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 July 2024.
Independent Members
Paul O’Connor
CHM, FAICD, FGIA, FIPAA, BA (Hons I), LLB, LLM, MCorpGov
Paul is an experienced non-executive chair and director. He has a diverse portfolio of governance roles across insurance, medicine, public safety, education, government and philanthropy.
Currently the non-executive chair of a NSW regulator in the water sector, Paul is a former federal work health and safety regulator. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in its School of Regulation and Global Governance where his research interests were in governance effectiveness. He continues this work as a Research Fellow at Swinburne University in its School of Law, Business and Entrepreneurship.
Until recently, Paul served two consecutive terms as an independent member of the audit and risk committee for the Municipal Association of Victoria. He is a coach on strategy, risk and leadership effectiveness for Victoria’s Local Government Professionals (LGPro) helping local government leaders to build capability and strengthen governance frameworks within their organisations.
Paul's Certified Health Manager accreditation and clinical governance expertise supports his commitment to quality and safety in clinical services. He serves a second term on the global emergency medicine board and was an expert member of the Violence in Healthcare Taskforce focused on reducing occupa1onal violence in Victorian hospitals.
Paul’s executive career focus was funds management, risk and insurance. He worked in Sydney, Washington DC, London and Singapore. Paul was a three-times CEO in large social insurance schemes including Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission. He knows what it takes to balance service excellence and sound organisational health with financial sustainability, while sustaining public trust and confidence.
Paul holds master’s degrees in law and corporate governance. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Governance Institute of Australia and The Tax Institute. Paul was elected a national Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration for his delivery of public value.
A dual Irish and Australian national, Paul lives and works on the edge of the Birrarung (Yarra River) in Naarm (Melbourne), the traditional, unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin nation.
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
- 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.