Governance and organisational structure

ARBV Board

The ARBV Board is responsible for performing statutory decision-making functions and powers conferred by the Architects Act 1991 (the Act) and the Architects Regulations 2026. The ARBV Board also provides leadership, strategic guidance and policy direction in addition to overseeing implementation of policies and initiatives.

The Board consists of 7 members appointed by the Governor in Council. Five members are architects and collectively, the members of the Board have the skills, knowledge or experience specified in section 47(b) of the Act, including demonstrated experience in a leadership role within the building industry. The terms of the current Board members expire on 30 June 2027.

The Board membership of the ARBV on 30 June 2025 was as follows:

• Dr Giorgio Marfella, PhD, M.Arch (Chairperson)
• Sally Brincat, M.Arch (Prac), GAICD (Deputy Chairperson)
• Michael Leeton, B.Arch (Hon), FRAIA
• Mark Curry, B.AppSc (Met), BSW, GAICD
• Tim Leslie, B.Arch (Hon), B.AppSc (environmental design)
• Lorina Nervegna, B.Arch
• Yana Podolskaya, B.Legal Studies, LLB.

Directors who resigned prior to 30 June 2026 were as follows:

• Prof Sarah McGann, PhD. B.ArchSc, Dip.Arch, FRAII (Ireland).

During the year the Board was assisted by the Remuneration and Organisation Development Committee. The Board is also responsible for constituting Tribunals to conduct inquiries into architects’ fitness to practise or professional conduct drawn from the independent Architects Tribunal appointed by the Minister. The Act prohibits a person being concurrently a member of the ARBV Board and the Architects Tribunal.

CEO/Registrar

The Board appoints a Registrar to deliver the operations of the organisation in accordance with the agreed strategy. Dr Glenice Fox, SJD, LLB, BA, Grad Cert in Dispute Resolution has occupied the role of CEO/Registrar since February 2021.

Board Committees

Remuneration and Organisation Development Committee The purpose of the Remuneration and Organisation Development Committee is to assist the Board to fulfil its obligations relating to remuneration, organisation development and human resource policy and related matters, including the management of the CEO/Registrar’s contract and performance review. The Committee fulfilled its purpose during the reporting period.

Members of the Remuneration and Organisation Development Committee during the year were Dr Giorgio Marfella (Chairperson), Sally Brincat (Deputy Chairperson) and Mark Curry.

Exemption from the requirement to have an Audit and Risk Committee and Internal Audit function for 2025-26

As a Victorian Public Entity, the ARBV must comply with the requirements of Standing Directions 2018 under the Financial Management Act 1994 (the FMA).

Since 1 July 2023 the ARBV has been granted exemptions from the requirements under clauses 3.2.1. and 3.2.2 of the Standing Directions 2018 to have an Audit and Risk Committee and Internal Audit function. By agreement with the Department of Treasury and Finance the partial exemptions from Standing Directions under the FMA granted by the Assistant Treasurer continued in place for the 2025-26 year. This was based on the ARBV continuing to have appropriate alternative arrangements in place and remains subject to annual confirmation before the end of May each year.

The primary function of the Audit and Risk Committee was to assist the Board to fulfil its statutory obligations relating to the FMA and associated Standing Directions 2018 issued by the Assistant Treasurer under section 8 of the FMA. This function was subsumed by the Board with effect from 1 July 2023. Four Board meetings held during the year are focused on fulfilling the Board’s audit and risk obligations.

The following audit and risk responsibilities were subsumed by the Board:

• reviewing the effectiveness of the ARBV’s internal control environment, covering effectiveness and efficiency of operations, reliability of financial reporting and compliance with applicable laws and regulations
• reviewing the annual financial statements
• reviewing the information in the report of operations on financial management, performance and sustainability
• reviewing the rolling 3-year audit and review plan and ensure resources are adequate and used effectively, including co-ordination with external auditors
• maintaining effective communication with external auditors, consider recommendations arising from internal audits or made by external auditors and review the implementation of actions to resolve issues raised, and
• overseeing the effective operation of the risk management framework.

Board and Committee Meeting Attendances

Number of meetings attended/eligible to attend in 2025-26

Note: In addition to Board meetings a Strategic Planning day and a half day Regulatory Strategy workshop were held in 2025-26.