Case Study: Board Search & Recruitment | Corporate & Social Responsibility
Client: Women’s Housing Company
About the Organisation
Women’s Housing Company (WHC) is a Tier 1 not-for-profit community housing provider dedicated to improving housing outcomes for women and children across New South Wales. With more than 40 years of experience, WHC delivers social, affordable, transitional, and crisis housing, alongside specialist homelessness services.
The organisation works with women on low incomes, older women, women with children, and women escaping domestic and family violence, partnering closely with support services to promote safety, dignity, wellbeing, and long-term housing security. Strong governance and values-led leadership are critical to WHC’s ability to respond to increasing demand and complexity within the housing and homelessness sector.
Project Overview
As part of Be Recruitment Group’s commitment to corporate and social responsibility, our Executive Search team undertook a pro bono board search and recruitment assignment for Women’s Housing Company in 2024.
With growing service demand, regulatory complexity, and an expanding housing portfolio, the Board identified the need to strengthen its governance capability through the appointment of additional Non-Executive Directors (NEDs).
The Challenge
Recruiting experienced board members in the not-for-profit and community housing sector presents unique challenges:
High governance, compliance, and risk oversight expectations
The need for directors with sector knowledge, strong strategic capability, and values alignment
A limited talent pool for female only board to attract suitably experienced candidates willing to contribute at a board level on a voluntary basis, with the right skills required
The Board sought individuals who could bring complementary skills, a fresh perspective, and a deep commitment to WHC’s mission, while supporting long-term organisational sustainability.
Our Approach
Be Executive applied the same retained-style executive and board search methodology used in our commercial appointments, delivered as part of our pro bono commitment to the sector.
Our approach included:
A detailed briefing with the Chair and Board to understand governance priorities, skills gaps, and cultural alignment
Targeted market mapping and discreet outreach to experienced board candidates across housing, finance, governance, risk, and community services
Rigorous assessment of board capability, lived and professional experience, and values alignment
End-to-end support through shortlisting, interviews, appointment, and onboarding
The Outcome
Be Executive successfully recruited and placed three Non-Executive Directors to the Women’s Housing Company Board.
These appointments strengthened the Board’s collective capability, contributing:
Enhanced governance and strategic oversight
Deep understanding of the community housing and not-for-profit landscape
A shared commitment to improving outcomes for women and children experiencing housing insecurity
The strengthened Board is well-positioned to guide the organisation through continued growth and increasing sector complexity.
Social Impact
This project reflects Be Recruitment Group’s broader commitment to giving back to the sector we serve. By providing pro bono executive and board recruitment support, we help not-for-profit organisations access high-quality search expertise that supports strong governance and sustainable leadership.
We believe that investing in boards is an investment in long-term community impact – ensuring organisations like Women’s Housing Company can continue to deliver safe, secure housing for women who need it most.
Measuring Our Impact
As part of Be Recruitment Group’s commitment to corporate and social responsibility, we formally track and record the time and expertise contributed to pro bono executive and board search assignments.
For this project, Be Executive applied a full retained-style board search methodology, including briefing, market mapping, candidate assessment, board support, and appointment. The assignment required an estimated 60 hours of executive search and governance recruitment expertise for the three appointments.
Time invested in CSR work is:
Recorded internally against each assignment
Reviewed at the leadership level to ensure alignment with our CSR objectives
Reported as in-kind professional services, reflecting the commercial value of the work delivered
This approach allows us to transparently measure our contribution to the sector, ensure consistency across CSR projects, and demonstrate the tangible value of professional recruitment support provided to not-for-profit organisations.
We believe that measuring impact matters – because strong governance and leadership underpin long-term, sustainable outcomes for the communities our clients serve.
If you would like to find out about Be Executive assisting with Board Recruitment, please reach out to [email protected]
