Governance and organisation structure

ARBV Organisation Structure as at 30 June 2024

Governance

ARBV Board

The ARBV Board is responsible for performing statutory decision-making functions and powers conferred by the Architects Act 1991 (the Act) and the Architects Regulations 2015. The ARBV Board also provides leadership, strategic guidance and policy direction in addition to overseeing implementation of policies and initiatives.

With effect from 1 February 2024, the Building Legislation Amendment Act 2023 introduced changes to governance arrangements, including changes to provisions relating to board composition. However, transitionary arrangements provide that the changes to board composition do not take effect until current board member terms expire. Section 47 of the Act, which was in force prior to the introduction of the Building Legislation Amendment Act 2023, provided for the Board to be comprised of ten members appointed on a representative basis with the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson elected by the members.

During the year, the Board was assisted by a committee and a steering group. The Board is also responsible for constituting the independent Architects Tribunal to conduct inquiries concerning architects and their fitness to practise or professional conduct. The Act prohibits a person being concurrently a member of the ARBV Board and the Architects Tribunal.

The Board membership of the ARBV at 30 June 2024 was as follows:

• Dr Giorgio Marfella, PhD, M.Arch, RAIA (Chairperson)
  Representative of architects nominated by Councils of approved schools of architecture
• Sophie Cleland, B.Arch (Hons) (Deputy Chairperson)
  Architect nominated from panel submitted by the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA)
• Bruce Allen, B.Arch, M.Arch, M.B.A.
  Elected representative of architects
• Mark Curry, B.AppSc, BSW
  Consumer representative nominated by the Minister for Consumer Affairs (Victoria)
• Richard Drew, B.Eng (Hons), M.DesS, GradCertEng
  Representative of the Institution of Engineers, Institute of Surveyors, Institute of Quantity Surveyors and Royal Australian Planning Institute
• Stefan Preuss, Dipl. Ing Arch, MSc.Arch, GAICD
  Practising senior government architect nominated by the Office of Victorian Government Architect
• Sally Wills, Adv. Dip. Building Design (Architectural)
  Representative of professional building industry organisations

Directors whose terms expired on 30 June 2024 were as follows:

• Dr Giorgio Marfella
• Bruce Allen
• Sophie Cleland
• Mark Curry
• Richard Drew, and
• Stefan Preuss

Board members whose terms expired on 30 June 2024 are eligible to apply for re-appointment subject to meeting new board composition requirements introduced by the Building Legislation Amendment Act 2023.

CEO/Registrar
The Board appoints a Registrar to deliver the operations of the organisation in accordance with the agreed strategy. Dr Glenice Fox, SJD, LLB, BA, Grad Cert in Dispute Resolution has occupied the role of CEO/Registrar since February 2021.

Board Committees

Remuneration and Organisation Development Committee
The purpose of the Remuneration and Organisation Development Committee is to assist the Board to fulfil its obligations relating to remuneration, organisation development and human resource policy and related matters, including the management of the CEO/Registrar’s contract and performance review.

Members of the Remuneration and Organisation Development Committee during the year were Dr Giorgio Marfella (Chairperson), Sophie Cleland (Deputy Chairperson) and Stefan Preuss.

Exemption from the requirement to have an Audit and Risk Committee and Internal Audit function for 2023-24. With effect from 1 July 2023, the Assistant Treasurer granted the ARBV an exemption from the requirements under clauses 3.2.1. and 3.2.2 of the Standing Directions 2018 respectively to have an Audit and Risk Committee and Internal Audit function for the 2023-24 financial year. Each year, the ARBV is required to make an application to the Assistant Treasurer for extension of these exemptions and to demonstrate that it has adequate controls in place and that the exemptions remain appropriate.

The primary function of the Audit and Risk Committee was to assist the Board to fulfil its statutory obligations relating to the Financial Management Act 1994 (FMA) and associated Standing Directions 2018 issued by the Assistant Treasurer under Section 8 of the FMA. This function was subsumed by the Board with effect from 1 July 2023. The Board was assisted during the year by the former Independent Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, Mr. Mark Anderson, who provided advice to the Board on audit and risk matters. Four of the eleven Board meetings held during the year focused on fulfilling its audit and risk obligations.

The following audit and risk responsibilities were subsumed by the Board:

• reviewing the effectiveness of the ARBV’s internal control environment, covering effectiveness and efficiency of operations, reliability of financial reporting and compliance with applicable laws and regulations
• reviewing the annual financial statements
• reviewing the information in the report of operations on financial management, performance and sustainability
• determining the scope of the internal audits and ensure resources are adequate and used effectively, including co-ordination with external auditors
• maintaining effective communication with external auditors, consider recommendations arising from internal audits or made by external auditors and review the implementation of actions to resolve issues raised
• overseeing the effective operation of the risk management framework.

Proactive Strategic Plan Implementation Steering Group
The steering group provided strategic guidance to the CEO/Registrar and the internal Project Team to ensure delivery of the Proactive Strategic Plan and the achievement of agreed outcomes. This included monitoring implementation of the Proactive Strategic Plan to ensure effective, on-time and on-budget delivery.

Members of the Proactive Strategic Plan Implementation Steering Group during the year were board members Dr Giorgio Marfella, Sophie Cleland, Mark Curry and Richard Drew, and relevant staff members. Dr Giorgio Marfella, Sophie Cleland and staff members Dr Glenice Fox and Shane Pearse were also members of the joint working group involved in the preparation of the Deep Dive Report into Systemic Risks in the Architecture Sector, commissioned by the ARBV and NSW ARB.

For further details on the Proactive Strategic initiatives which were delivered during the year refer to the Proactive Regulation Program report.

Board and committee meeting attendances

Number of meetings attended/eligible to attend in 2023-24.

ARBV Chairpersons and Registrars since 1923