Audit and Risk Committee

What are the Audit and Risk Committee's aims?

The main objectives and functions of the Committee include:

• reviewing and providing advice on external financial reporting documents
• effective management of financial and other risks and the protection of Council assets
• compliance with laws and regulations as well as use of best practice guidelines
• the effectiveness of the internal audit function
• the provision of effective communication between the external auditor, internal audit, management and the Council.

What does the Audit and Risk Committee discuss?

The Audit and Risk Committee meets on a quarterly basis. Matters commonly discussed at meetings include:

• internal and external reports
• implementation status of audit recommendations
• financial and performance statements
• internal audit performance data
• risk register
• reports relating to governance, legislative compliance and information technology
• other reports from Council officers

Audit and Risk Committee members

The Audit and Risk Committee comprises five members – two Councillors and three external, independent members, all of whom have full voting rights. The chairperson is an independent member.

Our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and internal auditor attend all meetings, except when the Committee chooses to meet in camera. All Councillors may attend meetings, and staff and other relevant persons may be invited to advise and provide information.

Here are our current independent members:

Craig Geddes (Chairpseron)

B.Bus., CIA, PMIIA, CA, AICD

Craig has more than 28 years’ experience in the assurance industry and more than 20 years in the local and state government sectors. Craig is a Partner at Dench McClean Carlson and was recently a member of the Victorian Council of the Institute of Internal Auditors. He's also a qualified Chartered Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor.

Craig has been a partner of many outsourced internal audit functions across local government. He also provides probity services to several councils, including Wyndham, Moonee Valley and Mornington Peninsula.

Menchi Schneier

B.Com, B.BusSys, CA, PMIIA

Menchi is a Director in Ernst & Young Melbourne’s Advisory Practice; with over 18 years’ experience in leading teams across a range of strategic, operational, and financial services with a focus on business process, risk management, governance, internal controls and behavioural analysis.

Menchi attends and reports to the Audit Committee for a number of large organisations, is an Independent Finance and Audit Committee member for a cancer research foundation and is a non-executive member of a large charity board. Menchi has led the delivery of consulting, risk and advisory services to a wide range of organisations in both the private and public sector.

Lisa Tripodi

B. Com, Bus Acc Honours, PMIIA, CPA, AICD

Lisa Tripodi is a Certified Practicing Accountant with over 25 years of experience in professional services to clients in the private and public sectors (state and local government), as well as the health, education, gas, manufacturing and financial services industries. Lisa’s experience includes design and delivery of external, internal, compliance and operational audits and assurance frameworks, and she has worked in Australia and overseas in these areas.

Lisa is a former Assurance Partner at Oakton Consulting (now NTT) for outsourced internal audit functions including, digital transformation reviews and risk management and probity services. Lisa has a number of appointments as an Independent Chair on state and local government Audit and Risk Committees, including City of Greater Geelong, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Knox City Council, Frankston City Council, Darebin City Council and Victorian Institute of Teaching. Lisa is also a Non-Executive Board Director for Greyhound Racing Victoria.