2009 Annual Report - Cerebral Palsy Alliance

Directors’ Report (continued)Review of Board CommitteesThe Chairs of the standing boardcommittees met in April 2009 toreview the format of the variouscommittees in order to considerwhether the committee structure andits reporting could be enhanced inorder to streamline the business ofthe board.It was subsequently agreed by theboard that the following changes interms of the committee structure andits reporting would be implemented:• The business of the Property andEquipment Committee would besubsumed within the widerresponsibilities of the Finance andAudit Committee. The Finance andAudit Committee would continue tobe chaired by Mr Bryant, OAM.• The Ethics Committee, whichincludes external representatives inaccordance with the NHMRC modelof governance, would cease to bedesignated as a committee of theboard. All research projectsapproved by the Ethics Committeewill continue to be brought to theboard for approval. The committeewould continue to be chaired by MrBeckett.• The scope of the FundraisingCommittee would be expanded toinclude matters involvingcommunity relations andmarketing, and that the name ofthe committee would be changedto reflect its new responsibilities.The committee would continue tobe chaired by Mrs Thornton, AM.• A new board committee, theNominations and GovernanceCommittee, would be formedto assist the board in fulfilling itscorporate governanceresponsibilities for mattersof succession planning andappointments to the boardand senior management, boardperformance and committeemembership. The committee wouldbe chaired by Mrs Thornton, AM.• The number of board memberson the Enterprise Risk ManagementCommittee would be increased fromone to four with the addition of DrWay, Mr Bryant, OAM and Mr Millerwho will join Mr Williamson on thecommittee.• Each committee would consider, asa standing item on agenda, mattersof risk management appropriateto the terms of reference for eachcommittee.The committees will continue to meetthroughout the year as the businessof each committee necessitates.Board CommitteesThe agendas for committee meetingsare prepared in conjunction with theChairs of the relevant committees.Papers and submissions aredistributed to committee members inadvance and each committee is freeto invite members of managementor others to attend meetings, or takeexternal advice, when consideredappropriate.The purpose and function of theseboard committees are describedbelow.Finance and Audit CommitteeThe Finance and Audit Committeeenhances the credibility, objectivityand accountability of The SpasticCentre by assisting the board indischarging its responsibilities inrelation to financial management,monitoring and controlling risk,internal control systems and reportingfinancial information.The committee also provides a forumfor communication between theboard, senior financial managementand the external auditors.In May 2009, the responsibilities ofthe Finance and Audit Committeewere expanded to include matters ofproperty and equipment previouslyconsidered by the Property andEquipment Committee.Human Resources CommitteeThe Human Resources Committeeadvises and makes recommendationsto the board on the appointment andremuneration of senior management.The committee also advisesmanagement in the development,implementation and review of policiesin the human resources and industrialrelations areas, including anyreferences from the board in respectof human resources managementand industrial relations.Services CommitteeThe Services Committee reviews,advises and makes recommendationsto the board on the nature and scopeof service practice and delivery withinThe Spastic Centre.The committee also consults widelywith stakeholders through regularClient / Family Forums about effectiveservice delivery so that issues ofduty of care, legal liability and servicequality are brought to the board’sattention.Community Relations,Fundraising and MarketingCommitteeThe Community Relations,Fundraising and MarketingCommittee considers mattersrelated to the image and profileof the organisation - its causeand its clients, community andcorporate partnerships/programs,and opportunities for increasingfunds from both existing and newfundraising ventures.The committee also advises andmakes recommendations on thefinancial viability, ethics and legalaspects of existing and proposed20 | The Spastic Centre ● 2009 Annual Report