Organisational Health and Capability Enhanced strategic governance The Board of Commissioners is our governance decision-making body. The Board’s responsibilities include setting the strategic direction, reviewing overall performance and delivery, and ensuring statutory responsibilities are met. The Board consists of the Chief Commissioner and Commissioners and in partnership with the National Iwi Chairs Forum, has appointed a Rongomau Taketake, a non-voting an Indigenous rights governance partner to work alongside the Board and provide Tangata Whenua perspectives and leadership24. Formal Board meetings are held with reporting by the Tatau-Uruora Chief Executive and Pou Ārahi. These meetings facilitate reporting of progress against the Commission’s business plan, allow senior management to provide updates from across the Commission’s work, and provide a space for strategic review by the Board. Our risk management framework has been enhanced to support the Board to be fully cognisant of the top issues our organisation faces and that issues are being addressed operationally. The approach also ensures we are being proactive in addressing risk and strategic in decision making. We are supported by our Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (chaired by an external member) which provides another line of assurance related to our strategic planning, financial performance and reporting and core business policies and processes. 24 Supported by effective operational leadership The Chief Executive is accountable for the management of operations (except for OHRP). The Board holds the Chief Executive and staff to account by monitoring performance against priorities and ensuring that resources are used effectively and efficiently. The government’s decisions about pay restraint in the state sector forced us to think more innovatively about terms and conditions that would promote staff wellbeing, inclusive culture and a sense of being valued. Short-term funding also led to whole teams being recruited on fixedterm contracts. To respond to these challenges and that of the COVID-19 environment, significant effort has gone into supporting staff wellbeing and building a connected culture. Strengthened business services capability The Commission reviewed the business services needed to support our organisation in the future and has increased both capability and capacity across our core business services. Hiranga Tōpū went live in October 2022 and brings together related activity under the Tumuaki Whakahaere Chief Operating Officer role. The group has been shoring up core services, supporting organisational change, revising organisational policies and strengthening business processes with a focus on continuous improvement and greater efficiency. In this reporting period, this role (0.5 FTE) was in place from 6 March 2023 to 30 June 2023. 43