NZDF Governance Committees – Terms of Reference
Executive Committee (EXCO)
The purpose of the Executive Committee is:
Performance monitoring, oversight, and direction on behalf of the NZDF demonstrating a strong visible pan-New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) leadership.
Performance monitoring, oversight, and direction regarding the performance of the strategic intent and the strategic direction of the NZDF.
Providing direction and oversight regarding the strategic viewpoint of Strategic Plans and there execution.
Purpose
Enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of decision making at the strategic level of the NZDF.
The key responsibilities of the Executive Committee are to:
Reference: CDF Directive xx/2022 (NZDF GOVERNANCE, COMMITTEE CHAIR DECISION MAKING DELEGATION)
Resolve conflicting direction and priorities.
Approve:
Develop and approve the 1-4 year budgets, planned activities and business plans.
New investments with an in-year whole of life cost up to a maximum of $25M.
Set the NZDF’s risk appetite though understanding the strategic risks, and provide direction on risk mitigations identified in reports.
New multi-year investments with a whole of life cost up to a maximum of $25M.
Approve and direction setting on pan-NZDF strategies and policies.
Cabinet Paper investments with a whole of life cost greater than $25M.
ilities
Approve or endorse business cases for high risk/large scale/impact organisational change programmes and projects.
Provide direction where to prioritise resources of all in-year investment initiatives up to a maximum of
Provide direction on resource allocation in line with strategy and priorities.
$25M.
Prioritise trade-offs for the NZDF through the monitoring and oversight of strategic organisational performance and risk.
NZDF Annual Budget.
Incorporate external insights into short to medium term strategies.
The reallocation/redistribution of budgeted funds between Navy, Army, RNZAF and NZDF Portfolios An
Investment decisions and prioritising investments in relation to NZDF projects and programmes from $5 million to $25 million, and
increase of Navy, Army, RNZAF and NZDF Portfolio budgets to a maximum of $25M up to a maximum of
other high-value (not necessarily financial) projects and programmes.
$25M.
Provide strategic direction utilising a performance framework and review strategy performance against it.
A funding contingency up to a maximum of $25M.
ing Responsib
Utilising a whole of enterprise lens in regard to applying strategic perspectives, and identify pathways for resource allocation.
New multi-year personnel costs to support enduring new and current initiatives.
et
Provide direction and oversight of strategically important NZDF organisational change, programmes and projects, delegating this
The employment of contactors with a whole of life cost over $1M.
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oversight to appropriate NZDF Governance Committees where appropriate.
Amendments to DFO 1.
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Oversight of NZDF Governance Committees and delegate to them as appropriate.
Annual Output Plan, including in-year amendments.
Oversight of budget variance reports and commentary through NZDF Governance Committees and provide direction.
Provide an independent perspective to decision making, putting the interests of NZDF ahead of their interests.
Use the NZDF Risk Framework to help align decision making; this committee is an accountable body for enterprise risk.
Utilise the NZDF Governance Toolkit as a resource to support both presenters and members.
Agenda Items
Business Rules:
Membership List
Schedule Meetings, Draft Agenda & Meeting Minutes in
The quorum is the Chair or Deputy Chair, and half the listed members.
Chief of Defence Force (Chair)
conjunction with the Chair.
Meetings are scheduled every 2 months.
Vice Chief of Defence Force (Deputy Chair)
Call for papers and consult with presenters.
A member must advise NZDF Governance of a pending apology.
Commander Joint Forces New Zealand
Agenda and papers will be published to members five working
A member may only be excused from a meeting and replaced by a nominated alternate with the Chair's approval.
Chief of Navy
days before the meeting.
Papers are to be submitted to the NZDF Governance Team with approval from the Sponsor; submissions must include a
Chief of Army
Future items for EXCO are to be submitted to NZDF Governance
completed cover sheet a minimum of eight working days before the meeting.
Chief of Air Force
Team for consultation, then added to the forward work plan.
Papers are to be a maximum of five pages, clearly stating; purpose, clear decision points, and answer 'what, so what,
Chief Financial Officer
now what' to support decision making. Project artefacts are to conform with change management framework
The committee should review the forward work plan at each
methodology. Additional supporting documents can be made available via links. Acceptance of late papers is at the
Chief People Officer
meeting.
discretion of the Chair.
Chief Joint Defence Services
ittee Support
Back briefs should be provided from other relevant committees
Will consult a draft of the minutes with presenting members then passed to the Chair for review before publishing in
Chief of Staff HQNZDF
m
when requested.
the next meeting pack for approval.
Chief Defence Strategy Management
m
Action and Decision recording
Must undertake consultation with all stakeholders, conduct a risk assessment before submitting papers, and be
Warrant Officer of Defence Force
Co
A post-meeting matrix with actions & decisions will be sent to
included in the cover sheet.
owners and members in a timely fashion.
If out of session endorsement is required, distribute papers with precise response requirements and timeline, and
Non-members can be invited as a relevant specialist
Governance Support
publish outcomes to all members.
or speaker to a specific item/paper at the Chair's
Induction material collated and provided to all new members of EXCO
An annual review of the Terms of Reference, performance and membership.
discretion.
on appointment.
Members must commit sufficient time to prepare for meetings, attend and follow up on actions delegated.
RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1982
Version: v0.2 September 2021