Governance
Citywide recognises the need for the highest standards of corporate behaviour and accountability.
The Citywide Board recognises the need for the highest standards of corporate behaviour and accountability in order to fulfill its responsibilities to the company’s stakeholders who include its shareholder, customers, suppliers, employees, the community and the environment.
In keeping with this responsibility the company, in consultation with its shareholder, has established a Code of Governance Practices to ensure the Board is well equipped to discharge its responsibilities.
This code covers amongst other things the function, composition, nomination, performance and remuneration processes of Directors together with the reporting obligations of the Company and requires the Chairman to review the individual performance of each of the Directors.
The Board consists of five Directors, four independent non-executive Directors, including the Chairman, and an executive Managing Director. A significant majority of the Board are independent non-executive Directors and consist of Directors who bring a balance of skills, experience and diversity to assist the company to meet its strategic objectives.
Non-executive Directors meet periodically, in line with better governance, without the Managing Director or other management present. In accordance with the company’s constitution one third of the Directors must retire each year, however if eligible, may offer themselves for re-election.
The Board is fully involved in setting the strategic direction of the Company, as well as reviewing the current performance on a monthly basis, with the overall vision to achieve growth in the performance of Citywide.
As part of this process the Board has three committees, Finance and Operations, Remuneration, and Audit and Risk Management. These committees have their own written charter setting out the role, the responsibilities and the manner in which the committee is to operate.
Each is comprised entirely of non-executive Directors who provide support to the full Board by giving a professional and skilled focus in each of the three areas. All matters determined by committees are submitted to the full Board as recommendations for Board decision.
Citywide Directors
J L (Lyn) Davies, Chairman
Lyn Davies joined Citywide on 3 March 1995 as Chairman. He is a member of the Company’s Audit and Risk Management and Remuneration Committees. He is 64 years of age. His qualifications are a Diploma of Agriculture and an Advanced Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mr Davies is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, and a
Life Member of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology. Mr Davies is also Chairman of Service Stream Ltd, Star Services International Pty Ltd and is a Director of Mackay Consolidated Industries Pty Limited and of ParaQuad Victoria. He has previously been Chairman of HRL Limited, The Nordia Group, Floriana Pty Limited, and Collins Booksellers Group and was a Director of Castle Bacon Pty Ltd. His previous business experience includes more than 20 years at Executive Director level with Elders IXL Limited, Wattie Limited and Goodman Fielder Limited
P S Lowe, Director
Peter Lowe was appointed to the Board of Citywide on 23 January 2006 and is Chairman of the Audit and Risk Management Committee and a member of the Finance and Operations Committee of the Company. He is 55 years of age and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Melbourne. Mr Lowe is a fellow of CPA Australia and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is currently a Director of Norfolk Group Limited, Alinta Network Holdings Pty Ltd, United Energy Distribution Holdings Pty Ltd, Multinet Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Snowy Hydro Limited, Aurora Energy Pty Ltd and depressioNet. Mr Lowe has had extensive experience at senior management level in all aspects of finance including Chief Financial Officer for both Australian and US public companies in the energy utility sector. He was also CEO for the Australasian operations of Aquila, formerly Utilicorp United Inc.
G E (Barry) McGuiness, Director
Barry McGuiness was appointed to the Board of Citywide on 20 November 1996 and is a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee, Chairman of the Finance and Operations Committee and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee. He is 65 years of age. His qualifications include a Degree in Public Administration.
Mr McGuiness has retired as Managing Partner – International, Minter Ellison Lawyers. He was previously the Partner in Charge of Arthur Andersen and Co Consulting practice in Australia (now Accenture), owner/operator of a large primary production property combined with ownership of his own management/strategic consultancy, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Australian National Line, Chairman of Safetrac Pty Ltd and Deputy Chairman of SPC Ltd. Mr McGuiness has held numerous other Directorships in listed and unlisted companies. A strategic consultant to a number of companies, his other responsibilities include Chairman of WOLECO Amenities (Singapore), Director of AED Oil Pty Ltd. and advisory Board member for CB Group of Companies.
A H Evans, Director
Alan Evans was appointed to the Board of Citywide on 1 March 2007 and is a member of the Finance & Operations Committee and the Remuneration Committee. He is 62 years of age and holds a B.Ec/LLB from the University of Canberra and is a Chartered Engineer. Mr Evans is President of the NRMA Board. He was formerly CEO of Medicines Australia and has also held senior executive positions in federal and state governments including Head of the Office of Regional Development, Executive General Manager of AusIndustry and Principal Advisor to the Federal Treasurer. Other responsibilities include President of the Australian Automobile Association; Managing Director of Strategic Consulting Services Pty Ltd; Chairman of Kingmill Pty Ltd (t/a Thrifty Australia) A1GP Australia Pty Ltd, Kistler Woomera and Spaceport Woomera. He is also a Director of Adventure World Travel and Adventure World Travel (NZ). Mr Evans sits on the Strategic Advisory Board of the John Curtin School of Medical Research and is a member of the New South Wales Government’s Road Freight Advisory Council.
K F Osborne, Managing Director
Kerry Osborne joined Citywide as CEO on 1 January 2001 and was appointed Managing Director on 20 December 2002. He is 51 years of age. Kerry is a member of both the CEO Institute and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Kerry is also a member of the Planning & Development Committee for the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and Vice-Chair of the New Zealand Victoria Business Group.
Kerry has held a number of senior positions in the construction and maintenance industries in both Australia and New Zealand including Chief Executive of Eastworks (NZ based roading and municipal services company), Australian General Manager for Manukau Works and Australian General Manager of Excell Corporation. Past responsibilities include Chairman of Gisborne Youth Sports Trust, Director of Gisborne Rotary Club and Director of Micromet Victoria Pty Ltd.