annual report 2012 – 13 - Australian Government Solicitor

Our external corporate governancestructureAdvises the CEO on thestrategic developmentof AGS as a businessand on its businessperformanceAGS Advisory BoardParliamentShareholder MinistersAttorney-General,Minister for Financeand DeregulationAGS annual reportAGS statement ofcorporate intentSenate Estimates hearingsAGS corporate planConfidential quarterlyreportsAssists the CEOto discharge hisresponsibilities in relationto AGS’s managementand business controlframework, auditand financial riskmanagementAudit CommitteeCEOLegislative framework:– Judiciary Act– Commonwealth Authoritiesand Companies Act– AGS corporate governancearrangementsINTERNAL CORPORATE GOVERNANCEDirectorUnder s 55S of the Judiciary Act, the CEO isthe sole director of AGS for the purposes ofthe CAC Act and is equivalent to an executivedirector. The CEO has the function ofmanaging AGS.For the reporting period, the director wasIan Govey.Internal corporate governance committeesDuring 2012–13, the following internalcorporate governance committees advised theCEO on the effective management of AGS:— Executive Management Committee(EMC) – advises the CEO on AGS’s businessdevelopment and operations and ensuresAGS operates effectively and efficiently asa nationally integrated business— Strategy and Operations Advisory Group –considers major strategic and operationalissues— Employee Council – provides a forum foremployee representatives to advise theCEO on AGS employment issues.RISK MANAGEMENTEach year, under the CEO’s leadership, theEMC develops an AGS risk managementplan that identifies and assesses high-levelbusiness risks across AGS. The plan comprisesa summary and a series of individual riskmanagement plans for each identified riskwhich are prepared by senior managers whoare members of the EMC.A summary of the plan is included in theAGS corporate plan submitted to shareholderMinisters.The Audit Committee annually reviews AGS’srisk management plan, particularly risksassociated with financial management.INDEMNITIES AND INSURANCE PREMIUMSFOR OFFICERSAGS provides an indemnity to the CEO underthe terms and conditions of his appointment,indemnifying him against any liabilityincurred by him in good faith in connectionwith his duties but excluding any liability orlegal costs in respect of which AGS must notindemnify the CEO pursuant to s 27M of theCAC Act.AGS Annual report 2012–13 39