Mount Gambier City Council has agreed to reappoint Paul Duka as presiding member of its Audit and Risk Committee.

Mr Duka will remain in the position for a one-year term, expiring in March 2025.

Raised and educated in Ballarat, Victoria, Mr Duka attained a Bachelor of Business degree majoring in Accounting from Ballarat’s Federation University.

After graduating, he held a variety of management positions in the private sector before undertaking several financial and management roles in Local Government councils within South Australia.

He has also held previous treasurer positions on management boards and sport associations, and been a member of three audit and risk committees.

After assessment of potential candidates against the selection criteria, Mr Duka was selected as the preferred candidate.

Council’s Audit and Risk Committee Terms of Reference states independent members shall have senior business or financial management and reporting knowledge and expertise, and be conversant with the financial, risk management and governance issues, and have extensive accounting, auditing or legal skills and other reporting requirements of Local Government.

Council sought independent members for its Audit and Risk Committee during December 2023 and January 2024, with expressions of interest considered by Cr Paul Jenner, Mayor Lynette Martin, as well as council staff Jane Fetherstonhaugh and Julie Scoggins.