annual report 2012 – 13 - Australian Government Solicitor

— AGS’s strategic direction is conducive toour long-term success as a governmentownedprovider of quality legal servicesto the Australian Government— AGS meets our responsibilities andobligations to shareholder Ministers andeffectively communicates with them onour operations and performance.The non-executive members of the AGSAdvisory Board during 2012–13 were:— John Allen (chair): principal of John Allen& Associates (executive search consulting).(15 November 2000 – 14 May 2013)— Richard Alcock: Managing Director,Investment Banking Group, Merrill LynchInternational (Australia) Ltd. (Appointed15 August 2011.)— Dymphna (Deej) Eszenyi: practisingbarrister working predominantly in civiland industrial law. (Appointed 15 August2011.)— Richard Ryan AO: company director;chair of Editure Ltd and several otherboards; former Chancellor Charles DarwinUniversity. (Appointed 15 November2003.)Audit CommitteeMembers of the Advisory Board also sat onAGS’s Audit Committee:— Richard Ryan (chair until 14 May 2013)— Richard Alcock (member and then chairfrom 15 May 2013)— John Allen— Dymphna (Deej) Eszenyi (from 15 May2013).AGS’s Audit Committee is established inaccordance with s 32 of the CAC Act andAGS’s corporate governance arrangements.The role of the committee is to assistthe CEO to discharge responsibilities inrelation to AGS’s management and businesscontrol framework, audit and financial riskmanagement.The CEO and Chief Financial Officer have astanding invitation to attend each meetingand representatives of the Australian NationalAudit Office are invited as observers.AGS Advisory Board members’ attendanceat meetings of the Advisory Board and AuditCommittee in 2012–13 is shown in thefollowing table.Meetings attended by AGS Advisory Boardmembers (number attended/number held whilea board or committee member*)AGS AdvisoryBoardAuditCommitteeNumber of meetings2012–13 4 2John Allen 4/4 2/2Richard Alcock 4/4 2/2Deej Eszenyi 4/4 0/0Richard Ryan 3/4 2/2Ian Govey (CEO) 3/4 2/2** The CEO is not a member of the Audit Committeebut has a standing invitation to attend committeemeetings.Non-executive Advisory Board membersare contracted, on a fee-for-service basis, toprovide advice to AGS’s CEO. Members’ feesare based on comparable fees recommendedby the Remuneration Tribunal. Members wereinformed of their responsibilities throughletters of engagement setting out the termsand conditions of their appointment to theBoard.The Advisory Board has implementeda system for reviewing its performanceannually.38 AGS Annual report 2012–13