CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

To support the achievement of business success and the effective and efficient delivery of legal services, as well as ensuring we meet statutory requirements and shareholder expectations relating to business management and compliance standards, AGS has established appropriate corporate governance structures and policies.

AGS Advisory Board

An Advisory Board, comprising the CEO and three to five external (non-executive) members approved by shareholder ministers for appointment by the CEO, advises the CEO on the strategic development of AGS as a successful business and on its financial performance.

The current non-executive members of the AGS Advisory Board are:

John Allen (chair)—Principal, John Allen & Associates (executive search consulting)
Jeffrey Browne—company director – former managing partner of the Australian offices of Sullivan and Cromwell
Richard Ryan AO—company director, chair of several boards, former CEO of a major public company and former Chancellor of Charles Darwin University.

Audit Committee

AGS has an audit committee comprising non-executive members of the Advisory Board. The role of the committee is to assist the CEO to discharge her responsibilities in relation to AGS’s management and business control framework, audit and financial risk management.

AGS’s organisational arrangements include internal corporate governance committees to advise the CEO on the effective oversight of AGS and a number of management and advisory committees that help ensure effective communication and coordination within AGS.

Internal corporate governance committees

Ethics Committee: sets the ethical and cultural principles upon which AGS functions and ensures that it acts true to those principles and meets the standard of conduct expected of a law firm serving government clients
Risk Management Committee: ensures the existence and maintenance of an appropriate framework for identifying, assessing and managing significant corporate risk
Employee Council: provides a forum for employee representatives to advise the CEO on AGS employment issues
Remuneration Committee: advises the CEO on AGS’s remuneration policies and strategies to ensure AGS is able to attract and retain its talent
Knowledge and Information Management Committee: ensures AGS’s knowledge and information strategies and actions are aligned to achieving AGS’s Corporate Plan and supporting AGS’s long-term success as the provider of high quality legal services to the Commonwealth and its agencies.

Management and advisory committees

Strategy Review Committee: reviews the effectiveness of AGS’s corporate plan strategy and coordinates responses to changing market and operational conditions
Operational Leadership Group: ensures AGS coordinates its activities, structures and systems to achieve its corporate plan across its state and territory offices.