Dan Druzianic was appointed to the Hawke's Bay District Health Board for his financial acumen, but as chairman of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee he oversees much wider concerns.
The committee looks at "what if" risks, such as if tap water was unclean, as well as long-term strategic risks such as shifting demographics.
The committee also oversees internal audits on health board divisions "which tells us how well things are working".
"It is quite broad - it's not all about the numbers," he said.
The managing director of a chartered accountancy firm, if elected it will be his third term.