Notice of Annual General Meeting
United Blind Leaders Ltd (UBL) will hold its 2026 Annual General Meeting, in a virtual form, on Thursday 19th November 2026 at 7:30 PM Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
The meeting will be held via Zoom. Please register your attendance at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QwhbLTtsRJO554Y3z8c0Ug and log in details will be provided by return email.
All Director Members and Ordinary Members of UBL are entitled to vote at this meeting. UBL Supporters are welcome to attend but do not have voting rights.
The business of the meeting will include:
Receipt and approval of the Minutes of the UBL Annual Meeting held on 23rd October 2025;
Receipt and approval of the Minutes of the Special General Meeting held on 23rd July 2026;
Presentation of the Annual and Directors Report for the 2025/26 year;
Announcement of the election of Directors as provided for in Clauses 32 – 35 of the UBL Constitution.
Other business as required.
Appointment of Proxies:
If you are unable to attend this meeting, you may appoint the Chairperson or another member as your proxy.
To register your proxy please complete and lodge the form available at https://forms.gle/aM6BeZVkRXWPTXAF6 by no later than 7:30 PM AEDT on Tuesday 17th November. It should be noted that no member other than the Chairperson for the meeting may hold more than two proxies.
Call for nominations for election as a Director:
The UBL Constitution provides that up to six directors may be elected by members (Elected Directors) with up to three additional directors appointed by the Board (Co-opted Directors).
The current Board comprises Emma Bennison, Graeme Innes, John Simpson and Julee-anne Bell, all of whom were elected for three-year terms at the 2025 Annual General Meeting; Danial Searle, who was appointed to fill a casual vacancy in April 2026; and Bryan Bashin, who was co-opted to the Board in March 2026.
As Graeme Innes has indicated his intention to step down from the Board at this year’s AGM and two other positions for Elected Directions are currently vacant, three Directors will be elected to the UBL Board to serve three year terms from the close of the 2026 AGM.
Election of Directors will be through a ballot conducted ahead of the Annual General Meeting. Nominations should be lodged by use of the online form available at https://forms.gle/yqbj3AMFLzqLBYqn9 and received by no later than Friday 30th October 2026.
Clause 35.2 of the UBL Constitution provides that:
“A person is eligible for election as a Director of UBL if they meet all of the following criteria:
are a director member or ordinary member of UBL;
are nominated by two other members entitled to vote;
give their signed consent to act as a director of the company, and agreement to adhere to the Board Charter, and
are not ineligible to be a director under the Corporations Act or the ACNC Act.”
As provided for under Australia’s Corporations Act, all Directors must obtain and hold a valid Director Identification Number (DIN) whether they reside within or outside Australia. Directors cannot take up their Governance responsibilities before they have obtained a DIN.
It should also be noted that election or appointment as a UBL Director entails a change in membership status, from Ordinary Member to Director Member. As provided for in Clause 3.1 of the Constitution Director Members are required to contribute to the Guarantee should the organisation be wound up.
Nominations for election as a Director, submitted via the online form available at https://forms.gle/yqbj3AMFLzqLBYqn9 must include the following:
the name, contact details and date of birth of the nominator and seconder;
the name, postal address, email and phone contact details of the person being nominated;
either a valid DIN for the person being nominated or a declaration from the nominee that they will apply for a DIN within 72 hours of the close of the meeting;
A declaration by the nominee that they;
consent to serving as a Director;
agree to contribute a guarantee of no more than $50 if the company is wound up;
and are not ineligible to be a director under the Corporations Act or ACNC Act.
The UBL Company Secretary or independent Returning Officer may seek verbal corroboration of nomination details prior to the issue of ballot papers.
Clause 40 of the UBL Constitution provides that the Board shall appoint one of the Elected Directors as Chairperson of UBL. The Board is also responsible for the appointment of a Company Secretary and other office bearers.
The UBL Board looks forward to your attendance and participation in this year’s Annual General Meeting. We encourage you to consider nomination for election as a Director; and appreciate your commitment as a member of our organisation.
Julee-anne Bell
Company Secretary
21 October 2026