Marion Cowden, FCA, of Wellington, has been appointed to the newly formed Independent Expert Oversight Advisory Committee (Audit Committee) of the World Health Organisation.

The committee's function is to provide independent advice to the director-general and the board on financial statements, financial reporting policy issues, internal controls, risk management and audit. The international committee has five members who are appointed for a term of four years.

Ms Cowden brings broad national and international experience as a chief financial officer and senior director in the public and private sectors in New Zealand and Australia and most recently at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, United Kingdom.

Ms Cowden has a Master of Business Administration with Distinction in corporate finance and international business, a Bachelor of Commerce in economics and a Bachelor of Science in pure and applied mathematics. She will travel to Geneva two or three times a year to perform her duties.