Corporate Governance Statement Diversity Policy Diversity includes, but is not limited to, gender, age, ethnicity and  cultural background. The company is committed to diversity and  recognises the benefits arising from employee and board diversity and  the importance of benefiting from all available talent. A copy of the  company’s diversity policy is available on the Benitec website.  The diversity policy outlines the requirements for the Board to develop  measurable objectives for achieving diversity, and annually assess  both the objectives and the progress in achieving those objectives.  Accordingly, the Board has developed the following objectives  regarding gender diversity and aims to achieve these objectives over  the next few years as director and senior executive positions become  vacant and appropriately qualified candidates become available: “Compliance” refers to compliance with laws and regulations, internal  compliance guidelines, policies and procedures, and other prescribed  internal standards of behaviour. All other directors, the auditors and the Chief Financial Officer are  invited to attend Committee meetings. The Committee meets with the  auditors without management in attendance so that there can be open  and frank communication between the Committee and the auditor. The Committee has the power to conduct or authorise investigations  into, or consult independent experts on, any matters within the  Committee’s scope of responsibility.  The Committee also considers the independence of the auditor. The  Company requires that the audit partner be rotated every five years  and, on an annual basis, the auditor provides a certificate to the  Committee confirming their independence.  The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have certified  to the committee that the Group’s financial reports present a true and  fair view, in all material respects, of the Group’s financial condition  and operational results and are in accordance with relevant accounting  standards. PRINCIPLE 5  Make timely and balanced disclosure The Board is committed to inform its shareholders and the market  of any major events that influence the Company in a timely and  conscientious manner. The Board is responsible for ensuring that  the Company complies with the continuous disclosure requirements  as set out in ASX Listing Rule 3.1 and the Corporations Act 2001.  The Company’s Communication Protocols have been posted on the  Company’s website. Any market sensitive information is discussed by the Board before it  is approved to be released to the market. The Company’s procedure  is to lodge the information with the ASX and make it available on the  Company’s website shortly thereafter. All executives of the Company  have been made aware of the Company’s obligations with regard to  the continuous disclosure regime. The Board ensures that its shareholders are fully informed of matters  likely to be of interest to them. The Company provides all obligatory  information such as annual reports, half yearly reports and other ASX  required reports in accordance with the law and regulations. PRINCIPLE 6  Respect the rights of shareholders Notices of shareholders meetings, annual and extraordinary, are  distributed in a timely manner and are accompanied by all information  that the Company has obtained. The Company is always available to be contacted by shareholders  for any query that the shareholders may have. The queries can be  submitted by telephone, email or fax to the Company’s office.  The chairman encourages questions and comments at the AGM  ensuring that shareholders have a chance to obtain direct response  from the CEO and other appropriate Board members. The Company  requests that the auditors attend the AGM and are available to answer  any questions with regard to the conduct of the audit and their report. Benitec Biopharma Ltd  Annual Report 2014 Page 17 The main objective of the Committee is to assist the Board in  reviewing any matters of significance affecting financial reporting and  compliance of the consolidated entity including: •  exercising oversight of the accuracy and completeness of the  financial statements; •  making informed decisions regarding accounting and compliance  policies, practices, and disclosures; •  reviewing the scope and results of operational risk reviews,  compliance reviews, and external audits; and •  assessing the adequacy of the consolidated entity’s internal  control framework including accounting, compliance, and  operational risk management controls based on information  provided or obtained. The Committee is responsible for the appointment of the Company’s  auditors and has a formal charter, which is posted on the Company’s  website. The charter is reviewed annually to ensure that it is in line  with emerging market practices which are in the best interests of  shareholders. The members of the Committee have significant financial, business  and legal backgrounds, expertise and qualifications, full particulars of  which are contained in this annual report, as are details of meetings of  this Committee. The Board has established an Audit and Risk Committee which meets  at least twice through the year. Mr Iain Ross has been appointed to  chair the Committee and Mr Peter Francis is the other independent  director on the Committee. Dr Mel Bridges chaired the Audit and Risk  Committee until his retirement on 18 June 2014. PRINCIPLE 4  Safeguard integrity in financial reporting 2014 2015 2016 Women on the Board  -  -  - Women in senior management roles  3  4  5 Women employees in the company  5  6  6