Case Study: Board Search & Recruitment | Corporate & Social Responsibility
Client: Bonnie Support Services
About the Organisation
Bonnie Support Services is an all-female, not-for-profit support service with a long history of helping women and children escape domestic and family violence and homelessness. Established in 1975, the organisation provides a range of crisis, transitional and support services, including homelessness and crisis accommodation, safety planning, culturally safe holistic support (including health, legal and financial assistance), and trauma-informed support groups. Their multi-disciplinary, language-diverse team works with clients from a range of cultural backgrounds to promote safety, wellbeing, and sustained independence.
Project Overview
As part of Be Recruitment Group’s commitment to corporate and social responsibility, our Executive Search team partnered with Bonnie Support Services on a pro bono board search and recruitment assignment to support the strategic strengthening of their governance capability.
The Board identified the need to appoint two Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) who could contribute governance experience, strategic insight, and sector alignment to guide organisational growth, compliance, and community impact.
The Challenge
Board recruitment within specialist community support organisations presents specific challenges:
A limited pool of experienced board candidates with both governance capability and commitment to feminist, trauma-informed service values
Busy sector calendars and the need for voluntary directors with the capacity to engage meaningfully
The organisation’s desire for directors who could complement existing skills and support the strategic direction
The Chair and Board sought a trusted recruitment partner who could navigate these nuances with care, sector insight, and operational precision.
Our Approach
Be Executive worked closely and collaboratively with the Chair to deliver a tailored, retained-style board search, provided on a pro bono basis.
Our methodology included:
In-depth scoping with the Chair to define governance priorities, capability gaps, and desirable experience
Targeted market mapping and outreach to governance-ready candidates with relevant non-profit and community services expertise
Rigorous assessment of board capability, values alignment, and ability to contribute to strategic oversight
Continuous advisory support to the Chair throughout candidate shortlisting, interview planning, and final appointment discussions
This partnership ensured aligned expectations and supported the Board’s confidence and agency throughout the search process.
The Outcome
Be Executive successfully recruited and placed two Non-Executive Directors to the Bonnie Support Services Board.
The appointments have:
Enhanced governance depth and strategic oversight
Broadened professional and sector experience across the Board
Strengthened confidence in future governance planning and organisational direction
The Board is now positioned with increased capability to support the Executive to deliver critical services for women and children experiencing crisis and housing instability.
Measuring Our Impact
This pro bono board search entailed an estimated 45 hours of executive search and governance recruitment expertise, including scoping, market mapping, candidate assessment, Chair collaboration, and appointment support.
At Be Recruitment Group, we:
Record time contributed against each pro bono engagement
Treat pro bono work as in-kind professional services, reflecting the commercial value of the expertise delivered
Review CSR contributions at the leadership level to maintain accountability and measurable impact
By formally tracking and reporting time and outcomes, we ensure our CSR work is transparent, strategic, and aligned with meaningful sector benefit – helping organisations like Bonnie Support Services build strong governance for sustainable community impact.
For more information regarding this pro bono service, please contact [email protected]
