Independent Oversight Committee

To provide for policyholder and public confidence in Southern Response’s implementation of the Package, the Government has established an Independent Oversight Committee (IOC).

The purpose of the IOC is to provide independent oversight, make recommendations to the board of directors of Southern Response, and report significant issues to the Crown.  In particular, the IOC will, amongst its tasks:

• provide independent oversight of Southern Response’s decision-making in respect of the implementation and delivery of the package;
• seek independent advice or peer review on key issues;
• conduct an independent periodic review of Southern Response’s processes and decision-making in respect of the implementation and delivery of the package;
• provide advice and recommendations to the Southern Response board and the Crown on matters relating to the interests of Southern Response policyholders relevant to the implementation and delivery of the package.

The members of the IOC are:

David Ayers served as Mayor of the Waimakariri District from 2010-2019, taking office shortly after the September 2010 earthquake.  He held various roles in the earthquake recovery effort and is currently Chair of the Canterbury Museum Trust Board, and a member of the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Review Panel.

Nina Khouri is a lawyer with international mediation experience and teaches at the University of Auckland. She has spent considerable time in Christchurch during the last six years helping resolve earthquake insurance disputes.  She was involved in the design of the Greater Christchurch Claims Resolution Service and has served as a facilitator on its panel.

Sandra Manderson was New Zealand Police District Commander for Canterbury in 2002-2007. In 2007, Sandra was appointed International Liaison Officer to the Americas covering the United States, Canada and South and Central America. Following the February 2011 Canterbury earthquakes she returned to Christchurch to assist with police work in the aftermath of the disaster, then returned to Washington to complete her posting. She has served as elected member of the University of Canterbury Council and more recently she has run investigations as the Anti-Corruption Manager for the International Cricket Council.

Felicity Caird is a governance professional with nearly 20 years’ experience working with boards across all sectors (public, for-profit and not-for-profit). Her current governance roles include chairing the Racing Safety Development Fund Industry Working Group, and as an independent member on the boards of Racing New Zealand, Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ Inc, the Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association Inc and as an external member on the Porirua City Council Audit and Risk Committee.

The IOC webpage, containing additional information including communications and reports, can be found here.

The most recent IOC update to Policyholders can be found here.