O to return to pre-COVID strength for summer 2026–27.
• Ideas discussed include a clearer start time, mass start, printed maps, accurate mapping, MapRun timing and simple post-event refreshments.
• Team entries will also be promoted more actively across events.

Capital O to continue

• The Board agreed that Capital O was a successful weekend and thanked Ian Prosser for overseeing it.
• The Board also agreed that Capital O should continue as an annual event, while recognising that the Canberra Day long weekend may not always be the best fit.
• OACT has also lodged a bid with OA to host a NOL round in 2027 in conjunction with Capital O.

Grants, membership and finance

• Membership is tracking better than at the same time last year.
• OACT has submitted two applications for 2027 grant funding support: one for 100 new control flags and one for a Remote Area First Aid course.
• The 2025 audit has now been completed and passed.

Coaching and sporting schools

• The Board discussed accredited coaches, WWVP requirements and support for coach accreditation.

AGM and annual report

• The AGM is booked for 23 April at Jamison, and comments on the annual report are due by 27 March.

OACT representation on Orienteering Australia Board

• The Board supported Marina Iskhakova’s nomination to be a Director on the OA Board role.

Event coordination and workload

• The Board discussed the idea of series coordinators to help ensure each series is run effectively, especially around mapping, planning and printing. This reflects an ongoing concern that the same small group of volunteers is carrying too much of the event load.

Rule change on start-time loading

• The Board passed a motion to remove the 10% loading rule for ACT League scores at events with allocated start times.

Next meeting: The OACT Annual General Meeting on 23 April 2026.

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Big-picture items

• The Orienteering Australia (OA) Strategy has been finalised and published.
• The OACT AGM will be held on Thursday 23 April 2026. Input to the Annual Report is due by the 23 March Board meeting

Finance & operations

• The new auditor has met with OACT (Andrew and Geoff). Work is ongoing to finalise the 2025 accounts.
• Although the formal accounts will show a loss (mainly due to depreciation/write-offs), day-to-day operations are roughly breaking even, supported by grants and strong event activity.

Coaching, ASOC & junior roles

• ASOC rules: allowing competitors to represent the state of their club is seen as a positive change.
• Blue Lightning manager and coach roles will also be advertised.
• Some sections of the rules are still considered confusing; OACT will send targeted feedback (e.g. wording in clause 3.1.2).
• ASOC manager and assistant manager positions will be advertised via the OACT bulletin.

Participation, events & promotion

• OACT ran 132 events in 2025, more than recent years, but total participation did not increase overall.
• The Board will hold a focused event strategy discussion at the 23 March meeting.
• Summer Sprints remain popular, while Wednesday Twilight events have low numbers.
• Nina will run a Facebook campaign to support participation.
• CapitalO advertising will be used across ACT government e-news and OA/state channels.
• There was discussion about who will run upcoming Discover Orienteering sessions; this will be confirmed separately.

Event management, policies & fees

• Coordination between the Event Committee, clubs and the office remains a challenge, especially where clubs struggle to fill organiser roles.
• The Event Management section of the website has been updated and is now clearer and more concise. Club organisers, planners and controllers are encouraged to read the updated documents
• Options noted include reducing the number of events or cancelling where no organiser is available. Clubs will be involved in further discussion on this.
• There is a policy covering payment for activities/projects by non-OACT employees, and pre-approval is required before work starts.
• The Board discussed the need to better explain how entry fees are used, including costs of mapping, equipment, administration and services.

Practical changes & initiatives

• SI buyback: the Board agreed to start with a DONATE YOUR SI STICK option at events.
• OACT will also buy some new SI sticks for Learn to Orienteer.
• Board members are asked to complete the “Strengthen Your Board” / Board Manual online course.
• ASOC uniform: additional items may be purchased if numbers require it – this was approved.
• ACT general uniform for interstate competitions: Tate will research options and how to order.

Awards

• Valerie has received a few nominations but the numbers are low. The awards that are given will be significant.
• Nominations close on 20 February 2026. Members are encouraged to nominate deserving people.

Oceania & mapping updates

• ANU has confirmed that pegs cannot be used in the protected grassland area, but the staging area can be used.
• Alternative ways of securing tents and infrastructure (without pegs) will be researched by the Oceania organising team.
• Volunteers: Matt Purcell will lead the timing team and work with the meshO team. A volunteer website is being built similar to the MTBO Australian Championships site. John Shelton Agar will coordinate equipment.
• Mapping is progressing – Bogong Creek is almost finished; Honeysuckle has started; Orana and ANU are to be mapped by Duncan Currie.
• John Shelton Agar is mapping Ainslie using new LiDAR data. The Pine Island map is nearing completion. The Stromlo map is still being refined to meet IOF standards. Test printing with several printers is ongoing.
• Oceania rules are still being finalised. Clarification is being sought on sprint requirements; OACT expects to use this sprint as the 2027 Sprint Championship.
• Entry fees are in line with other major carnivals; projected profit to OACT will be clearer once admin costs are finalised.
• Member vs non-member pricing was discussed but not finalised. The refund policy will follow OACT’s standard policy.
• The first bulletin is being drafted.
• Mid-week races during the carnival will be called “Flight of the Bogong”.
• T-shirts will be sold through the same supplier used for the 2025 Australian Championships.
• Mini O-flags will be designed and printed in China in consultation with Paul.
• Finalising work includes permissions, website, bulletin and promotion.
• Entries will open on 1 June 2026.

Next Meeting: Monday 23 March 2026

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Strategic Planning & Volunteer Support

The Board continued its focus on succession planning and volunteer roles for 2026. Edith and John will help with Oceania equipment, and Bill will provide tech support for SI results. Two key roles remain vacant:

• Coaching Coordinator
• Sporting Schools Support Coordinator (a paid, grant-linked role)

Interested? Reach out to the Board.

Grant Activity & Compliance

Work is underway on the 2026 Participation & Workforce Grant. OACT’s mid-year self-assessment for SSO (State Sporting Organisation) status has been submitted, and child safety compliance is progressing. Phil is coordinating next steps with the Board.

2026 Membership & Event Fees

After member consultation and Board review, the following decisions were confirmed:

• Membership fees remain unchanged
• Twilight/Metro/Midweek/Sprint: $2 increase; Very Easy/Beginner courses will be free
• Street Series: Junior entries remain free; family cap removed
• Classic Series & Champs: Modest increases; junior champs now $22
• MTBO: Reduced entry fees trial

A late entry proposal for selected Classic Series courses is under review.

Finance & Audit

Emily will follow up on securing a written quote for the upcoming audit. The Board discussed how OA is funded via membership and event levies.

Out-of-Session Actions

Following the meeting, Paul took the lead on several key improvements:

• Weekly follow-up process for first timers using QR codes
• Event Management Guidelines review (with Susanne)
• Eventor access for computer operators
• Promotion planning for 2026 late entry options

Other Business

• The Audit of Shed Keys will be added to the next meeting agenda.
• The Board is considering reduced OACT office hours.

Next Meeting: Monday, 13 October 2025

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Strategic Focus

The Board discussed the sustainability of the organisation, with particular attention to volunteer and paid staff turnover. John Shelton Agar will oversee equipment management in the lead-up to the 2026 major events. A controller training session will be held later this year to help accredit new officials, particularly for Level 1 and 2 roles. The Board is also reviewing OACT’s representation on Orienteering Australia (OA) committees to ensure our interests are well covered.

Governance and Compliance

OACT is working toward compliance with ACT Sport & Recreation’s updated criteria for State Sporting Organisation status. The key areas of focus include:

• Lifting membership numbers (currently 409 paid members)
• Demonstrating financial sustainability
• Completing a child safety self-assessment by end of 2025

A halfway review will be undertaken to identify any gaps early. OACT will also establish a Risk, Audit and Finance Management Committee, aligning with national sport governance expectations.

Grants and Development Opportunities

The ACT Government’s Participation and Workforce Development grant for 2026 is now open. Funding of $35,000 is likely, pending submission of quotes and plans. Potential initiatives include:

• Courses for organisers, controllers, and setters
• Presentations on inclusion and safety
• Remote First Aid training
• A marketing and communications strategy

Participation and Promotions

The Winter Sprint Series is underway but facing low turnout. The Board is considering how to grow participation without overlapping with other sprint formats. Social media promotion continues, and pricing models including “First 3 Free” will be discussed at the next meeting.

Mapping

All maps for Oceania 2025 have now been allocated. David Stocks confirmed that Frederik Johansen will map Honeysuckle Creek.

Technology and Entry Systems

The Board discussed Entry-on-Day (EOD) pricing. There was general support for aligning EOD and online entry pricing. Final decisions will be made in the August meeting.

Next Meeting

Monday, 25 August 2025

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President’s Report

The Board discussed an invitation from Orienteering Australia to join its Risk Management Committee, but no suitable nominee could be identified. Nina will respond directly to OA. Members are reminded that any correspondence for the President should be directed to president@act.orienteering.asn.au.

Funding Success and Technology Upgrades

OACT has received ACT Government funding for two major initiatives:

• $8,000 for expansion of Mesh-O.
• $32,380 to support the purchase of a drone (including pilot licensing) and general operations.

The Board also approved payments for MTBO mapping work at East Kowen and Fadden Pines. These investments are key to improving the quality of our maps and expanding participation.

Finance Update

The Board has decided not to renew the previous term deposit arrangement and will pursue more flexible financial options going forward. With the Treasurer travelling later this year, Emily Stewart-Reed has kindly offered to act in the role during that period.

Participation and Promotions

Planning is well underway for Oceania 2025 with Pine Island confirmed as usable. LiDAR is required before further work can proceed at Bogong Creek. The ACT Champs may soon receive a makeover – with a proposal to rebrand it as the Canberra Orienteering Festival and explore collaboration with Victoria to make it a national-level event.

Efforts are also underway to make our Autumn League (ALs) more accessible. Enter-on-Day (EOD) options are being reviewed, including pricing changes and technological support.

ASOC Policy Concerns

The Board expressed disappointment that a cross-border school student was not granted an exemption to participate under ACT eligibility for ASOC. A letter will be sent to Orienteering Australia to raise the issue.

Other Updates

• Valerie’s motion to thank our many volunteers was warmly supported.
• The Board continues to seek a more affordable audit option after receiving a $4,500 quote.
• Starlink internet was discussed as a future option for remote events, but subscription costs remain high.

Next meeting: Monday 30 June 2025, hosted by Nina Davis.

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