Skip to main content
Become a Member
Become a Member

Board committees

Board committees

Audit & Finance Committee

The Audit & Finance Committee’s principal role is to ensure the integrity of financial reporting and internal controls, accounting policies and reporting procedures. They also oversee internal audit function and manage the audit relationship with the external auditors.

Committee Members:

  • Hari Panday – Chair
  • Jackie Beaurivage
  • Matt Davies
  • Lianne Hannaway
  • Gail Harding

Duties include:

  • Reviewing the financial statements, internal controls, financial information, accounting policies, reporting procedures and reporting systems of Meridian
  • Reviewing Meridian’s financial performance relative to key performance indicators
  • Ensuring the integrity of financial controls over financial reporting, including the disclosure of Meridian’s financial position, and material risks, in a timely, effective and transparent manner to Meridian’s Members and stakeholders
  • Ensuring procedures are in place for the receipt and resolution of complaints regarding accounting practices, internal controls, auditing matters or fraud
  • Overseeing Meridian’s annual budget, capital plan and multi-year financial projections
  • Overseeing internal and external audit processes and activities, including approval of its internal audit plans, and external audit plan and findings reports
  • Overseeing capital management processes and reporting
  • Ensuring the independence of the external auditors
  • Overseeing, recommending appointment, and ensuring the independence of Management of the Chief Audit Executive
  • Overseeing and recommending appointment of the Chief Financial Officer

Governance Committee

Meridian’s Governance Committee is responsible for creating and maintaining a healthy governance culture. They ensure that Members are assured of appropriate representation and governance structures, policies and procedures that reflect the industry’s current best practices.

Committee Members:

  • Stacey Grant-Thompson – Chair
  • Phil Armstrong
  • Upkar Arora
  • Matt Davies
  • Suanne Nielsen

Duties include:

  • Maintaining a healthy corporate governance culture, oversee corporate governance policies and satisfy itself that Meridian reflects its adopted cooperative principles
  • Overseeing the Board’s composition, Committee structure, and skills and expertise
  • Overseeing and approving delegations of authority by the Board
  • Assessing the effectiveness of Meridian’s Board, Board Committees and Board Committee Chairs
  • Overseeing the Board’s strategic planning process
  • Overseeing Meridian’s ESG Framework
  • Oversee individual and collective continuing education and development plans for Directors
  • Ensuring effective oversight of Meridian’s subsidiaries
  • Being accountable for the general content, objectives and guidelines of Meridian’s annual report
  • Overseeing activities associated with the Annual General Meeting and any Special Members’ Meetings

Human Resources Committee

Meridian’s Human Resources Committee is responsible for overseeing the HR policies and programs. They ensure that policies and programs are developed, implemented and adhered to by Management in support of business strategies. They also support Meridian employees, that they receive fair and meaningful employment in a safe and respectful workplace.

Committee Members:

  • Karen Farbridge – Chair
  • Upkar Arora
  • Jackie Beaurivage
  • Suanne Nielsen
  • Hari Panday

Duties include:

  • Overseeing talent, corporate culture, employee engagement and progress on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and reconciliation (DEIBR) efforts
  • Reviewing Meridian’s Code of Ethics, including whistleblower policy, and overseeing employee ethics and conduct themes
  • Overseeing the HR policies and programs to ensure that they are developed, implemented and adhered to by Management in support of Meridian’s business strategies
  • Overseeing the development, updating and monitoring of, remuneration programs, policies and practices regarding Director compensation
  • Overseeing the process for appointment of the CEO
  • Administering the review process of the CEO’s performance and compensation against established objectives
  • Overseeing and reviewing the Total Rewards Framework, including compensation and talent management plan for the Executive Leadership Team (CEO’s direct reports)
  • Overseeing the employee pension plan
  • Overseeing the development, updating and monitoring, of compensation plan design and programs for employees
  • Ensuring remuneration is aligned with prudent risk taking and aligned with Meridian’s risk profile
  • Overseeing the succession planning for the President & CEO and Executive Leadership Team

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee is responsible for overseeing the process of nominations including evaluation, selection and election processes for Board candidates.

Committee Members:

  • Betsey Chung – Chair
  • Larry Doran
  • Stacey Grant-Thompson
  • Lianne Hannaway
  • Suanne Nielsen

Duties include:

  • Overseeing the process for director nominations including evaluation, selection and recommendation of best qualified candidates for Meridian’s Board, including the determination of the Director Selection Criteria
  • Ensuring the integrity and quality of the nomination process
  • Assessing the adequacy of the candidate pool to ensure it addresses any identified gaps
  • Overseeing the Director election processes

Risk Committee

Meridian’s Risk Committee is responsible for ensuring processes for identifying, managing and monitoring critical risks within the credit union. They oversee Meridian’s credit risk management policies and FSRA standards and conduct all activities associated with Enterprise Risk Management including the establishment of a risk appetite framework, and oversight of the investment portfolio. In addition, the Committee is responsible for the review and approval of credit transactions for Meridian’s restricted parties.

Committee Members:

  • Gail Harding – Chair
  • Phil Armstrong
  • Betsey Chung
  • Larry Doran
  • Karen Farbridge
  • Suanne Nielsen

Duties include:

  • Ensuring a robust process for identifying, assessing, reporting, managing and monitoring Meridian’s critical and emerging risks
  • Ensuring that policy guidelines and systems are in place to ensure that enterprise risks are within approved risk appetite
  • Overseeing the establishment of a risk appetite framework
  • Providing strategic oversight to risk management policies and FSRA standards
  • Overseeing the adequacy of Meridian’s and its subsidiaries’ resources to conduct business, and protect Members, depositors and stakeholders
  • Reviewing significant investments to ensure soundness against Meridian’s financial position
  • Reviewing Meridian’s regulatory compliance and privacy matters
  • Reviewing and approving individual restricted party credit applications
  • Overseeing and recommending appointment of the Chief Risk Officer