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Chapter ThreeCorporate governanceThe Official Secretary, in his role as Chief ExecutiveOfficer, is accountable for the efficient, effective,economical and ethical use of resources and theachievement of the highest possible performancefrom the Office. The Office’s ManagementCommittee assists the Official Secretary to meethis statutory responsibilities under the Governor-General Act 1974 and the Financial Management andAccountability Act 1997. The Office recognises theneed for a high level of accountability.The Corporate Services Branch supportsthe Official Secretary’s overall governanceresponsibilities by facilitating the development ofbusiness plans, establishing policy and accountabilityframeworks, managing risk, fraud and securityplanning, setting frameworks for advising on peoplemanagement, managing industrial relations, managinginformation and communications technology, andoverseeing budget management of the Office. TheBranch also manages the official properties andcoordinates physical security services.CommitteesTo support the Official Secretary the Officehas established several committees:• Management Committee• Audit Committee• Financial Statements Sub-committee• Workplace Consultative Committee• Work Health and Safety Committee.Management CommitteeThe Management Committee comprises the OfficialSecretary as Chief Executive Officer; the DeputyOfficial Secretary as Deputy Chief Executive Officer;the Directors of the Corporate Services, Honoursand Awards, and Executive and Protocol Branches;and the Chief Financial Officer. The group meetsmonthly and considers strategic issues affecting theOffice, including any emerging or ongoing risks, andmonitors the delivery of performance outcomes forthe Office.The Management Committee has the followingoverall responsibilities:• to establish and drive the direction, strategies,compliance, financial objectives and monitoringarrangements for the Office• to implement Office policies, strategies andfinancial objectives• to ensure the Office delivers itscorporate objectives• to ensure the Office delivers its outcometo the Government• to provide active leadership of riskmanagement activities• to monitor compliance with regulatoryrequirements and ethical standards.Audit CommitteeThe Audit Committee comprises an externalmember, Mr Bruce Jones (Chair), Mr Mark Fraser(Deputy Official Secretary), Ms Sharon Prendergastand Ms Karen Baker (Directors of the Honoursand Awards Branch and Corporate ServicesBranch respectively). It is responsible for providingindependent assurance and assistance to theOfficial Secretary on the Office’s risk, control andcompliance frameworks and external accountability.The Audit Committee endorses the annualaudit program for the Office, considers therecommendations contained in individualreports, and monitors the implementation ofany changes in policies and practices pursuantto such recommendations. The Committee alsoreceives and approves the Office’s annual financialstatements and associated audit report.Government House staff meet to plan the Governor-General’sforward program of commitments48 OFFICE OF THE OFFICIAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL