New member for audit commmittee

Bringing accounting and finance expertise, Carmen Ridley has been appointed onto the Baw Baw Shire audit and risk committee for a the next three years.

Following the resignation of committee member Theresa Glab earlier this year, councillors supported a recommendation to appoint Ms Ridley at a recent council meeting.

Cr Annemarie McCabe said Ms Ridley’s “significant public sector experience and skill-set will greatly complement the committee”.

“After an extensive recruitment process, Carmen Ridley was identified as a suitable candidate to be appointment to the committee for a term of three years, with an additional three year extension option,” Cr McCabe said.

“Carmen Ridley is a board member, committee member and executive director with over 11 years board experience across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, with particular expertise in accounting and finance.

“She also has a keen interest in the sustainability of council, from an environmental and financial perspective, with particular interest in the integrity of how public money is expended.”

Council is required to have an audit and risk committee, governed by an Audit and Risk Committee Charter, to which independent members are appointed.

Remuneration for independent committee members is about $6000 annually.

Cr Joe Gauci praised the work of outgoing member Theresa Glab for being an “absolutely brilliant servant” to Baw Baw Shire over many years.

“Hopefully, she just goes straight in there and gives her thoughts, because as a council that’s what we want to hear. We want to hear expert views on where we stand,” he said.