New Independent Chair for Council Committee

Published on 01 November 2022

Waitaki District Council has appointed an independent Chair to its Performance, Audit and Risk Committee for the first time. The primary role of the PAR Committee is to ensure the integrity of the financial reporting and audit process for Waitaki District Council. The committee also oversees the maintenance of sound internal control and risk management systems.

At the meeting of Waitaki District Council this morning, Simon Neale, was appointed as Independent Chair of the committee, the first time the role has been allocated to a person who is not an Elected Member. Simon previously sat on the Performance, Audit and Risk (PAR) Committee as Independent Member in the 2019-22 Triennium.

Simon brings to the role over 20 years’ experience in the Financial, Infrastructure, Energy and Primary Production sectors having held positions including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Risk Officer, as well as being an experienced company director.

Commenting on the appointment, Mayor Gary Kircher said, “The Performance, Audit and Risk Committee is an influential committee scrutinising the finances and delivery of the Council as well as how we manage risk. We are a Council committed to openness and continually looking at how we improve, to the benefit of our communities and district. Having an independent Chair of PAR shows our commitment in this respect and the skills and experience Simon brings will contribute significantly to the Council moving forward and serving our residents well in a time of multiple challenges and opportunities.”

Mr Neale will take up his appointment when the PAR Committee first meets on 22 November 2022. Waitaki District Council also plans to appoint another independent to PAR Committee in the near future. The PAR Committee meetings will be held monthly, on the same Tuesday as a Council Meeting. END