Expressions of Interest Independent Audit and Risk Committee at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Nationwide

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Ara Poutama Aotearoa, the Department of Corrections is calling for expressions of interest for two independent members on its Audit and Risk Committee. 

Mō mātou | About us 

Ara Poutama Aotearoa is the largest core public service department in New Zealand.  We have strong governance and oversight arrangements in place to ensure we are using our funds effectively to improve public safety, reduce re-offending and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities.  We are responsible for 18 prisons and over 100 community corrections locations across the country.  The nature of our work is complex and comes with unique challenges and risks, including a significant capital spend over the next three years, a growing prison population, and embedding organisational culture and systems change.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

We are looking to appoint two committee members, one with an immediate start to fill a vacancy and one to start in February 2026.  Appointments are for a term of three years, with an option to extend for a further two years.  We are looking for new committee members with a breadth of public and/or private sector experience to provide a balance with our existing committee.

The independently chaired Audit and Risk Committee provides advice to the Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team on the adequacy of risk processes, assurance programmes, and our control environment.  This includes overseeing Corrections' strategic risks, risk management system, internal controls, legislative compliance, audit functions, reporting, and governance frameworks.  The Committee meets six times per year, and the fees follow the Cabinet Fees Framework for Government Departments' Audit and Risk Committees. 

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

As an independent external committee member, you will bring:

• Extensive capital works, infrastructure, financial, and investment planning experience operating at a senior level in a large or complex organisation, or
• Extensive governance, risk management, assurance, and internal / external audit experience operating at a senior level in a large or complex organisation.

You will also bring strong strategic leadership, and significant expertise in business transformation and change working across the Public and/or Private Sector. 

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

For further information please contact Darren Johnson, Principal Adviser Enterprise Risk at darren.johnson@corrections.govt.nz.

To submit your expression of interest, please submit a brief CV with a covering letter outlining your expression of interest by clicking the apply link.

Applications close Sunday 13 July 2025.