Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee

• Appointed for the period of January 2019 to December 2022
• Term extended to December 2026
• Appointed as the ARIC Chairperson from July 2024 to December 2026

Donna Rygate is an experienced independent chair/director, business leader and skilled problem solver.  In addition to holding various board, panel and committee chair and/or member roles, and doing some consultancy, she loves working on the farming and grazing property she co-owns at Canowindra in Central Western NSW.

From 2014 to 2018 Donna was Chief Executive of Local Government NSW, the peak industry association that represented the interests all NSW general purpose councils and other related organisations.  

Donna previously worked in executive, policy, communications, governance and operational roles in the NSW public sector for more than 25 years.  

She was Chief Executive of the NSW Office of Communities (responsible for Sport & Recreation, Venues NSW, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Penrith Lakes, Youth, Veterans’ Affairs, Volunteering, the Commission for Children & Young People, the Children’s Guardian and Aboriginal Affairs).  

Donna also headed Corporate Governance and Policy in the then NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure; and was the Deputy Director General Strategy, Communication and Governance with the then NSW Department of Community Services.  Her broad experience also included roles in central agencies, transport, conservation and environment protection. 

Donna has an Economics degree with Honours in Government and Public Administration, a Masters degree in Planning, a Diploma of Governance, and a Juris Doctor degree (law masters).  She is also an Australian Institute of Company Directors course graduate.  

Donna is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration and a Fellow of the Institute of Community Directors Australia.

• Appointed for the period May 2020 to April 2024
• Term extended to April 2028

John is an assurance, risk and corporate governance specialist. In his career of 35 years with PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) and predecessor firms, John served 22 years as an Audit/Assurance partner. His clients covered a broad range of organisations including listed public companies across most industry sectors and Public Sector clients including Federal, State and Local government.

John served in the roles of Hunter Region managing partner, NSW Local Government Leader, National Staff partner, and National Risk Management partner for the Resources, Services & Government Division of PwC.

John's work, since 2009, has been in governance and risk. He has served as chair or member of Audit & Risk Committees for 28 ACT, NSW State and NSW Local Government agencies as well as not-for-profit organisations. John was a board member for South Western Sydney Local Health District, chaired the Finance, Performance & Assets Committee and was a member of the Audit & Risk Committee and the Research & Teaching Committee.

John has a continuous involvement with the NSW Local Government and Health sectors that exceeds 40 years. He has provided audit and advisory services to more than 50 NSW Local Government councils; served for 15 years on advisory committees for the Office (Department) of Local Government; served as chair or member of 15 NSW Local Government Audit Risk & Improvement Committees including those of 4 merged councils.

John is chair or member for four (4) Audit & Risk Committees for NSW State and Local Government agencies.

• Appointed for the period July 2024 to June 2028

Deborah Goodyer is an experienced assurance and integrity professional having worked with State, Local and Commonwealth governments for 30 years. Deborah has a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Accounting) and is a CPA (Certified Practicing Accountant) and CIA (Certified Internal Auditor).

Deborah has held senior leadership roles including as internal audit and corruption prevention manager in NSW Health and chief audit executive roles at two NSW councils. She currently provides consulting services across public, private and not for profit entities including in internal audit, governance, and workplace conduct and culture. She has training and experience in fraud and corruption control, investigations, forensic accounting, data analytics, and corporate governance and strategy.

In 2021 Deborah obtained certification in wellbeing services including stress management and mental health first aid, and she undertakes ongoing training in corporate wellbeing issues and strategies.

Deborah is chair of two (2) Audit, Risk & Improvement Committees and an independent member of five (5), including Shoalhaven City Council.

Councillor Boyd was elected in July 2023 as a representative of Ward 3.

Appointed as a member of the ARIC in September 2023.

She was appointed as the alternate non-voting member of the ARIC from 1 July 2024 and non-voting Councillor member on 14/10/2024.

Councillor Johnston was elected in October 2024 as a representative of Ward 3 and appointed as the alternate non-voting Councillor member on 14/10/2024.