What you need to know
Audit and Risk Committee
The Audit and Risk Committee (the Committee) is an independent advisory Committee established to help Council discharge its responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2020 (the Act).
The Committee's purpose is to provide appropriate and independent advice and recommendations to Council on matters relevant to its Charter. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- monitoring the compliance of Council policies and procedures with:
- the overarching governance principles;
- the Act and the regulations and any Ministerial directions; and
- other relevant laws and regulations
- monitoring internal controls
- monitoring Council financial and performance reporting
- monitor and provide advice on risk management and fraud prevention systems and controls
- overseeing Council’s internal audit function
- overseeing Council’s external audit functions
- monitoring related party transactions.
The Charter sets out the Committee’s purpose, Committee roles and responsibilities, authority, function, reporting, Chief Executive Officer responsibilities, composition, quorum, meetings and planning, committee/confidential information, conflict of interest, misuse of position.
The Audit and Risk Committee Charter (PDF, 159KB) was last reviewed and endorsed by Council August 2021.
Independent Members
Mr John Watson
MAICD, Hon. FLGPro (Aust.), MICMA, Hon. IPWEA, Hon. MMWOA
John is a former local government Chief Executive Officer (Bulla Shire and Cities of Moonee Valley and Hume) and former Executive Director of Local Government Victoria.
John previously chaired the Victorian Local Government Grants Commission from 2012 to 2024 and is currently a Board Director for Northern Health (the Northern Hospital). He was also a Board Member of the former Metropolitan Waste and Resources Recovery Group and served on the Board of the Castlemaine State Festival.
In addition to Moonee Valley, John currently chairs the Audit and Risk Committees for Northern Health and the Cities of Ballarat, Boroondara, Maroondah, Merri-Bek and Hobsons Bay and the Nillumbik, Central Goldfields and Mitchell Shires and the Flinders (Island) Shire (Tasmania). He is also a member of the Audit and Risk Committees for the Cities of Melton, Monash and Wyndham and the Mount Alexander Shire and the Maryborough District Health Service.
John is a former Chair of Administrators at the Brimbank City Council (2012 to 2016) and has conducted or participated in several Government commissioned enquires. He was the Municipal Monitor appointed to the Darebin City Council in 2022.
Dr. Christine Nixon
AO, APM; BA; MPA; Hon DLitt (Wollongong); Hon LLD (Monash); Hon LLD (Macquarie); Hon DUniv (Ballarat).
Christine is well known as the former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police (and the first female Chief Commissioner in any Australian state police force), as well as an experienced public speaker and advocate for women, disadvantaged youth and multifaith/multicultural communities.
During her long career, she has received 4 honorary doctorates and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Macquarie University, a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University and various other qualifications. She has also received a number of awards and most recently in 2021, Christine was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.
In addition, Christine has been the chair, or a board member of various organisations, including: Chair, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (first and only non-GP chair in its history); Chair, Monash College, Pty Ltd; Chair, Good Shepard Micro Finance, Fosters Group (non-executive director); and Chair, Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority. She was also the Deputy Chancellor of Monash University and is now the current Chair of Leadership Victoria.
From these various roles, she accumulated expertise in law enforcement, corporate governance, security, human resources management of large workforces, and practical risk management and has worked closely with the respective Audit & Risk Committees of these organisations.
Ms Lisa Young
Lisa has more than 20 years of experience in risk, intelligence, and compliance. She is currently leading the delivery cyber intelligence for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific with the Financial Services - Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (FS-ISAC). Past roles include Chief Audit Executive and Risk Manager (Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission); Manager, Corporate Strategic Intelligence (Australian Taxation Office); and in recent years, Lisa has consulted on risk, fraud and corruption matters for several local governments including Darebin, Monash and Melbourne City Councils.
She is currently an independent member of the Corangamite Shire Council Audit and Risk Committee.
Lisa holds Masters’ degrees in both Criminal Intelligence and Public Policy, and an Executive Certificate in Cybersecurity from Harvard University.
Mr Richard Ainio
RCA, CA
Richard is an experienced Registered Company Auditor, compliance and accounting professional with more than 25 years’ experience as an external auditor, including four years as a partner with Crowe.
Richard has worked in both Australia and overseas, including China and South East Asia.
Richard has worked with various organisations through transformation projects, such as centralisation of processes, change of accounting systems, restructuring exercises, acquisitions and divestments, privatisation and public offerings.
Richard is currently self employed and provides financial, process and integrated management system assurance and related consulting services to a portfolio of clients.
Richard is currently Treasurer of John Curtin Aged Care Inc and an independent member of the Audit & Risk Committees of Warrnambool City Council, Central Goldfields Shire Council, Glenelg Hopkins CMA, and Ballarat General Cemeteries Trust.
Councillor Members
- Cr John Sipek
- Cr Hamish Jones
- Deputy Mayor Cr Fran Cosgriff
The Audit and Risk Committee meet at least 4 times each year.
Internal audit serves an important function and supports Moonee Valley City Council to provide assurance over its internal control environment.
Moonee Valley City Council has contracted its internal audit service to Crowe Australasia, commencing February 2022. The internal auditor responsibilities included, but are not limited to:
- supporting the development and maintenance of Council’s internal audit plan
- undertaking scheduled audits
- validating internal audit actions closed by management
- reporting quarterly to the Audit and Risk Committee.
RSD has been assigned Moonee Valley City Council’s external auditors on behalf of The Victorian Auditor-General. The external audit focuses mainly on financial performance reporting compliance against the Australian International Financial Reporting Standards.
Delegated Committees
Council may establish Committees to which it delegates certain functions, tasks or responsibilities. These are referred to as Delegated Committees. A Delegated Committee must be Chaired by a Councillor, and must include at least two Councillors, but may include other individuals outside of Council. Currently, Council has no Delegated Committee.