Board

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The NDIS Act establishes the following functions of the Board: 

  • ensure the proper, efficient and effective performance of the Agency’s functions 
  • determine the objectives, strategies and policies to be followed by the Agency  
  • any other functions conferred on the Board by or under the NDIS Act, associated regulations or instruments made under the NDIS Act, and any other law of the Commonwealth. 

In performing these functions, the Board must have regard to: 

  • the financial sustainability of the NDIS  
  • any statement given by the Minister for the NDIS setting out strategic guidance for the Agency 
  • relevant actuarial analysis and advice 
  • relevant advice and reports provided by the committees of the Board 
  • advice of the Independent Advisory Council. 

Duties

 
The PGPA Act establishes the following duties of the Board, as the Accountable Authority of the Agency: 

  • duty to govern the Agency in a way that ensures: 
    • the proper use and management of public resources  
    • the achievement of the purposes of the Agency 
    • the financial sustainability of the Agency.  
  • duty to establish and maintain systems of risk oversight and management and internal control 
  • duty to encourage cooperation between officials of the Agency and others to achieve common objectives, where practicable 
  • duty to keep the Minister for the NDIS, the Minister for Finance and the Ministerial Council informed of the activities of the Agency 
  • duty to take into account the risks associated with the use or management of public resources when imposing requirements on others in relation to the use or management of public resources, and the effects of imposing those requirements 

Compliance

  • The Board complies with its functions and duties through: 
    • preparation of a Corporate Plan each year which sets the objectives and key activities for the Agency 
    • issuing Accountable Authority Instructions and Financial Authorisations  
    • establishing and maintaining:  
      • Risk Management Strategy and Framework 
      • Fraud and Corruption Control plan 
    • measuring and regularly assessing and reporting on the performance of the Agency through: 
      • Annual Report comprising: 
        • Financial Sustainability Report 
        • Performance Statements 
        • Financial Statements  
      • Quarterly Report to the Ministerial Council 
    • approving major contracts which are strategically significant or are above the approved delegations to the CEO.  
  • The Agency maintains a list of the Board’s statutory obligations and provides this to the Board to support annual compliance attestations. 

Board members of the NDIA

Current members of the NDIA Board are: 

  • Mr Kurt Fearnley AO (Chair) 
  • Mr Mark Darras 
  • Ms Maryanne Diamond AO 
  • Dr Richard Fejo 
  • Dr Rhonda Galbally AC 
  • Dr Graeme Innes AM 
  • Mrs Joan McKenna Kerr 
  • Dr Denis Napthine AO 
  • Ms Estelle Pearson 
  • Ms Leah van Poppel 
  • Dr Ian Watt AC.

Committees assist the Board to meet its statutory requirements, manage risk, and ensure the Agency achieves best-practice governance. The current Board Committees are: 

  • Audit and Risk Committee 
  • Strategic Direction and Participant Outcomes Committee, and 
  • Sustainability Committee. 

The membership, roles and responsibilities, and attendance of the Board and its Committees are published each year in the NDIA Annual Report.

Board performance is also reviewed annually in accordance with the Board Audit and Risk Committee Charter:  

Current version

Previous versions

Meet the NDIA Board 

This page current as of
22 January 2025