Independent Board and Audit & Risk Committee Capability

Providing independent capability to strengthen governance, risk oversight and strategic decision-making

What We Help You Achieve

We provide access to experienced, independent Board and Audit & Risk Committee capability to support organisations requiring additional governance, risk, assurance and strategic oversight capability.

This service is particularly suited to organisations that require immediate access to senior governance capability, are undergoing change or growth, or need independent oversight to strengthen risk, assurance and strategic decision-making.

Led by Jeff Webb, JNW brings more than 35 years’ experience across Board governance, audit and risk oversight, internal audit, financial stewardship, strategy implementation and practical governance improvement.

Who This Service Suits

This service is particularly valuable for organisations:

Requiring independent governance expertise;
Experiencing growth, transformation or increased scrutiny;
Seeking stronger Audit & Risk Committee capability;
Strengthening governance maturity;
Requiring independent challenge and oversight; or
Needing practical governance, risk and assurance leadership.

Independent governance capability when it matters most

Boards and Committees are operating in an environment of increasing complexity, scrutiny and accountability.

Organisations may require additional independent governance capability when they are:

Navigating growth, transformation or strategic change;
Responding to increased regulatory or stakeholder expectations;
Strengthening Audit & Risk Committee effectiveness;
Building governance, risk and assurance maturity;
Managing complex financial, operational or compliance risks; or
Seeking independent challenge and practical governance insight.

JNW provides experienced independent Board and Audit & Risk Committee capability to strengthen:

Governance and strategic oversight;
Risk management and assurance;
Financial stewardship and audit oversight;
Governance frameworks and accountability; and
Board and Committee effectiveness.

Our support may include:

Independent Board capability;
Independent Audit & Risk Committee membership;
Governance, risk and assurance advisory; and
Board and Committee transition support during periods of growth, change or increased scrutiny.

Our Governance Review Services

Governance HealthChecks & Improvement Roadmaps

We conduct independent Governance HealthChecks to assess governance effectiveness, governance maturity and alignment to better practice governance frameworks.

Using JNW’s Eight Dimensions of Good Governance methodology, reviews may consider:

Board and Committee effectiveness;
governance structures and operating models;
governance culture and Board dynamics;
strategic oversight and decision-making;
risk governance and assurance;
governance reporting and accountability; and
stakeholder engagement.

A key differentiator of our approach is the development of practical and prioritised Governance Improvement Roadmaps that help organisations progressively strengthen oversight, governance capability and organisational maturity over time.

Board & Director Effectiveness Assessments

Structured Board and Committee performance reviews designed to evaluate governance effectiveness and Director effectiveness.

Our methodology may include:

confidential Director surveys;
one-on-one interviews;
governance maturity assessments;
governance documentation review;
stakeholder consultation; and
benchmarking against better practice governance expectations.

Reviews may assess:

Board composition and capability;
Board operations and meeting effectiveness;
Board culture and dynamics;
strategic oversight;
risk management oversight;
financial governance;
stakeholder engagement; and
Audit & Risk Committee effectiveness.

A key differentiator of our methodology is the development of practical, prioritised governance improvement roadmaps that support ongoing governance uplift and continuous improvement.

Audit & Risk Committee Reviews

Independent reviews of Audit & Risk Committee effectiveness, governance oversight and assurance frameworks.

Assessments may consider:

Committee composition and independence;
Charter alignment;
risk oversight effectiveness;
financial reporting oversight;
internal and external audit effectiveness;
assurance coverage;
governance reporting;
emerging risk oversight; and
alignment between strategy, risk and assurance.

Governance Framework & Charter Reviews

We review and refresh governance frameworks and supporting governance documentation to ensure alignment with better practice and organisational requirements.

This may include:

Constitutions
Board Charters
Committee Charters
Delegations of Authority
Governance Policies
Reporting Frameworks
Governance Committee Structures.

Assurance Mapping

Independent analysis of how organisational risks are covered through:

management controls;
internal assurance activities;
external assurance providers; and
governance oversight structures.

This provides clarity over:

assurance gaps;
duplication;
accountability; and
governance transparency and oversight visibility.

How We Deliver:

Our approach is independent, strategic and relationship-led – providing trusted governance capability that strengthens oversight, accountability and strategic decision-making.

We bring:

Senior Board and Committee experience;
Strategic thinking and organisational insight;
Strong financial and audit discipline;
Practical risk and assurance insight;
Commercial judgement;
Constructive challenge; and
A focus on well-governed outcomes.

Our role is to support Boards and Committees with strategic thinking, practical insight and independent judgement – helping Boards move from strategic intent to practical execution.

We act as a trusted independent adviser, bringing governance discipline, strategic perspective and practical judgement to support confident, well-governed outcomes.

Outcome:

Clients benefit from:

Strengthened Board and Committee capability;
Clearer strategic direction and accountability;
Improved governance, risk and assurance oversight;
Stronger financial stewardship and audit oversight;
Enhanced confidence in risk and control frameworks;
Constructive independent challenge and insight;
Improved governance culture and Board dynamics; and
Greater confidence in strategic execution and decision-making.

Our Risk Solutions are strategy focused and designed to:

Specific Risk services include:

Risk Management Framework HealthChecks/Maturity Benchmarking - A benchmarking against better practice, peers and regulatory standards
Board Risk Appetite Statement Development - Simple, proven process for Boards to determine their risk tolerances across the key areas of their business
Risk Assessment Workshop Facilitation - Formal workshop facilitation – risk identification, controls effectiveness assessment, risk rating (Likelihood & Consequence) and risk mitigation strategies
Risk Management Framework Policy and Procedures - Development of risk policy/procedures, risk systems and risk reporting

Selected Experience

We have supported ASX-listed entities, government, financial services, sporting organisations and not-for-profit organisations to strengthen governance, operationalise risk management and improve preparedness, oversight and decision-making. Engagements have included:

Hawthorn Football Club

Independent member of the Governance, Risk, Integrity and Compliance Board Sub-Committee
Presented “Elevating Governance” to the Board following a review of governance structures, Board and Committee Charters, governance operating cadence and oversight effectiveness

Destination Phillip Island

Board Chair and former Chair of the Audit, Finance, Governance and Risk Committee
Strengthened governance frameworks covering strategic oversight, organisational risks and controls, financial reporting, audit oversight, governance policies and strategic decision-making
Led Board capability and skills matrix reviews, together with Director search, interview and appointment processes

Monash City Council

Served as an Independent Audit Committee Member for six years
Supported Councillors, the CEO and Executive Management on governance, financial oversight and operational risk matters

Plumbing Industry Commission (now part of the Victorian Building Authority)

Served for six years, including as Chair, of the Audit Committee
Provided independent governance oversight across risk management, assurance, compliance and strategic oversight

St Christophers Tennis Club

Vice-President for the past 5 years, supporting governance, developing growth strategies and community engagement for a developing sporting organisation.
Successfully secured a government grant and managed the redevelopment of the clubrooms and installation of energy-efficient court lighting

Does your Board or Audit & Risk Committee need specialist capability to strengthen governance, risk oversight and decision-making? Speak to us about how we can provide experienced independent Board and Audit & Risk Committee capability to support confident, well-governed decisions.