Audit and Risk Committee
The Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) provides independent advice on our:
- financial and performance reporting responsibilities
- risk oversight and management
- system of internal control.
Membership
The ARC has a minimum of 3 members, appointed by the Secretary or Chief Operating Officer. Committee members are all external to the department, no current members are officials of any Commonwealth entity.
Current ARC members
As at 4 March 2025.
Cath Ingram (Chair)
Ms Ingram has held senior leadership roles in a range of domains including governance, risk and assurance, public sector IT delivery confidence, and leadership development. Ms Ingram was a Senior Partner and first female Chairman of a KPMG office. She is a Chartered Accountant and a Registered Company Auditor with over 20 years of experience in auditing across the public sector, property development, financial services, research and commercialisation, broadcasting, agriculture, and professional sports.
A co-founder of Stories of Female Leadership, an organisation dedicated to promoting Indigenous female leadership, Ms Ingram has spent 37 years in professional services. She has developed expertise in complex problem-solving, leadership, and strategy, with a strong focus on building sound financial and corporate governance frameworks. Her professional work is further informed by her keen interest in geo-political dynamics, evolving technology, and data governance.
Darren Schaeffer (Member)
Mr Schaeffer is the Chief Financial Officer of Providence Consulting Group, where he oversees the group's finance functions, including financial statements, taxation, and treasury, as well as aspects of the governance, IT and assurance. He is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Master of Business Administration (Public Administration). He is currently studying toward a Doctorate of Business Administration (Indigenous Business).
Mr Schaeffer is known for his achievements in improving performance within large and complex businesses in both the private and public sectors. His work focuses on driving financial, operational, legal, and people initiatives, while fostering high-performing cultures that encourage innovation. With a strong background in financial management, risk management, and audit and assurance, Mr Schaeffer also brings a significant understanding of Indigenous business issues in a Western Governance context.
Lee Walton (Member)
Mr Walton has over 15 years of experience as a senior executive in the Australian Public Service, in addition to other professional roles in the public and private sectors, with deep experience in corporate, ICT, program delivery, service delivery and engineering. He is a Chartered Engineer, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an accredited Executive Coach, with qualifications in project management and public service procurement.
Mr Walton’s public service career was primarily in the intelligence, national security and law enforcement sectors, including roles as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Information Officer. He is an independent member of several government audit and risk committees and has experience as the board chair of a not-for-profit organisation. Mr Walton moved to Darwin to work with remote Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, using his skills and management experience to address some of the significant challenges faced by those living in remote areas.
The ARC Charter sets out the committee’s:
- objective
- authority
- membership
- reporting and administrative arrangements.