The Executive Board (established in April 2017 to replace the Executive

Leadership Group) is a decision-making board, chaired by the Australian

Statistician, to provide leadership and strategic oversight of the ABS. The

Executive Board provides advice to the Australian Statistician in order for him,

as the authorised decision maker under the PGPA Act, to determine direction,

policy, priorities, and to ensure the efficient, economical and ethical operations

of the ABS. The Chair performs a leadership role in the conduct and direction

of the Executive Board and has the majority vote and final decision in the

event of non-consensus. Membership consists of the Australian Statistician; all

Deputy Australian Statisticians; the General Manager Finance, Risk and Planning

Division; the General Manager People, Capability and Communication Division;

and a General Manager from the Statistical Services Group for a two year

appointment.

Australian

Statistics

Advisory Council

The Australian Statistics Advisory Council (ASAC) is the ABS’s key advisory

body and is established under the Australian Bureau ofStatistics Act 1975.

ASAC provides independent advice to the Minister responsible for the ABS and

the Australian Statistician on improvement of statistical services, longer-term

statistical priorities and other relevant matters. It also reports to the Parliament

annually. The current chair of ASAC is Professor Gary Banks AO.

Statistical

Strategy

Committee

The Statistical Strategy Committee (SSC) is an advisory committee to the Deputy

Australian Statistician, Statistical Services Group, on the ABS statistical work

program; outcomes of strategic importance are reported to the Executive Board.

Key areas include statistical risk management, cross-cutting statistical issues and

overall priorities, and strategic relationships. Membership includes the Deputy

Australian Statistician (Chair) and General Managers from the Statistical Services

Group, General Managers from the Transformation Group, and the General

Manager from the Census and Statistical Network Services Division.

Statistical

Business

Transformation

Program

Executive Board

The Statistical Business Transformation (SBT) Program is the flagship

transformation initiative of the ABS. The SBT Program Executive Board is

chaired by the Australian Statistician. The Board has overarching authority for

the SBT Program and is responsible for investment decisions and associated

commitments to government, ensuring the ongoing alignment of the SBT

Program with the strategic direction and goals of the ABS.

Statistical

Business

Transformation

Program Delivery

Board

The Statistical Business Transformation (SBT) Program Delivery Board is

responsible for driving the program and delivering outcomes and benefits.

2021 Census

Board

The 2021 Census Board’s key responsibilities include endorsement of the 2021

Census strategy, overseeing maintenance and achievement of 2021 Census

Program objectives, and monitoring the planning, development, operation

and delivery phases of the 2021 Census Program. The Board, chaired by the

Australian Statistician, will also advise on the resolution of issues relating to

scope, trade-offs and investment decisions; provide oversight on all aspects of

risk management of the 2021 Census Program and its constituent projects; and

advise on strategic relationships with governments and key stakeholders.

2021 Census

Delivery

Committee

The 2021 Census Delivery Committee is chaired by the Deputy Australian

Statistician, Census and Data Services Group; it has specific responsibility

for advising on the maintenance and achievement of 2021 Census Program

objectives. The Committee will ensure adherence to agreed design principles

and resolve any discrepancies, including those related to scope and budget.

Members will advise on risk mitigation, provide assurance for operational

stability and effectiveness through the 2021 Census delivery cycle, and manage

the impact of change.

Security

Committee

The Security Committee is an advisory committee, chaired by the Deputy

Australian Statistician, Corporate Services and Transformation Group,

established to ensure the ABS complies with its legal and legislative

requirements related to security. Its purpose is to ensure there are adequate

internal policies, guidelines and effective practices which meet the security- and

privacy-related requirements of relevant government policy, i.e. the Protective

Security Policy Framework and Information Security Manual.

Resource

Prioritisation

and Finance

Committee

The Resource Prioritisation and Finance Committee is an advisory committee,

chaired by the Deputy Australian Statistician, Corporate Services and

Transformation Group, established to ensure there is cross-Group engagement

on the planning, prioritisation, allocation and monitoring of ABS resources. The

Committee’s advice to the Chair reflects ABS strategic priorities, and monitors

allocations and expenditure to ensure rigour, discipline and transparency. In

addition, the Committee advises on adjustments to resource allocations in

response to high priority in-year and emerging issues, supports effective risk

management frameworks and provides feedback and advice on relevant policies.

Service

Improvement

Steering

Committee

The Service Improvement Steering Committee (formerly known as the Statistical

Network Services and Technology Committee) is an advisory committee, chaired by

the Deputy Australian Statistician, Corporate Services and Transformation Group,

established to ensure there is cross-Group engagement on the customer-focused

service delivery of technology, corporate and statistical services across the ABS. The

Committee to promotes a customer-focused service delivery ethos at the heart

of what we do and provides advice to the Chair on strategic directions of data

acquisition and provider management functions in conjunction with technical and

statistical dissemination services from both a customer and client perspective.

People

Committee

The People Committee is an advisory committee, chaired by the General

Manager of the People, Capability and Communication Division, established

to ensure there is cross-Group engagement on the monitoring, prioritisation

and operational decisions associated with people, culture and partnerships

functions of the ABS. The Committee also provides input and advice to the

Chair on strategic matters prior to their consideration by the Executive Board,

and monitors progress on the implementation of the People and Culture Action

Plans. It includes representatives of ABS’s Diversity Networks.

National Health

and Safety

Committee

The National Health and Safety Committee (NHSC) is the forum at which the

ABS, its workers and their representatives discuss organisational health and

safety matters and issues. The NHSC plays a key role in ABS work health and

safety (WHS) governance by receiving and considering information and issues,

making decisions and recommendations on organisational WHS matters,

and identifying safety matters for appropriate decision-making by the People

Committee.

Disclosure

Review

Committee

The Disclosure Review Committee (DRC) advises the Chief Methodologist on

the disclosure risks and mitigation strategies associated with the dissemination

of microdata and, on an exception basis, aggregate statistics. The DRC may also

initiate reviews to continuously improve procedures, processes and policies, or

undertake investigations where warranted or where directed by the Executive

Board.

Economics

Statistics

Advisory Group

The Economic Statistics Advisory Group (ESAG) is an advisory committee to

the Deputy Australian Statistician, Statistical Services Group. It is an important

mechanism through which the user community can provide feedback on current

and planned ABS developments in the field of economic statistics. This Group

nurtures the interaction between senior ABS executives and key user groups

including influential researchers, policy advisors and decision makers who have a

sound appreciation of the use and value of economic statistics.

Population and

Social Statistics

Advisory Group

The Population and Social Statistics Advisory Group (PSSAG) is an advisory

committee to the Deputy Australian Statistician, Statistical Services Group. It

is an important mechanism through which the user community can provide

feedback on current and planned ABS developments in the field of population

and social statistics. This Group nurtures the interaction between the ABS and

informed users of population and social statistics to gain valuable input from

their knowledge and expertise.

State Statistical

Forum

The State Statistical Forum (SSF), chaired by the Deputy Australian Statistician,

Statistical Services Group, is an information sharing and engagement body. It

supports effective interaction between the ABS and the states and territories to

address common statistical issues.

Methodology

Advisory

Committee

The Methodology Advisory Committee (MAC), chaired by the Chief

Methodologist, is an expert advisory group of statisticians and data scientists

drawn mainly from, but not restricted to, universities across Australia and

New Zealand. The function of the MAC is to provide expert advice to the

Chief Methodologist on selected methodological issues that arise across the

production of national statistics e.g. survey design, data linkage, analysis,

confidentialisation and dissemination.

ABS

Management

Meetings

ABS Management Meetings play a major role in setting and communicating

ABS strategic directions and priorities. The meetings are held twice a year and

involve all ABS Senior Executive Staff (SES). They provide an opportunity for SES

to discuss big-picture issues, take stock of lessons learnt, look ahead and discuss

strategic issues and plans. Recently the Management Meetings have included

workshops on risk management, developing a high performing workforce and

2021 Census planning.

ABS Audit

Committee

The ABS Audit Committee provides independent assurance and assistance to

the Australian Statistician on the ABS’s financial and performance reporting

responsibilities, risk oversight and management, and the system of internal

controls, including those applied to ensure legislative compliance and the

execution of ABS functions. The current Chair of the ABS Audit Committee is

Ms Jennifer Clark.