Minister for Defence - Membership of the First Principles Review Oversight Board

I am pleased to announce the establishment and confirm the membership of an Oversight Board to monitor the progress of implementation of the First Principles Review recommendations.

The First Principles Review was released on 1 April 2015. The Government has agreed – or agreed in-principle – to 75 of the 76 recommendations.

Recommendation 6.3 of the First Principles Review called for the creation of an Oversight Board and the Board membership has now been finalised.

The membership comprises the members of the First Principles Review team, Mr David Peever as Chair, the Hon Robert Hill AC, the Hon Lindsay Tanner, Lt Gen Peter Leahy AC (Retd.), Mr Jim McDowell and the addition of Ms Erica Smyth.

Ms Smyth is a professional company director with significant private and some public sector experience. Ms Smyth is currently Deputy Chair of the Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation Board.

The Oversight Board’s primary function is to provide advice to Government on the implementation of the First Principles Review recommendations over a two year period.

The Board will assist in ensuring the Government endorsed recommendations are implemented in the way intended by the First Principles Review and in line with the One Defence business model.

The Board will also provide assistance where required to the Secretary of Defence, the Chief of the Defence Force and Defence leadership with the implementation of the recommendations.

I am pleased to have continuity from the First Principles Review team into the Oversight Board and with Ms Smyth’s experience and skills, they will bring a wealth of knowledge and a balanced approach to overseeing the implementation process.

Media contacts:

Brad Rowswell (Minister Andrews’ Office)                 0417 917 796

Defence Media Operations                                        (02) 6127 1999

Erica Smyth - Biography

Erica Smyth is a professional company director with significant private and some public sector experience. Ms Smyth is currently Deputy Chair of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Board and has been on the board for over 6 years. Ms Smyth has been a professional company director since 2005 and is currently the Chair of the Diabetes Research Foundation of Western Australia.  Ms Smyth is also a director of the Australian Securities Exchange listed Emeco Holdings Limited, Deep Exploration Technologies Cooperative Research Centre, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations, and the Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research. These board positions follow on from a successful career as a senior executive in the mining and petroleum industries. Ms Smyth was the General Manager Corporate Affairs with Woodside Petroleum Limited from 1999 to 2004. Ms Smyth has also held other senior positions in Woodside and BHP Petroleum and Minerals Divisions.