BoardPro Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Get on Board
A series of podcasts designed to demystify the world of business governance bringing practical advice and tips for organizations to improve their operational effectiveness.
Many new Directors meet formal requirements yet struggle in their first year, often lacking confidence, practical boardroom fluency, and judgement.
This webinar addresses the critical onboarding gap that leads to silence, overreach, and uneven contribution, helping Boards unlock capability, reduce friction, and improve early Director effectiveness from day one.
Developed from many thousands of interviews with chairs, directors and CEOs, these techniques support directors across their first 12 months on a board. It will provide insight into how boards actually operate, how decisions are shaped, and how directors can add real strategic value without overstepping into management.
Rapid change, evolving member expectations, and constant data streams are challenging traditional board decision-making.
Boards today are expected to respond more quickly than ever while navigating economic uncertainty, technological disruption, changing regulation, workforce pressures, and increasing stakeholder scrutiny. At the same time, directors are faced with more information than ever before, making it harder to separate what is important from what is simply urgent.
High-performing boards don't just react to change; they build the capability to anticipate it, adapt with confidence, and make decisions that remain aligned to long-term strategy. That requires strong governance practices, disciplined decision-making, and a clear understanding of where the board adds the greatest value.
This webinar helps directors assess their board's readiness to govern in a fast-changing environment and strengthen decision-making practices that improve resilience, focus, and strategic confidence amid ongoing uncertainty. You'll explore practical approaches to navigating complexity, avoiding common decision-making pitfalls, and creating the conditions for better board discussions, stronger oversight, and more confident governance.
If your organisation's differentiator sounds like one of these….
- We are committed to stakeholder success
- We are here for our community
- We are a different kind of business
- ….it might be time for a refresh.
A clear and compelling differentiator is more than a statement - it’s a strategic asset. It aligns organisational strategy, sharpens board and executive decision-making, and drives performance that delivers measurable impact.
In this interactive session we’ll explore how a well-defined strategic differentiator becomes the foundation for strategic clarity, confident leadership, and high-performing boards.
Discover how to build the board's capacity for tension tolerance — the ability to sit with discomfort, hold competing views, and let healthy debate run its course rather than rushing to premature consensus.
This session equips directors with practical tools to recognise when productive friction is being suppressed, to keep robust disagreement constructive, and to draw out the diverse perspectives that strengthen collective decision-making — all without compromising the trust, respect, or cohesion that hold an effective board together
Make every board invitation count. This webinar shows you how to present with the clarity, evidence and strategic insight directors need—to accelerate decisions, illuminate performance and provoke the right conversations.
Turn a board presentation into influence. Discover how to meet directors’ needs with concise evidence, actionable insight and strategic framing that drives better decisions and richer discussion.
Learn how to speed and improve board decision-making, surfacing the right data and insight, sparking strategic discussion, and shaping outcomes.
The BoardPro AI Governance Pulse surveyed 485 board directors, executives, and governance leaders across Australia and New Zealand, revealing a rapidly widening gap between how quickly AI is being adopted inside organisations and how slowly governance frameworks, policies, and oversight practices are evolving to keep pace. While many leaders acknowledge the transformative potential of AI, the findings highlight growing concerns around risk visibility, board capability, accountability, and the absence of clear governance structures to guide safe and responsible deployment.
Join governance and AI experts Helen van Orton and Alexie O'Brien as they unpack the key findings from the survey, explore what high-performing organisations are doing differently, and provide a practical, step-by-step action plan that boards and leadership teams can begin implementing immediately. If your organisation is struggling to move from AI discussion to effective AI governance and execution, this webinar will help you turn insight into action starting this Monday.
Lucy Byrne has had the opportunity to sit on a wide range of boards, big and small, governance and regulatory, some amazing and some… not so amazing. She’s seen board packs that run to 2,000 pages and others where decisions are made on a whim.
Governance itself is mostly common sense, right? don’t go broke, manage the CEO, handle conflicts etc etc...
Where it gets tricky is when you add humans! Different personalities, expectations, experiences, and communication styles all come together, and that’s where boards either strengthen or struggle.
Through all of Lucy’s experience one thing has become clear: the culture around the board table and understanding of governance processes is what truly determines whether a board thrives and that’s why governance training needs to be accessible, achievable, and actionable. No jargon. No overwhelm. Just practical tools people can actually use.
In this webinar, Lucy will introduce her 5-Step Healthy Governance Framework ™, a simple, people-centered model shaped by real board experience and continuous learning:
- Acknowledge Attributes
- Understand Obligations
- Contemplate Carefully
- Operate as a Collective
- Review, Reflect, Renew
This 45-minute webinar offers a down-to-earth, achievable way to strengthen governance — helping your board operate with clarity, confidence and a shared sense of purpose.
Most organisations treat risk as a compliance exercise, something to monitor, report, and minimise.
But what if that mindset is holding back real strategic value?
In this webinar, we challenge the traditional view of risk and explore how Boards and executives can reframe it as a driver of innovation, opportunity, and competitive advantage. Drawing on leading-edge governance practices, you’ll discover how to shift risk from a passive reporting function into an active strategic conversation, one that uncovers hidden opportunities, informs better decision-making, and even creates new revenue pathways.
If you’re ready to move beyond box-ticking and start using risk as a tool to shape the future, this session will show you how.
Many new Directors meet formal requirements yet struggle in their first year, often lacking confidence, practical boardroom fluency, and judgement.
This webinar addresses the critical onboarding gap that leads to silence, overreach, and uneven contribution, helping Boards unlock capability, reduce friction, and improve early Director effectiveness from day one.
Developed from many thousands of interviews with chairs, directors and CEOs, these techniques support directors across their first 12 months on a board. It will provide insight into how boards actually operate, how decisions are shaped, and how directors can add real strategic value without overstepping into management.
Most boards now recognise that psychosocial risks matter. The challenge is knowing what to look for – and what to do – when the signals aren't clear.
Unlike physical hazards, these risks don't sit neatly in one place. They show up in patterns, behaviours, and relationships, and often only become visible once harm has already occurred.
In this follow up session to More Than Safety Posters, we'll revisit why psychosocial risk is inherently complex and what that means for governance in practice.
Whether you're on a board or in a leadership role, this webinar will help you recognise and interpret early warning signs, and take practical steps to improve your governance approach
Should not-for-profit boards pay their directors? It’s a question we are hearing more than ever.
With rising living costs, is volunteering becoming a privilege only some can afford? Could paying directors improve diversity, inclusion, and the skills around the table, or would it change the culture of volunteering altogether?
Why come along? In this 45-minute webinar, we’ll explore the key questions boards are grappling with:
- Fees, honorariums, or simple reimbursement?
- How cost-of-living pressures shape who can serve
- What funders and stakeholders might think
- And whether payment strengthens or strains good governance
If this is a conversation your board needs to have, or you’re unsure how to navigate it, join us on this webinar for a practical, thoughtful discussion.
The journey to the Boardroom is a strategic roadmap, not a game of chance; by starting on the right foot and mastering the specific steps Boards expect, you can navigate your path further and faster.
Stop guessing your way to the Boardroom. Learn the essential steps to start your Director journey on the right foot and move further, faster toward your first appointment.
The path to your first board role often feels like a maze that you’re trying to navigate in the dark, but it doesn't have to be. This webinar provides the clear roadmap you need to navigate the journey to the Boardroom with confidence. We will break down the specific steps required to move further, faster, while revealing exactly what Boards are searching for in candidates today. Join us to ensure you're starting on the right foot and building a journey that leads you directly to the Boardroom table
Board meetings shouldn’t feel rushed, reactive, or unfinished.
Yet too often, valuable time is consumed by routine reporting, minor updates, and items that don’t require full discussion. The result? Strategic conversations get squeezed, decisions feel hurried, and meetings run over time.
The consent agenda is a simple but powerful governance tool that changes that dynamic.
By grouping routine or non-controversial items into a single approval motion, boards can:
✔️ Protect time for meaningful debate
✔️ Reduce unnecessary repetition
✔️ Improve the quality of decision-making
✔️ Finish meetings on time — without rushing critical issues
When used well, a consent agenda doesn’t silence discussion — it sharpens it. Directors still have the opportunity to “lift” any item for deeper consideration. The difference is that attention is directed where it truly matters.
Imagine board meetings where:
• Strategic issues receive the focus they deserve
• Directors feel heard and confident in decisions
• Agendas flow logically and efficiently
• The meeting ends on schedule
This free webinar will show you how to implement a consent agenda practically and confidently — so your board spends less time managing the clock and more time shaping the future.
If your meetings regularly run over, this is a conversation worth having.
Most directors know AI matters. The challenge? Convincing your Chair and peers to prioritise it now, not “someday.” That’s what this session delivers.
Every director knows AI is coming—but few know how to push it onto the agenda. Boards dismiss it as premature, irrelevant, or a management issue. This webinar equips you with a persuasion toolkit: five compelling arguments, tested rebuttals to objections, and a practical next step. In half an hour, you’ll leave ready to frame AI as a governance necessity, not a tech distraction—ensuring your board takes action before competitors, regulators, or crises force it.
This isn’t about turning directors into AI experts—it’s about equipping them to persuade. With five tested arguments and objection handling, participants gain a clear pathway to move hesitant boards into meaningful AI discussions.
Are you navigating tensions, differing perspectives and competing priorities around your board table? This webinar will help you distinguish healthy challenge from harmful conflict, and create the conditions for robust, respectful debate that strengthens governance.
You will gain practical tools for managing unproductive behaviours, addressing personal tensions and encouraging the kind of challenge that improves decision-making.
Whether you’re a chair, director or executive, this session will equip you to turn conflict into a strategic asset and build a board culture where disagreement leads to clarity rather than division.
Scheduling a board meeting can feel like a Herculean task, especially when you're racing against the clock to finalise decisions or wrap up tasks that were sidelined in previous meetings due to time constraints.
An annual board work plan can enhance your governance strategy and streamline board operations. A meticulously crafted board calendar is crucial for ensuring that meetings are balanced, comprehensive, and smoothly executed.
Tailored to fit the unique needs and evolution of your organisation, the annual plan facilitates effective governance by offering a clear roadmap of responsibilities and key focus areas for the year.
Not only does it empower board members to align personal schedules with their board duties, but it also minimises repetitive discussions and ensures all tasks are thoughtfully addressed. Drive strategic progress and organisational success with this indispensable planning resource.
Join us for this free webinar and discover how the board annual work plan can elevate and streamline your board discussions.
Learn from three of Australasia's top governance professionals and why the preparation of board minutes is a vital component of directors’ responsibilities and what good minutes contain.
Includes: Bonus minute taking guide, and minutes template for attendees.
Are you taking the preparation of your minutes seriously and do you know why you should?
Inquiries into organisational misdeeds and collapses invariably point to the shortcoming in board meeting minutes that might otherwise have explained and justified the decisions directors had taken. That scenario underlines only one of the reasons for the importance of having a thorough record of the board’s deliberations.
Join our webinar to discover how meticulous board meeting minutes can safeguard your organisation and ensure transparency in critical decision-making processes. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your governance standards!
Time is running out to re-register by April 2026 under the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022. Join us for this practical webinar.
We will guide you on the new compliance obligations your society must meet, including updates to governance structures, officer duties, constitutional requirements, and how this may impact operational activities.
Whether you're part of a sports club, cultural group, community organisation or any other member based association, the webinar will help you understand what’s changing, what’s required, and how to prepare with confidence.
Learn how to run a half-day strategy review that is focused and strategic with some of Australasia's leading experts in business strategic planning and governance.
No plan survives contact with reality
The best strategy is one where there is a fearless discussion with directors and senior executives about what's not working and what we have missed.
Join us for insights on to how to use each Board meeting as a mini review of the strategic plan and strengthen the strategic focus of the Board (and possibly making your Board meetings shorter). And techniques for an annual review (also short and focused with the Board and senior executive) which can be both an opportunity to reflect on the strategies, and a great induction opportunity for new Directors.
Learn how to develop and structure a strategic vision and board agenda that keeps the board focused on the important matters during the meeting.
Focus only on those strategic items that matter
Do your meetings tend to get unfocused or off-track, or are they a sound use of time, focusing on strategic items that move your organisation forward?
Provide your directors with clarity on what they should do with each paper, and reduce the amount of time wasted on ineffectual discussions.
Resources include a strategic board meeting guide and a strategic agenda template
In this focused webinar, Giselle is joined by internationally recognised governance specialists Steven Bowman, and Julie Garland McLellan for a grounded and insightful conversation about exceptional chairing.
Together, they’ll unpack the behaviours, processes, and roles of highly effective chairs – drawing on decades of board experience across sectors. You’ll hear what great chairs do differently, how they create the conditions for productive meetings, and why the role is so central to board performance and culture.
If you’re curious about developing your chairing capacity or want a taste of the frameworks and tools included in the full courses, this is the perfect place to start.
What You’ll Learn in This Free Webinar
Attending this webinar will give you practical insights into what makes an exceptional chair. This will help you to:
- Lead meeting with greater clarity, confidence, and control.
- Build stronger relationships with your board and executive team.
- Handle challenging dynamics with composure and fairness.
- Lift your board’s overall performance and culture
Effective directors benefit from understanding 'the art and science of influencing', inside and outside of the boardroom. Explore how you can increase your impact and contribute to better organisational outcomes.
Board members and senior leaders of today must manage power dynamics, geopolitical risks, and economic uncertainty. This webinar covers effective stakeholder influence and negotiation amid changing alliances, trade issues, and regulations. With expert and participant insights, plus real-world case studies, this 45-minute introductory session focuses on:
- the impact of improved preparation
- using a multi-scenario negotiation approach
- building credibility individually and organisationally
- applying reception psychology to conflict management and decision-making
- validating and understanding your negotiation style
- finding actionable strategies for personal growth
Directors don’t emerge from a pristine vacuum. They have lives with relationships, ownership of assets, and contractual duties which impact their ability to focus solely on the long-term best interests of your company. Any interest can become a conflict of interest — and even perceived conflicts can undermine trust, decision-making, and board confidence if they’re not handled well. Left unmanaged, small issues can quickly escalate into governance risks, reputational damage, or strained relationships around the board table. Proactive and transparent management is essential to maintaining integrity and protecting the organisation’s credibility.
This webinar will give you the practical tools, tips, and templates to successfully manage your board’s conflicts of interest, strengthen transparency, and ensure your governance processes support clarity, fairness, and strong decision-making. You’ll learn how to identify different types of conflicts, how to document and declare them, and how to create a consistent framework that supports both compliance and good culture.
See how BoardPro can quickly and efficiently manage your board and executive declared conflicts of interest and have these easily available for review at any time, ensuring your board can act with confidence, clarity, and complete transparency.
This webinar will help Directors and governance executives in organisations of all types understand Board Fees: Who? Why? What? and How Much?
The convergence of regulatory, governance and data issues can be tricky – this webinar will help you make board fee management into a positive attribute, not a risk factor!
This webinar will help you better navigate the spectrum of issues around board fees and, in particular, to understand issues relating to the quantum ($) of fees.
The webinar will be helpful whether your organisation has been paying fees for years or whether you are still considering whether to pay fees.
If you are a director, you need to be aware of how to:
- Raise issues around Board fees without seeming self-serving, and while being sensitive to the culture of the organisation, especially if it is NFP.
- Make board fees a natural part of the organisation strategy, structure and culture (not an embarrassing issue that is avoided)
- Be confident about market norms and the possible approaches related to Board fees, and how to select the right mix for your organisation
- Understand stakeholder issues, perceptions and concerns regarding Board fees
Not every health and safety risk is visible. Many of the most damaging ones show up in how people lead, work, and interact.
Most boards take health and safety seriously when it comes to physical risks, but it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to measuring, monitoring, and reducing mental harm.
Join us to explore what psychosocial risk is, how it differs from psychological safety, and what good governance looks like when the risks come from culture, workload, or behaviour rather than the physical environment or tools.
Whether you're on a board or in a leadership role, this webinar will help you understand, manage and govern one of the least visible – and most critical – areas of risk.
Learn the fine art of CEO reporting to the board in four simple steps in 45 minutes from industry and governance experts.
A well-crafted CEO report is more than an update—it’s your most powerful communication tool. The best reports don’t just inform the board; they align directors around priorities, highlight risks, and spark meaningful discussion about the future. Whether you’re leading a nonprofit, small business, or growing enterprise, the right structure helps transform data into insight and insight into action.
What You’ll Learn in This Free Webinar
In just 45 minutes, you’ll learn:
- How to structure your CEO report for clarity, focus, and impact.
- Which key metrics and insights boards value most.
- How to balance operational detail with strategic foresight.
- Tips from governance experts on writing concise, high-trust summaries that keep your board engaged.
Are you struggling to balance the competing interests and priorities of your Board and management? This webinar will teach you the keys to success. We'll explore how factors like your organisation's size and crises are influencing and impacting the line between governance and management, and how you can align expectations for high performance.
1. Clarify the Governance–Management Boundary
Help you understand the often-blurred line between governance and management, especially in contexts where organisational size, complexity, or external pressures create tension.
2. Explore the Impact of Organisational Context
Examine how factors such as the size of the organisation and the presence of crises influence the roles, responsibilities, and boundaries between board and management.
3. Align Expectations for High Performance
Provide strategies to align the expectations of both the board and management so they can work together effectively toward shared goals.
4. Equip Leaders with Practical Tools
Offer practical insights and frameworks that directors, chairs, and executives can use to balance competing priorities and foster constructive collaboration.
Join us for an engaging session designed for directors and executives ready to lead on the Social pillar of ESG. Discover practical frameworks, governance tools, and real-world examples to strengthen accountability, manage risk, and spot opportunities. Learn how investor expectations, regulatory shifts, and global standards are raising the bar - and how integrating social considerations into governance can drive both impact and long-term value and support effective decision-making.
Whether you're a board member, executive, or team leader, this webinar will empower you to turn the S of ESG into opportunities for growth and strategic alignment.
Objectives:
- Gain board-ready insights on how to integrate the Social (“S”) pillar.
- Understand investor and regulatory expectations shaping the future of ESG.
- Access practical frameworks and real-world examples.
- Identify opportunities for competitive advantage.
- Equip your board to lead with transparency, ethics, and impact.
What's making your sweat?
Are you facing complex questions around strategy, governance or AI? How about risk and resilience, culture, or representation? In this session we’ll address the stickiest issues facing each of these areas, as voted by you, on the day.
To surface the biggest challenges, we’ll use 'Group Wisdom', a technique developed by Peakbalance to take your collective input on the fly. It’s instant, anonymous and will allow us to address the ‘unspeakable’ things.
We’ll then turn to the mighty Julie Garland McLellan, CEO of The Directors Dilemma to share her insights into tackling these most vexing of issues.
If you’re wondering where the real challenges are likely to lay in your governance journey, this is a webinar not to be missed. Your perspective will be captured in real time and we can’t wait to see what is (really) challenging boards in the year ahead.
Join us for a sharp and insightful 45-minutes webinar exploring the foundations of good governance through a global lens. We’ll unpack international governance standards, examine real-world events from around the globle, and consider how these lessons can lift the effectiveness of boards here in New Zealand and Australia.
Whether you’re a trustee, director, or chair, this session will help you:
- Understand how key governance principles are defined around the world.
- Gain practical tools to improve compliance, leadership, and board culture.
- Reflect on your own role and responsibilities in light of global best practice.
Led by governance expert Tracey Cross and joined by international panellists Miranda Flury and Steve Bowman, this webinar offers an opportunity to benchmark, reflect, and reframe how we do governance – locally and globally.
Sometimes boards behave badly.
Unhelpful dynamics, disruptive behaviours, or misplaced priorities can derail the best of intentions in the boardroom. At times, these issues stem from a simple lack of guidance and support. At other times, even with clear expectations and resources in place, challenges persist.
That’s where leadership must step up. The Chair, Company Secretary, or CEO often play a critical role in setting the tone, managing expectations, and addressing behaviour head-on. Doing so not only protects the integrity of the board’s work but also safeguards the organisation’s reputation.
This webinar will explore practical strategies for recognising when a board is veering off track—and how to course-correct effectively. You’ll gain insight into proven techniques to:
- Manage difficult personalities while maintaining professionalism.
- Re-establish standards of conduct and accountability.
- Support constructive, value-adding dialogue at the board table.
- Protect the reputation of both the board and the organisation.
Whether you’re a seasoned chair, an experienced company secretary, or an executive navigating these challenges for the first time, this session will provide the clarity and tools you need to ensure your board stays focused, productive, and respected.
Practical Tools for Directors of Sports Associations & Clubs
Join our Sports Governance Essentials webinars to gain practical knowledge and insights for running your sports organisation and leading effectively and with confidence. Perfect for all directors: starting out, seasoned or aspiring.
Are you on the board and leading a large sports body or a small local club? These Sports Governance Essentials webinars are packed with practical tips and tools for directors of all levels. We’ll cover how to run productive meetings, the key responsibilities of directors, and how to use board papers to drive informed decisions.
We’ll also dive into crucial topics like understanding your constitution, managing conflicts of interest, and ensuring legal compliance—all in a clear, easy-to-follow way. Plus, we’ll provide key strategies for chairing meetings productively, so the balance between strategy and operations is properly managed. For those of you more experienced come along as you never know what gem may be dropped; governance learning never stops! Questions are very welcome throughout the sessions, giving you the chance to get the answers you need.
Join us to explore what rising leaders expect, with a particular focus on Digital Fluency, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Transparency, and Real-time access. Learn how mentoring can advance the next wave of Not for Profit (NFP) board members, and how tools like BoardPro are reshaping onboarding and induction to meet the pace of modern governance.
This webinar will help boards understand how to attract, engage, and support the next generation of directors by aligning governance practices with evolving expectations.
Think your AI project is just about tech? Think again. This session uncovers the human implications and blind spots boards overlook but can no longer afford to ignore.
From biased hiring tools to disappearing entry-level roles, AI is already reshaping who gets hired, who thrives, and who leads next. Shadow AI use is bypassing governance, widening inequality, and introducing costly security risks, often without board visibility. Women, early-career talent, and underrepresented groups face disproportionate displacement. This webinar is about sharpening awareness - you’ll leave with the right questions to ask, early warning signs to watch, and a clearer understanding of the workforce changes quietly taking shape under your leadership.
Who should attend?
This webinar is essential for board members, CEOs, senior executives, and governance leaders who want to understand the hidden workforce and governance risks AI is creating in their organisations.
Learn how to identify the right culture for your strategy and how to grow that into a great culture that “lives” within your organisation and drives successful performance.
We are all currently operating in an environment of significant change, however how many of us are reviewing our organisational culture to ensure it is still aligned to our Strategy and fit for purpose. This webinar will assist you to ensure a common understanding of what culture is and how to identify a culture that drives organisational success.
This webinar is aimed at board members, CEOs, senior management and anyone who has accountability for organisational Culture.
Learn how to integrate foresight tools into your Strategy development process to provide a clearer picture of how future possibilities may unfold and how your organisation may need to adapt to be successful.
This webinar unbundles the key steps to developing a Strategy using the tools of foresight to better inform Strategic Priorities and long term plans.
- Understand the components of Strategy according to the International Standard ISO37000
- Learn how to identify the signals of the future that exist today
- Learn how to identify the drivers of change that are impacting on your operating environment
- Learn how to use these futuring tools to inform your Strategy development process, including identifying opportunities and risks.
This webinar is aimed at board members, CEOs, senior management and anyone who has accountability for organisational Strategy.
Join us for a two-part webinar series on the Incorporated Societies Act 2022—the most significant reform of New Zealand society law in over a century.
These sessions will guide you through the key changes and new compliance obligations your society must meet, including updates to governance structures, officer duties, constitutional requirements, financial reporting and how this may impact operational activities.
You'll learn why re-registration before the April 2026 deadline is critical, the risks of inaction, and how to practically update your constitution and operational practices. Whether you're part of a sports club, cultural group, community organisation or any other member based association, these two webinars will help you understand what’s changing, what’s required, and how to prepare with confidence
Practical insights on board effectiveness, director remuneration, and governance best practice – grounded in data, and designed for today’s board challenges.
Is your board aligned, effective, and paying directors fairly?
Join Governance Expert, Giselle McLachlan and Strategic Pay’s Michelle Read for an evidence-backed session on how boards across New Zealand and Australia should be paying and performing in the boardroom. This practical, engaging webinar explores the latest governance and director remuneration insights to help your board plan, pay and perform with purpose.
We’ll cover:
- Trends and insights for director remuneration
- Best practice for board evaluations, skills matrices, and succession planning
- The role of the Chair in setting tone, performance expectations, and pay discussions
Perfect for directors, executives, and governance professionals wanting to lift boardroom practice and ensure governance processes are future fit.
Join us for a two-part webinar series on the Incorporated Societies Act 2022—the most significant reform of New Zealand society law in over a century.
These sessions will guide you through the key changes and new compliance obligations your society must meet, including updates to governance structures, officer duties, constitutional requirements, financial reporting and how this may impact operational activities.
You'll learn why re-registration before the April 2026 deadline is critical, the risks of inaction, and how to practically update your constitution and operational practices. Whether you're part of a sports club, cultural group, community organisation or any other member based association, these two webinars will help you understand what’s changing, what’s required, and how to prepare with confidence.
Strategic thinking is about shifting from oversight to foresight—shaping the future, not just managing the present. By asking sharper questions, fostering strategic awareness, and unlocking new possibilities, boards can drive lasting impact for the communities they serve.
Join us for 45 minutes of insights, practical tools and easy-to-implement techniques aimed squarely at helping Directors think strategically. From personally being strategic, cultivating your strategic mindset, techniques you can use even when everyone around you is in the weeds, through to the latest strategies in designing Board agendas, Board papers and shaping Board discussions. For CEOs, Executive leadership teams, new Directors, and experienced Chairs.
What does it really mean to be a director?
This clear, practical session explains your personal responsibilities, legal duties and what good directors know—and do—before, during, and after meetings.
Whether you're a new director or have years of board experience, it's always important to understand, know and remember what being a director means when it comes to duties, roles and responsibilities. This session is a straightforward look at what the law expects, how responsibility sits with you as an individual, and the difference between staying in your lane and overstepping.
We’ll cover key principles of good governance, risks to be aware of, and how to think clearly about your role—especially given that no situation will ever occur twice and your decisions will depend on facts, circumstances and your knowledge of your role. If you want to contribute with confidence, this is the place to start.
AI risk isn’t theoretical—it’s happening now.
Learn how boards across Australia and New Zealand are building fluency, oversight, and safeguards to steer their organisations through the AI era with confidence.
With 76% of companies already using AI—including 69% deploying generative AI—the risks are real, and the responsibilities are rising. Directors are now expected to foresee and govern the ethical, legal, and strategic impacts of AI.
In this session, we’ll unpack the evolving regulatory landscape, share practical tools to map AI use across your organisation, and explore how leading boards are managing shadow AI, black box decisions, and compliance threats. If you’re a Chair, Director or executive leader, this is your briefing on how to govern AI risk without outsourcing your judgement.
Governance lives in the grey zone—especially when it comes to the board’s role in Human Resources (HR) oversight. Join us to explore how boards can navigate this space with clarity and alignment. Discover how HR oversight can be interpreted—and applied—in ways that best serve your board’s unique context.
In this timely and practical webinar, we’ll explore how boards can bring clarity and alignment to their oversight of Human Resources. You’ll learn how to navigate the grey areas, establish appropriate boundaries, and ensure your governance approach supports both organisational strategy and workforce wellbeing.
What you’ll take away:
- A clearer understanding of the board’s responsibilities in HR matters
- Practical guidance for navigating areas like executive performance, succession, culture, and workforce risk
- Tools to align your HR oversight with your board’s purpose, structure, and risk appetite
Whether you're a board member, chair, or executive working closely with the board, this session will equip you with insights to govern with confidence in one of the most nuanced areas of board responsibility.
Governance lives in the grey zone—where strategy and risk meet oversight. Join us to explore how boards can navigate this space with clarity and alignment. Discover how strategic and risk oversight can be interpreted—and applied—in ways that best serve your board’s unique context.
Governance doesn’t happen in black and white. It lives in the grey zone—where strategic direction and risk oversight intersect. This space is complex, often unclear, and highly dependent on your board’s unique context.
In this practical and thought-provoking session, we’ll unpack how boards can navigate the grey zone with clarity, alignment, and confidence. You’ll learn how to interpret and apply strategic and risk oversight in ways that support sound decision-making and forward momentum.
Join us to explore:
- What the “governance grey zone” really means—and why it matters
- How boards can balance strategic opportunity with risk mitigation
- Practical tools to align your oversight with your organisation’s purpose and priorities
Whether you’re a director, chair, or executive supporting the board, this webinar will sharpen your understanding of governance at the intersection of strategy and risk—and help your board lead more effectively in uncertain times
What are your obligations as a business owner, and how do you know if you are actually compliant? Even with a small team or limited resources, there are simple tools you can use to create accountability and protect your business. This webinar will show you how to build a fit for purpose compliance programme that works.
Who should attend?
If you’re a leader in a small or medium-sized business, compliance can feel overwhelming, expensive, or like something only big corporates need to worry about. But the truth is, the risks are real—and so are the opportunities to get it right without over-engineering your approach.
This webinar will show you how to build a compliance program that’s fit-for-purpose: practical, cost-effective, and aligned with the size and stage of your business. You’ll walk away with clarity, confidence, and a toolkit you can apply immediately to protect your business, your reputation, and your future growth. If you’re unsure where to start—or worried you’re missing something—this session is for you.
AI doesn’t replace your expertise, it sharpens it. Learn how to use AI to cut through noise, highlight key insights, and walk into your next board meeting ready to ask the questions that matter.
"With 55% of board packs over 200 pages" (AICD), directors have limited time and little signal in the noise. AI can help you focus on what matters and show up sharper than ever.
Most directors and executives spend hours preparing for board meetings only to get lost in hundreds of pages of reports.
But what if AI could help you prep faster and smarter? This webinar shows how leaders are using AI to summarise complex board materials, and explore new insights to shape better questions, without compromising confidentiality.
You’ll see how to save time, sharpen your focus, and ask better questions that drive real outcomes. Whether you’re an executive reporting to the board or a director seeking clarity, this session is your shortcut to smarter board prep.
What Every Board Director Needs to Know Before Letting AI Into the Boardroom
AI is already supporting admin tasks across organisations - but board minutes? That’s governance territory. In this session, we reveal how boards are experimenting with AI, what risks are emerging, and how to trial smartly, without sacrificing trust or accountability.
Minutes are not just meeting notes, they’re legal records, strategic artifacts, and potential liabilities. As AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, Fireflies, and Otter slip into board workflows, many directors are starting to ask the question: Are we gaining efficiency, or risking everything?
What You’ll Learn
- The real opportunities AI brings to board admin
- The silent risks hiding in AI-generated transcripts and drafts
- How AI could impact confidentiality, legal privilege, and discoverability
- Why minute-taking ≠ transcription and what boards must protect
In a world dominated by rapid change, fear and increasing uncertainty. Decisions on Cyber Security are difficult. Stakeholders and customers are intolerant of mistakes and vendors are focused on ‘monetising anxiety’. The use of AI in both attack and defence is increasing the complexity of decision making.
This webinar will focus on how to develop an Adaptive Cyber Security Strategy for your organisation and will include:
- The role of the board in cyber security governance
- Creating resilience in the face of constant change
- Shifting form reactive to proactive operations
- Moving beyond compliance to threat informed decision making
- Workforce readiness and business first focus
We will use recent examples of our work (AGLX) and cases from other organisations to illustrate our points and will provide the ‘Adaptive Cyber Security Guide’ to participants at the end of the session.
Great governance depends on more than structure, it hinges on strong relationships, clarity, and trust. When boards and executive teams are aligned, organisations move with purpose and confidence. When roles blur, the friction can slow everything down.
In this practical and insightful session, we’ll explore how boards and management can strengthen collaboration through clearer roles, better communication, and a shared focus on purpose. We’ll focus on the critical relationships especially between the Chair and Chief Executive, and how mutual respect and alignment can drive better outcomes for everyone.
Whether you’re a director, executive, or work closely with both, this webinar will give you tools and insights to improve the dynamics at the board table
Sometimes, boards struggle to find the right balance—either glossing over crucial details in pursuit of the ‘big picture’ or getting lost in the weeds of operational minutiae, missing the strategic forest for the trees.
This webinar will show you how to write board reports that bring clarity, direction, and focus to your boardroom conversations. You’ll learn how to highlight what truly matters, frame information for strategic discussion, and support informed decision-making without overwhelming your board with unnecessary detail.
Whether you’re preparing reports for governance, strategy, or performance, this session will help you elevate your reporting to ensure the board stays focused, aligned, and engaged with the issues that really count.
Chairing a board committee is more than just managing meetings—it’s about leadership, clarity, and impact. A well-run committee enhances board efficiency, sharpens decision-making, and ensures critical issues receive the focus they deserve. But what makes an effective committee chair?
Join Giselle McLachlan, Lynda Carroll, and Fiona McKenzie as they unpack best practices for leading with confidence, fostering productive discussions, and managing board dynamics effectively. Whether you're a seasoned chair or stepping into the role for the first time, this session will equip you with the insights and tools to drive stronger governance outcomes.
Tips for transitioning to a board portal
Is your board still relying on paper-based processes or scattered digital files? Transitioning to a board portal can streamline governance, enhance security, and improve board efficiency—but where do you start? Join us for this insightful webinar as we break down the key steps to successfully moving to board management software.
Learn best practices, avoid common pitfalls, and discover how a well-structured transition can save time and simplify board administration. Whether you're exploring your options or ready to make the shift, this session will provide the guidance you need.
The unsung powerhouse of governance
Behind every high-performing board is a Company Secretary who ensures seamless governance, regulatory compliance, and strategic alignment. As the trusted adviser to directors, the Company Secretary holds a unique position—balancing corporate authority, ethical integrity, and practical judgement to navigate complex governance landscapes.
Whether in a listed company, a not-for-profit, or a government entity, this role is far more than just administrative; it is pivotal in shaping decision-making, mitigating risks, and upholding the organisation’s reputation. However, with great influence comes potential for conflict—demanding discretion, diplomacy, and deep technical expertise.
Join us as we explore the multifaceted responsibilities of the Company Secretary and uncover how this role can elevate board effectiveness, enhance corporate governance, and steer the organisation towards long-term success.
Join us as we explore how directors can support work to be the means for people to realise their potential and do great things.
Success with your organisational goals is entirely dependent on the performance of your people. Learn how boards can enable improved management practices and set expectations around work design and organisational culture. This can support increased wellbeing, innovation and productivity, in addition to reducing worker burnout and unwanted turnover.
Workplace practices can also have a positive impact on wellbeing well beyond the workplace, ultimately making our communities more resilient and contributing to society’s psychosocial health and prosperity
Discover how AI enhances boards to gain innovative strategic insights and productivity tools to meet governance challenges and improve decision making and transformative opportunities.
AI enables boards to concentrate on value-added activities by automating tasks and enhancing decision-making. Join us to learn how to implement practical use cases of AI, such as custom AI tools and personas that will boost your productivity and help you guarantee future-ready governance.
You will learn how AI integration strategies enable boards to embrace innovation, improve efficiency, and navigate challenges in a rapidly changing governance environment. You will get actionable tips on developing AI policies and overcoming the challenges of implementing them to ensure smooth board integration
Story is the thread. It connects everything.
Shared knowledge drives the success of our species. The capacity to build and believe in abstract thought is our defining characteristic:
We communicate in story. We view the world through default narratives. We need to believe. Strong, consistent stories bind our organisations. Our purpose or just cause, well told, will bring us closer to and connects us with our stakeholders.
Outside your organisation people form their own stories about you and your activities. You can contribute both positively and negatively to that narrative. Certainly, you should not let others frame your story for you without a coherent attempt to influence its direction.
But remember there are two sides to every story and that a story only has meaning from the perspective of the recipient not the teller.
Take a moment to reflect on how your organisation’s story is being told, received, and understood—by attending our free webinar this month.
Effective crisis management starts long before a crisis hits. Boards play a critical role in this. With a fiduciary duty and responsibility to protect the interests of shareholders, effective crisis response is a critical part of the board’s mandate to oversee good governance and management of risk. It is one part of the board’s normal assessment of the ongoing viability and sustainability of its business.
Boards must be equipped to lead with foresight, agility, and strategic clarity. This webinar offers an invaluable opportunity to enhance your governance toolkit and deepen your understanding of effective crisis management and strategic oversight. Whether you’re a board member, chair, or senior executive, you’ll gain actionable insights to help you:
- Strengthen your governance skills: Learn how to anticipate risks and ensure your board is prepared for the unexpected.
- Enhance decision-making: Discover strategies to improve crisis response and align boardroom decisions with long-term organisational sustainability.
- Build organizational resilience: Explore practical approaches to fostering a culture of adaptability and proactive risk management.
- Gain expert insights: Hear from seasoned professionals who will share real-world examples and best practices for leading through uncertainty.
Don’t miss this chance to sharpen your strategic thinking and contribute to stronger, more effective boardroom leadership.
Boards have been tasked with pivoting and re-orienting to a new future in a state of great uncertainty. While the "right" path forward through these challenges will look different to each business, the Board processes, practices and skills that will identify winning strategies will be common.
This panel will present specific experiences and ideas that can help your board develop a more effective strategic orientation and promote a culture of thinking "24-7 strategic thinking" to stay ahead of change. These tools can help your organisation be ready and confident to confront the challenging decade ahead, whatever awaits.
Join us for an insightful webinar designed to help you build the board you’ve always wanted—one that drives success and elevates your organisation’s impact. This webinar has been crafted to guide you through the essential elements of creating, recruiting, and managing a professional advisory board that will give your organisation a true competitive advantage.
In this webinar, you’ll gain the knowledge and practical insights needed to design a board that doesn’t just follow but leads with purpose. You’ll discover effective strategies for identifying and recruiting the right members, building a dynamic, diverse board, and creating a framework for ongoing success. Learn how to set your advisory board up for impactful collaboration, ensuring they bring true value to your organisation and play a critical role in achieving your long-term vision.
Join us for an insightful webinar designed to help you build the board you’ve always wanted—one that drives success and elevates your organisation’s impact. This webinar has been crafted to guide you through the essential elements of creating, recruiting, and managing a professional advisory board that will give your organisation a true competitive advantage.
In this webinar, you’ll gain the knowledge and practical insights needed to design a board that doesn’t just follow but leads with purpose. You’ll discover effective strategies for identifying and recruiting the right members, building a dynamic, diverse board, and creating a framework for ongoing success. Learn how to set your advisory board up for impactful collaboration, ensuring they bring true value to your organisation and play a critical role in achieving your long-term vision.
This webinar will illuminate the intricate landscape of conflicts of interest within the boardroom. Navigating conflicts effectively is not just a skill; it's a necessity for maintaining integrity, fostering trust, and ensuring sustainable organizational success.
Through this webinar, our aim is to provide you with actionable takeaways that can be immediately applied in your boardroom responsibilities. Explore the many case studies and “in the trenches” stories that illustrate how difficult situations have been handled, the various nuances of conflicting interests, and what happens if this is not professionally and competently handled.
This course is designed especially for:
- Directors, including executives-directors, nominee directors and shareholding directors
- CEOs who aspire to great governance from the board they have, rather than the board a textbook might recommend
- Company secretaries who want to add value and support their directors
Conflict doesn’t have to divide your board—it can be the spark that drives innovation. Discover practical strategies, real-world case studies and proven models for transforming disagreement into creative solutions.
In this webinar, we’ll explore how the friction of conflict can fuel groundbreaking ideas and better board decisions. Using a model of participatory decision-making, we’ll unpack the different phases that are needed to turn disagreements into innovation. You’ll hear inspiring examples from diverse fields and gain actionable tips.
Whether your challenges involve budgets, strategy or team dynamics, this session will equip you with tools to embrace conflict, navigate tough discussions, and emerge with creative solutions that align with your mission and values.
Cultivating an effective boardroom culture is essential for building trust, creating a psychologically safe environment, and enabling the board to deliver excellence for the organisation. Creating an effective boardroom culture is no longer a ‘nice to do’, but a requirement for meeting work health and safety obligations and duty of care.
Board culture challenges come in many forms, and the impact can be devastating.
- misalignment of purpose and desired outcomes
- passion for purpose vs strategic priorities
- control vs inclusion
- inexperience vs skills and capabilities
- bias and assumption vs open-mindedness,
- and failure to uphold and role model the organisation’s culture and values.
The impact of your board culture, good or bad, will impact your board members and flow through the organisation. It will show up positively or negatively in trust, wellbeing, confidence, alignment, engagement, and effort.
Don’t miss this session where nothing is off limits. Culture expert, Georgia Henry, will share insights from her experience and strategies for overcoming culture challenges in the boardroom.
Unlock the potential of AI in governance with this insightful webinar, designed to help directors and executives integrate AI into their decision-making processes.
Key points:
- Learn how to leverage AI as a governance co-pilot to tackle boardroom challenges and improve strategic decisions.
- Move beyond AI's theoretical potential to actionable steps that can be applied in real-world governance scenarios.
- Gain fresh perspectives for more informed decision-making through AI integration.
- Receive the building blocks and tools to embed AI into daily governance processes, keeping your board ahead of industry trends.
- Explore governance themes and adopt essential AI tools to boost overall boardroom effectiveness.
Is your Board prepared for the next CEO appraisal? Join us in a dynamic webinar offering invaluable insights on conducting effective CEO reviews, setting KPIs, and driving performance.
This session will equip you with the tools to conduct a powerful and constructive CEO review. Learn to tackle tough questions, establish meaningful KPIs, align them with strategic priorities, and link performance to incentive payments.
- Prepare for challenging conversations and set a robust framework for the next 12 months.
- Ensure your CEO appraisal is not just a formality but a driving force for organisational success.
Learn how to run a lower stress process to produce an engaging annual operating plan.
An annual operating plan is a prized document. It's the blueprint for building your organisation in any given year. You wouldn’t build a house without architectural drawings. Unfortunately, many small to medium businesses or non-profit CEO’s run their organisation's with only a sketch of what they are building.
This webinar is aimed at CEOs of commercial and not for profit organisations with revenues between $1M and $40M and a functioning management/leadership team (i.e., 3+ managers) who don’t have a strong track record of strategic and operational planning.
Join us for our enlightening webinar, 'How to think differently about whole of business governance’, where Dr Dean Blomson and our expert panel will be guiding us through an exploration of business governance design.
This webinar is designed to explore governance beyond the confines of the boardroom, into and across the business entity (whether for-profit or not-for-profit; whether listed or public). If boards are to be effective in their governance, then the systems, processes, and structures of the business itself need to be properly designed and reliably managed. Board systems don’t or shouldn’t exist in a parallel universe from the organisation itself (although often it seems like they do).
Dean, supported by the panel, will delve into why it is crucial for any organisation to develop a business-wide governance model that doesn’t necessarily start with the board and its requirements but ultimately supports these effectively and efficiently. Dean will touch on his research into enterprise governance design, plus his prior BoardPro presentation from 5 September (“Bespoke governance”: How to determine if your governance is fit-for-purpose).
Learn the fine art of CEO reporting to the board in four simple steps in 45 minutes from industry and governance experts.
Once targets have been clearly defined, the CEO should be able to produce a report that clearly and easily gives the board the information they need. As a rule, the first two pages should be enough for board members to gather a broad understanding of the position of the business, without having to read any further.
The art of collaborative leadership can enhance relationships and transform boardroom decision-making. This webinar will dive into the key components of collaboration and offer practical tips for implementation.
Leadership styles profoundly impact the effectiveness of boards and leadership teams. While autocratic leadership may deliver quick results, it’s the more challenging art of collaborative leadership that fosters lasting success. Contrary to popular belief, collaborative leadership is not as congenial as you may think. In fact, it involves healthy doses of conflict, feedback and accountability.
This webinar will unpack the core components of collaborative leadership and provide pragmatic strategies for boards and leadership teams to make smarter decisions, increase engagement, encourage innovation, and manage power dynamics effectively.
Discover how to use strategy to shape boardroom conversations effectively. Explore the board's role in creating the future for stakeholders, understanding the present and future landscapes, and determining necessary actions.
Learn the three keys to strategies:
Vision/Purpose, Strategic Plan, and Operational Plan—and how to align board agendas, reports, and discussions to drive strategic outcomes and address common boardroom challenges. Are you ready to transform boardroom dynamics today?
BONUS: Includes a strategic board meeting agenda guide and MS Word template
UK VERSION WITH JOHN COURTNEY OF BOARDROOM ADVISORS
Learn how to develop and structure a strategic board agenda that keeps the board focused on the important matters during the meeting.
Focus only on those strategic items that matter
Do your meetings tend to get unfocussed or off-track, or are they a sound use of time, focusing on strategic items that move your organisation forward?
Provide your directors with clarity on what they should do with each paper, and reduce the amount of time wasted on ineffectual discussions.
Learn how to develop and structure a strategic board agenda that keeps the board focused on the important matters during the meeting.
Focus only on those strategic items that matter
Do your meetings tend to get unfocussed or off-track, or are they a sound use of time, focusing on strategic items that move your organisation forward?
Provide your directors with clarity on what they should do with each paper, and reduce the amount of time wasted on ineffectual discussions.
Are you struggling to balance the competing interests and priorities of board members, employees, investors and others? In this webinar, you will learn practical tips on how to negotiate stakeholder alignment and build commitment to the organisation’s success.
You will also learn practical tips and actionable strategies for negotiating stakeholder alignment and building commitment to the organization’s success. Our expert presenters, Fiona McKenzie , and Steven Bowman will guide you through proven frameworks to identify key interests, mediate conflicts, and create a shared vision that resonates with all stakeholders.
Whether you're a board member, executive, or team leader, this webinar will empower you to turn stakeholder challenges into opportunities for growth and strategic alignment.
How to establish an Adaptive Strategy and bring the board and organisation on the journey.
As the rate of change increases and the world becomes more complex and uncertain, traditional strategy methods become less effective. Over the last few years new methods of creating and activating strategy have been developed. Adaptive strategy provides a new paradigm in strategic thinking. Using our experience with The Guardians of NZ Superannuation we will show how we co-created an Adaptive Strategy and how it influences and guides decision making.
Explore using skill matrixes to ensure effective director succession planning and onboarding. Understand how to identify the right competencies, balance the board’s collective expertise, and plan for future needs.
In today’s business world, boards must be agile, diverse, and prepared for future challenges. A skill matrix is a powerful tool that helps boards evaluate their current capabilities, identify gaps, and ensure they have the right mix of skills for long-term success.
This webinar will guide you through creating and utilising a skill matrix for director succession planning and onboarding. We will cover key elements such as identifying essential skills, assessing current directors, and planning for strategic recruitment and training.
This webinar is meticulously designed to illuminate what 'fit-for-purpose' governance really means in today's dynamic business environment.
Dr Dean Blomson, supported by the panel, of Steven Bowman and Lisa Cook, will delve into why it is crucial for any organisation to develop a bespoke governance model that fits its unique needs, not generic, ‘one-size-fits-all’ governance.
Dean will briefly touch on his research into new operating model constructs (shared in a previous session on 7 March 2024 – ‘Governance 4.0’); the key topics and questions the board and executive need to ask themselves (and answer) in order to determine what ‘fit-for-purpose’ means for them.
Dean, together with the panel will be offering actionable suggestions for boards and executives.
Increasingly boards are in the frame when things go perilously wrong and people die. Industrial manslaughter legislation exists in several jurisdictions putting the onus on directors to know how their compliance 'T's were crossed and 'I's dotted. What they knew when and what they did with the information when they had it. Could or should they have done more? Compliance requirements pervade all levels of an organisation and includes the maintenance of board policies, asking management for more information when required, and understanding the scope and extent of delegations.
This session won’t necessarily be able to answer all your questions, but it will be a start to how you might think differently about compliance being someone else’s responsibility.
A difficult director can derail the performance of a board very quickly. This webinar will provide tips for how to tackle conversations with directors that are causing problems.
Difficult directors come in all shapes and sizes – some never listen to the opinions of others, some are aggressive, some barely fulfil their commitments. In all cases, a difficult director left unchecked will cause dysfunction, a lack of unity or otherwise impact the smooth operation of the board.
Dealing with these situations in a timely manner is imperative for the ongoing success of a board. This webinar will provide a framework so that you can confidently prepare for and engage in difficult – but constructive – conversations.
There would not be a director in the world who has not had a gripe about the conduct of a colleague at one time or another for annoying, frustrating or downright dreadful behaviour during a board meeting. If you’re one of them join this session to hear about approaches to instilling a code for meeting etiquette.
How directors conduct themselves at the board table has a big influence on the success and effectiveness of meetings and thus on the performance of the organisations they serve. Indiscretions can be small and aggravating or big and adversely influential from subverting good governance practice to blatant bullying and everything in between. However everyone is responsible for their behaviour and should understand they will be called to account if the rules of engagement aren’t adhered to.
This session will address meeting etiquette, what it encompasses, the place of the code of conduct or board charter, and the role of the chair in setting and maintaining standards.
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Governance Specialist
14th August 2024
According to studies, some 60–90% of strategic plans never fully launch (HBR). This webinar will provide practical tips and tools on shifting strategy from words on a page to impactful action.
Bridging The Gap – Strategic Design and Operational Implementation
When bridging the gap, Chairs and CEOs should be considering the strategy design process and preempting the execution gaps. Join us to discuss the two most important facets:
1) An iterative CEO led Strategic Design process with the Board and,
2) A rigorous Execution Cadence led by Management.
This webinar will cover how to tackle common pitfalls of misalignment, lack of engagement, and inadequate traction.
Are you taking the preparation of your minutes seriously, and do you know why you should?
Inquiries into organisational misdeeds and collapses invariably point to the shortcoming in board meeting minutes that might otherwise have explained and justified the decisions directors had taken. That scenario underlines only one of the reasons for the importance of having a thorough record of the board’s deliberations.
Listen to our webinar recording to discover how meticulous board meeting minutes can safeguard your organisation and ensure transparency in critical decision-making processes. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your governance standards!
The governance legislative framework is generally the same, irrespective of a company's age or stage. However, due to their size, limited resources, and founder expertise, early-stage companies have their own unique requirements.
- Gain insights from experienced panellists on distinguishing governance practices in early-stage companies from those in larger, public corporations.
- Understand the unique demands of startup boards, including the need for flexibility, effective risk management, and investor relations strategies.
- Learn how addressing these specialised demands can bolster investor confidence and enhance capital strategies in early-stage ventures.
- Acquire practical knowledge to navigate the dynamic governance landscape of startups and optimise board performance for sustainable growth.
As a Board member or Senior Manager of a reporting entity, you bear significant obligations under the AML/CFT Act. Are you confident that you have them fully covered?
AML/CFT supervisors are increasingly wielding their powers of monitoring and enforcement to ensure reporting entities are meeting their AML obligations. It's crucial for board members and senior management to understand how these developments impact their roles and how to effectively manage ongoing AML obligations.
In this webinar, you'll gain invaluable insights from industry experts. Discover best practices, practical strategies, and the latest regulatory updates to ensure your organisation remains compliant and resilient in the face of AML/CFT challenges.
Secure your spot now to stay ahead of the curve and safeguard your organisation's reputation and integrity.
Explore the critical functions of Board Members, Executive Directors, and your Company secretary in shaping the strategic direction and impact of not for profit organisations.
Not-for-profit governance is becoming an increasingly scrutinised, regulated and debated topic. This is partly as a result of the increasing size and complexity of organisations in this sector, as well as an increase in corporate regulation generally.
This webinar will provide invaluable insights into effective leadership, governance structures, and best practices driving mission-driven success. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your understanding of nonprofit leadership and governance excellence.
Join us as we explore the impact of AI and how as directors we can prepare for a future where AI will continue to redefine how we do business.
Artificial intelligence capabilities continue to rapidly evolve. The emergence of widely available generative AI marked a significant milestone, with ground- breaking products such as ChatGPT, Bing AI, Microsoft Copilot and Gemini AI, entering our homes and workspaces.
Directors cannot put their heads in the sand or tinker around the edges. Instead, they should support their organisations to embrace the AI challenge, including taking advantage of capability and productivity gains while prudently managing risks.
The most common complaint of Directors is “Our Board needs to be more strategic”. But what does this mean? How do you go about creating this? What works, and what doesn’t? What can you do?
Join us for 45 minutes of insights, practical tools and easy-to-implement techniques aimed squarely at helping Directors be strategic.
From personally being strategic, cultivating your strategic mindset, techniques you can use even when everyone around you is in the weeds, through to the latest strategies in designing Board agendas, Board papers and shaping Board discussions.
For CEOs, Executive leadership teams, new Directors, and experienced Chairs.
There are some things that boards find easy to do. One is to involve themselves in business operations, much to the frustration of many CEOs.
The other is to create committees to which to delegate all manner of work and tasks. But are all committees created equal? Are they all necessary and fit for purpose? This webinar will consider how to construct and enable committees to do the work and provide support to the board as designed and required.
The other is to create committees to which to delegate all manner of work and tasks. But are all committees created equal? Are they all necessary and fit for purpose? This webinar will consider how to construct and enable committees to do the work and provide support to the board as designed and required.This webinar will look at the role of committees in the good governance of boards and organisations and how a board decides what committees it needs to have and for what purpose. The session will cover matters including;
- Committee structure,
- Internal governance
- Membership
- Drafting of charters or terms of reference.
In addition, the importance of to whom and how committees report their recommendations will be noted, as will the work necessary to support committees and enable them to function as intended and expected. Finally, the question will be whether or not a committee is actually required or would a working group suffice instead?
Summarising, Examples and Finalising Your Minutes
All too often, those of us taking minutes are unsure if our minute taking style is correct. We provide examples of note taking and take you through several audio exercises on how a minute should be reflected from a 1-2 minute conversation.
Finally, we run through items such as legal professional privilege, and end the session with summarising techniques.
Join Nicholas Barnett and our expert panel as we delve into the crucial role of the Board Skills Matrix in the director selection process.
Discover the benefits of maintaining an up-to-date matrix to ensure you select the most suitable directors and avoid common pitfalls that could lead to costly mistakes.
Learn how to refine your approach by incorporating business acumen and strategic insight into your board's composition. Moreover, Nicholas and the panel will illuminate the increasing significance of behavioural traits in today's board dynamics. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your board's effectiveness and governance standards. Sign up now to secure your spot.
The correct use of meeting terminology
A range of topics are covered under commonalities and meeting mistakes. This section highlights the importance of correct terminology and words you should avoid in your minutes. We also talk about conflict and tension in a meeting and how this can be reflected in your minutes.
To set you up for success with your minute taking, we highlight a range of tips of what you can do before, during, and after the meeting, and assist you with finalising your draft set of minutes.
Leading as a chair beyond meetings
In the final session of our masterclass on Leadership as a Chair, we'll explore the role "beyond meetings," covering aspects like board development, cultivating relationships, and coaching CEOs, as well as conducting interviews and inductions.
We'll revisit the 5Ts—Time, Tone, Talent, Teamwork, and Traditions—and explain how they apply in the periods between meetings. Similarly, we'll discuss the 3Ps—People, Processes, and Paperwork—and their relevance outside of the meeting room. After a Q&A segment, we'll provide details on how to book confidential follow-up courses and when they will be available.
Meeting preliminaries and templates
Meeting preliminaries covers a range of different meeting types and will take participants back to the basics of meeting terminology. In this section we also discuss devices and technology and understanding the pros and cons of using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The course then moves into templates and how these can be used to assist you with your minutes before you step into the boardroom or committee meeting.
Board Pack Preparation
Your board paper will be enhanced by understanding the mechanisms and protocol for delivery, discussion, decision-making and recording. In this session we will consider:
- Process and preparation of board packs
- Use of portals and technology
- Security and privilege
- Managing your mention in the minutes
Summarise and Simplify
Directors are generalists, not specialists in your discipline, and they need concise yet comprehensive board papers. This session focuses on key techniques for effective communication, crafting concise summaries, simplifying complex concepts, and organising information coherently.
Master the Art of Writing
Develop the ability to communicate succinctly and comprehensively with effective use of punctuation, grammar, and page layout. Focus the reader on your key points to persuade and engage.
A Boards Information Needs
Reporting to a board is difficult. Writing and disseminating board papers can be time consuming. And board members can be demanding, expecting high standards in the papers they receive. So how can you create papers that meet the needs of the board without consuming all your time?
This comprehensive program is tailored to equip business executives with the essential skills to craft persuasive and impactful board papers that leave a lasting impression and position the writer as a person the board can trust.
This webinar will illuminate the intricate landscape of conflicts of interest within the boardroom. Navigating conflicts effectively is not just a skill; it's a necessity for maintaining integrity, fostering trust, and ensuring sustainable organizational success.
Through this webinar, our aim is to provide you with actionable takeaways that can be immediately applied in your boardroom responsibilities. Explore the many case studies and “in the trenches” stories that illustrate how difficult situations have been handled, the various nuances of conflicting interests, and what happens if this is not professionally and competently handled.
Dive deep into the strategic realm of engaging with risk in boardroom discussions. Move from compliance and reporting against your risk register, to unlocking strategic advantage and new revenue sources from unpacking and leveraging risk at the Board table.
A unique opportunity to gain valuable insights into transforming risk discussions into strategic advantages. Learn tips from some of the most astute Board risk advisors and practitioners who have participated in many hundreds of Board discussions This session will explore a more focused view of what are key risks, how does the Board identify risk, and how do Directors best engage with risk reporting and subsequent risk discussions.
Preparing for and following up board meetings
In this session, the focus will be on the crucial aspects of high quality preparation and effective follow-up for chairs. We'll discuss the significance of the 5Ts—Time, Tone, Talent, Teamwork, and Traditions—in both the preparatory and follow-up stages. Additionally, we will cover the 3Ps—People, Processes, and Paperwork—as they relate to pre and post-meeting activities. A Q&A segment will provide an opportunity for further engagement and clarification.
In the first session of our Leadership as a Chair masterclass seminar, we'll begin by setting the scene, focusing on international culture and outlining our processes. We'll delve into why we've created this specialised chairing course and introduce our proprietary model, which the masterclass aims to explain. The role and appointment procedures for a chair will be defined, along with the legal, ethical, and cultural responsibilities that come with the position. We'll outline the structure of our three-part course series, highlighting that this session specifically addresses chairing meetings effectively. Key concepts like the 5Ts—Time, Tone, Talent, Teamwork, and Traditions—and the 3Ps—People, Processes, and Paperwork—will be elaborated upon in the context of board and committee meetings.
In this second of two webinars, you will learn how to develop a proactive board search strategy to get you on board faster. Dive deeper into your board career journey with the second installment of our webinar series, where we focus on crafting a proactive board search strategy to accelerate your path to a board position.
This session is dedicated to empowering you with advanced techniques and actionable strategies to enhance your visibility and attractiveness to boards seeking new members. Learn from seasoned board members and industry experts how to effectively network, leverage your unique skills, and position yourself as an indispensable candidate.
If you're serious about securing a board role swiftly, this webinar is the key to unlocking opportunities and achieving your goals with precision and speed. Join us and take a significant step towards making your boardroom aspirations a reality.
In the final session of our masterclass on Leadership as a Chair, we'll explore the role "beyond meetings," covering aspects like board development, cultivating relationships, and coaching CEOs, as well as conducting interviews and inductions.
We'll revisit the 5Ts—Time, Tone, Talent, Teamwork, and Traditions—and explain how they apply in the periods between meetings. Similarly, we'll discuss the 3Ps—People, Processes, and Paperwork—and their relevance outside of the meeting room. After a Q&A segment, we'll provide details on how to book confidential follow-up courses and when they will be available.
Join us for our enlightening webinar, 'Does governance need a reboot? Time to think about Governance 4.0? with the esteemed Dr Dean Blomson and our expert panel with Steven Bowman and Lynda Carroll.
Dean will be guiding us through a comprehensive exploration of where and how the current corporate governance model is showing significant signs of ‘wear and tear’. Dean will draw on his research conducted with Ernst Young into board operating models of the future, considering first whether the current, prevailing governance model has passed its use-by-date for many companies, and why.
Is the board operating model design, originally intended for the needs of the late 1800’s, relevant and ‘workable’ today? He will outline the forces at play facing companies in the main, and from that, consider a set of implications for future board models.
Dean, supported by the panel, will discuss the areas of ‘common pain’, how to recognise and being to address the possible fracture lines that boards should be aware of.
Understand where and how to start your board career. Across two webinars you’ll learn how to develop a replicable approach to breaking into the boardroom and landing your ideal board role.
Embark on a transformative journey to the boardroom with our exclusive two-part webinar series, designed to illuminate the path towards a successful board career. Discover the strategic insights and practical guidance necessary to navigate the complexities of securing your first board position. Through these webinars, you'll gain access to a replicable blueprint for breaking into the boardroom and securing your ideal role.
Whether you're just beginning to consider board service or are actively seeking to land your first board position, this series will equip you with the essential tools and knowledge needed to turn your aspirations into reality. Join us to unlock the door to influential board roles and begin shaping the future of governance.
Traditional Board induction packs can leave new Directors disengaged (even before they begin). This can be challenging especially if you want them to reach their potential quickly but don’t have the time to coach them personally through this transition.
Imagine if...
- All the Directors who undertook your Board induction were confident and prepared at their first meeting.
- Each of your new Directors was asking the right questions, reading and participating in all Board papers and discussions.
- All new Directors were enthusiastic about their tenure, and brought fresh insights to the table, even if they are volunteers with little to no formal experience.
Building upon the insights gained in the first part, our second session will equip you with practical tools and strategies to proactively manage conflicts of interest within the boardroom. We will dissect best practices for documentation, examine case studies illustrating successful conflict resolution, and engage in interactive discussions to sharpen your skills in addressing these challenges head-on. Whether you're a seasoned board member or aspiring to join a board, this session will empower you with the knowledge to foster a governance environment that thrives on transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making.
Welcome to this comprehensive two-part Masterclass designed to illuminate the intricate landscape of conflicts of interest within the boardroom. Navigating conflicts effectively is not just a skill; it's a necessity for maintaining integrity, fostering trust, and ensuring sustainable organizational success.
Throughout both sessions, our aim is to provide you with actionable takeaways that can be immediately applied in your boardroom responsibilities. Explore the many case studies and “in the trenches” stories that illustrate how difficult situations have been handled, the various nuances of conflicting interests, and what happens if this is not professionally and competently handled.
In our first session, we will embark on a journey to grasp the fundamentals of conflicts of interest in the boardroom. From the nuanced definitions to real-world examples, we will delve into the multifaceted nature of conflicts, exploring their potential implications on decision-making, corporate reputation, and stakeholder trust. This foundational knowledge will lay the groundwork for our subsequent exploration into the strategies for identifying and documenting conflicts at an early stage.
Exceptional board performance is pivotal for organisational success. Discover how to measure and improve your board’s effectiveness with evaluations that help to transform team dynamics and deliver better outcomes.
Complacency can be a killer. “We’ve always done it this way” is a solution to nothing, yet it is so often cited as a reason for continuing with the status quo – even when the status quo is not working. Board evaluations are the cornerstone for assessing, improving and refining a board’s performance. By delving into a variety of evaluation methods, boards can pinpoint and identify both commendable practices and areas needing attention.
Such insights bolster cohesive teamwork and enable more informed strategic choices, leading to better decision-making. Join us to explore a variety of evaluations options, turning them into catalysts for board and organizational excellence.
Step up your minute-taking game with the second half of our masterclass that covers the A to Z of effective minute-taking for board and committee meetings. This comprehensive session will dive into the critical role and responsibilities of the minute-taker, emphasising the importance of accuracy and compliance while guiding you through the order of proceedings.
You'll learn the fine art of what to record and what to omit, and how to assist the chair in keeping the board focused on governance. Enhance your listening skills, attention to detail, and your knack for asking clarifying questions—all essential attributes of a top-tier minute-taker.
But that's not all. This session is packed with actionable insights on minute-writing, from formatting and content inclusion to mastering the nuances of PESTLE and collective wording.
Learn the pitfalls to avoid, such as mentioning sensitive HR matters or using casual language, and the art of converting conversations into professionally written minutes. Get invaluable tips for note-taking, proofreading, and using Board portals. This comprehensive course will leave you confident and ready to level up in this valuable governance role.
In our final session, we will guide you through the process of developing strategic plans that truly align with your organizational goals. Understand how to create board reports that communicate strategic insights effectively. Learn the art of reviewing and refining strategic plans and explore real-life examples from participants. Address challenges in reporting against strategic plans and tackle other topics raised by participants on the day.
Kickstart your journey to becoming a master of effective minute-taking with our first of two masterclass sessions. This comprehensive primer covers everything from setting up for success to the nuts and bolts of minute-taking best practices.
Learn how to set a timely agenda and effectively handle action items, all while weaving in an annual work plan. We'll guide you through crucial discussions with the chair and explain the indispensable role that meeting minutes play—whether it's for legal proceedings, historical records, or due diligence for incoming directors. Dive into the benefits of having a professional board secretary for the best in governance compliance, confidentiality, and experience.
We'll also cover who should—and shouldn't—be taking the minutes, shedding light on why CEOs and board members are not ideal candidates for this task. Plus, get to know the indispensable role of the Board Secretary, who's far more than an administrative aide but a valuable source of governance information.
Learn how to develop and structure a strategic board agenda that keeps the board focused on the important matters during the meeting.
Focus only on those strategic items that matter
Do your meetings tend to get unfocussed or off-track, or are they a sound use of time, focusing on strategic items that move your organisation forward?
Provide your directors with clarity on what they should do with each paper, and reduce the amount of time wasted on ineffectual discussions.
Session two focuses on the practical aspects of being strategic. Understand the crucial difference between setting strategy and managing operations. Explore techniques for structuring meetings to enhance strategic awareness and learn how to set strategic board agendas. Extract maximum value from your board through powerful strategic questions and enhance your personal strategic awareness. Discover what it means to be strategic when no one else is.
In the final session of our masterclass on Leadership as a Chair, we'll explore the role "beyond meetings," covering aspects like board development, cultivating relationships, and coaching CEOs, as well as conducting interviews and inductions.
We'll revisit the 5Ts—Time, Tone, Talent, Teamwork, and Traditions—and explain how they apply in the periods between meetings. Similarly, we'll discuss the 3Ps—People, Processes, and Paperwork—and their relevance outside of the meeting room. After a Q&A segment, we'll provide details on how to book confidential follow-up courses and when they will be available.
Welcome to "How to Be and Think Strategic," a comprehensive 3-part Masterclass designed to equip you with the essential skills and mindset needed to navigate the complex world of strategy. In this Masterclass, we will delve into the intricacies of what is strategy, being strategic, strategic thinking, and provide you with actionable insights and real examples to enhance your strategic capabilities.
Are you aspiring to be a great chair or looking to enhance your skills as a current board or committee chair? Do you want to lead your board and committee effectively, foster collaboration, and achieve outstanding teamwork? Look no further; we have the perfect solution for you.
Introducing How to Be a Great Chairperson, a comprehensive three-part online masterclass designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary for successful board or committee leadership. This online coaching program will empower you to initiate meaningful discussions with your board and committee members, ensure optimal performance, and unlock your board's potential.
Your board paper will be enhanced by understanding the mechanisms and protocol for delivery, discussion, decision-making and recording. In this session we will consider:
- Process and preparation of board packs
- Use of portals and technology
- Security and privilege
- Managing your mention in the minutes
Directors are generalists, not specialists in your discipline, and they need concise yet comprehensive board papers. This session focuses on key techniques for effective communication, crafting concise summaries, simplifying complex concepts, and organising information coherently.
Develop the ability to communicate succinctly and comprehensively with effective use of punctuation, grammar, and page layout. Focus the reader on your key points to persuade and engage.
Understanding boards' information needs is crucial for creating an enduring legal record of diligence, ensuring comprehensive and accurate documentation, fostering transparency, and aiding in informed decision-making, thereby strengthening corporate governance.
Learn how to open up your strategy process to overcome limitations of traditional top-down strategy work. Understand which open strategy techniques serve your organisation to develop better strategies and get commitment within your entire organisation.
Join us to explore open techniques for dynamic strategy creation, formulation and execution. Discover how to harness the power of diverse insights, overcome cognitive biases, and build buy-in for strategic transformation.
We'll delve into specific tools and their role in anticipating disruptions, emphasising transparency, collaboration, and diversity throughout your strategy process. Learn how embracing open strategy can lead to faster implementation, and a competitive edge in a rapidly changing business landscape. Don't miss out on this opportunity to revolutionise your approach to strategy and drive your organisation forward.
Learn how to contribute to effective boardroom dynamics to get the best out of the governance minds in the room and support high quality decision-making.
A key factor in building positive board dynamics
We have all been on those boards where there is a person who just seems to disrupt the flow, sees the world differently or consistently seeks out opportunities for conflict. How we respond to these situations is a key factor in building positive board dynamics. While a skilled Chair helps, every board member has a responsibility for the success of the meeting and the quality of the decisions made. Learn about the key ingredients of effective board dynamics and how these contribute to high quality decision-making.
In this session, the focus will be on the crucial aspects of high quality preparation and effective follow-up for chairs. We'll discuss the significance of the 5Ts—Time, Tone, Talent, Teamwork, and Traditions—in both the preparatory and follow-up stages. Additionally, we will cover the 3Ps—People, Processes, and Paperwork—as they relate to pre and post-meeting activities. A Q&A segment will provide an opportunity for further engagement and clarification.
Culture's Impact: Harnessing Positives, Navigating Risks for Strategy, Compliance, and Reputation in the Organisation Your organisation’s culture can be a tremendous asset as it can drive innovation, boost employee contribution, and enhance customer satisfaction.
However, on the flip side, culture can be the greatest risk to productivity, execution of strategy, compliance, reputation, and financial sustainability. Many of the indicators of culture risk are not visible to boards who are responsible for all the associated risks and negative impacts.
Could looking at risk through a more strategic lens not only improve engagement, but also be the missing piece of the jigsaw that enables strategy execution? This webinar will provide key tips on how to improve engagement around risk as well as making your risk analysis more strategic. We will also look at the impact chat GPT, and how it can be used to propel risk analysis.
In this webinar you will learn about the impacts of technology on business models, and how it is not necessarily the technology that drives change or creates risk, but the business model.
We will look how risk and strategy are defined, and how by looking at risk through a more strategic lens helps with strategy execution. We will draw on lessons from industries that have been disrupted by technology to predict the impacts of AI. We will look at tools to help make your risk analysis more strategic, as well as looking at how Chat GPT can used be propel your risk analysis. We will finish by providing an overview of Flipview as a platform that helps bridge the gap between risk and strategy.
Module 1: Leadership as a Chair
In the first session of our Leadership as a Chair masterclass seminar, we'll begin by setting the scene, focusing on international culture and outlining our processes. We'll delve into why we've created this specialised chairing course and introduce our proprietary model, which the masterclass aims to explain. The role and appointment procedures for a chair will be defined, along with the legal, ethical, and cultural responsibilities that come with the position. We'll outline the structure of our three-part course series, highlighting that this session specifically addresses chairing meetings effectively. Key concepts like the 5Ts—Time, Tone, Talent, Teamwork, and Traditions—and the 3Ps—People, Processes, and Paperwork—will be elaborated upon in the context of board and committee meetings.
Whilst culture has become an essential focus for senior executives, middle managers and people leaders of all kinds, it is still not well understood. If you want to change your culture, you need to change the rules of belonging.
Key Takeaways
Culture is one of the most widely discussed and poorly understood concepts in organisational life. This webinar will:
- Clarify what culture is and isn’t (it isn’t employee engagement)
- Provide meaningful shared language for future discussions
- Allow leaders to clearly see the culture of any group
- Simplify the way to take action on shifting culture
Reporting should never be about activity but rather about questions and strategic insights
Late reporting can kill the CEO either through director frustration and getting little or too much information, or the organisation facing threats to its future that are ignored through late reporting of trends, issues, or strategic implications.
Key Takeaways
Learn how can you can maximise your reporting impacts through;
- Ensuring the board receive your material in a timely manner
- Help focus the board through the design of your executive reports
- What directors need to know versus what they want to know
- The two questions that must be answered in any board report
- The two reporting issues that kill a CEO
This webinar is aimed at CEO's and executives who wish to gain more effectiveness and efficiency with their board reporting.
The governance landscape has incredible heterogeneity, from school boards through to listed companies. This webinar will identify the categories of organisations that pay generous director fees to their board members.
Extreme Inequality
There are about half a million governing bodies in Australia, many of which are small and local. Board members contribute a meaningful portion of the total volunteering effort across the country. Less than 10% of board members are paid. Within the organisations that pay their directors, there are several clusters of well-paid roles. These will be identified during the webinar, along with the attributes of prospective directors for these roles
Develop a CEO Report structure that works for your SME or Nonprofit
Once targets have been clearly defined, the CEO should be able to produce a report that clearly and easily gives the board the information they need. As a rule, the first two pages should be enough for board members to gather a broad understanding of the position of the business, without having to read any further.
A New Paradigm
Historically, corporate governance was primarily concerned with fiduciary responsibilities and compliance. Boards often consisted of uniform groups of individuals with similar backgrounds, experiences, and worldviews. While this homogeneity may have supported unity and seamless decision-making, it also led to a restricted perspective, causing overlooked opportunities and stagnation.
As we ventured into the 21st century, the business world started to face new and intricate challenges that demanded more multifaceted and nuanced decision-making. In this complex environment, diversity quickly surfaced as an essential component of competent governance.
In the early days, the initial push often centred around demographic representation, especially gender, as many countries faced severe imbalances, with women significantly underrepresented in leadership roles. As businesses expanded globally, the need for cultural and international perspectives became more pronounced, leading to broader definitions of diversity. Governments and regulatory bodies began to intervene, establishing guidelines, regulations, or even quotas in some countries to promote diversity. With growing social consciousness, businesses began to recognise diversity as an ethical imperative and a strategic advantage, rather than just a compliance issue.
Shareholder activism also played a crucial role. Investors started to exert their influence, utilising tools like shareholder resolutions, proxy voting, and direct engagement with corporations to foster change.
The pursuit of board diversity is not just a fleeting trend but a vital part of modern corporate governance. It's a journey that requires understanding, commitment, and action from all stakeholders. By embracing diversity in its fullest sense, corporations can not only enhance their performance but also contribute to a more equitable and inclusive world.
Your Board Papers are vitally important. They prepare the board for the decisions that must be made and provide the board with the information they need to discharge their duty of oversight. Of all the Board Papers the CEO report is probably the most important.
Experienced directors will turn to and read this paper first. It sets the context for every other paper in the pack.
As such, it's a wonderful opportunity to prepare your board to be totally effective during the upcoming meeting.
However, many CEOs struggle, when faced with the tyranny of a blank screen, to put down their thoughts in a compelling and clear fashion that will engage the board and help to prepare them for a highly effective meeting.
Ideally your board report should serve two purposes:
- to inform the board of the key changes that have occurred during the period since the last board meeting
- to engage the board in providing advice and assistance to the CEO
Whilst many CEO reports do a good job with the first objective, most CEOs struggle with the second simply because they do not wish to put on record the areas that they are finding difficult. But here’s the problem, directors find it hard to read a report that is packed with information but that has no call to action or stimulus for creative thinking. Directors greatly prefer a report that has something in it for them to do.
Let’s look at each function in turn. And then let’s explore some tips to help you write quickly, effectively, and succinctly.
Unlock the Secret to Continual Board Strategy Refresh: Webinar Replay Now Available with Steven Bowman FAICD, Georgia Henry GAICD, and Richard McLean
Are you a Board member, senior executive, or someone deeply involved in strategic planning? Then, you can't afford to miss the replay of our recent webinar: "How to Continually Refresh Your Annual Board Strategy."
Why Watch the Replay?
Gain insights from some of Australasia's leading experts in business strategic planning and governance.
Learn how to use each Board meeting as a mini-strategy review, making your meetings not only more effective but possibly even shorter.
Discover techniques for running an annual review that serves as both a reflective exercise and an excellent induction opportunity for new Directors.
Key Takeaways:
1️⃣ No Plan Survives Contact With Reality: Understand the importance of fearless discussion with directors and senior executives about what's working and what isn't.
2️⃣ Focused Half-Day Strategy Review: Learn how to run an effective and focused half-day strategy review that can revolutionize your approach to strategic planning.
3️⃣ Strengthen Strategic Focus: Take away practical tips on how to reinforce the strategic orientation of your Board, ensuring that the organization stays agile and aligned with its mission.
Watch the Replay here https://boardpro.wistia.com/medias/owulzrbkal
Don't miss this chance to elevate your Board's strategic planning process! Share this with anyone who might find it useful.
Live Demonstration of board AI tools
In this highly practical session you will gain an overview of AI tools relevant to those serving on Boards. Through a live demonstration, you'll see firsthand how AI-powered tools can revolutionise your Board operations and enhance the effectiveness of your Board members.
Gain valuable insights and walk away equipped with actionable knowledge, ready to implement these tools immediately after the session.
Working too hard, doing too much, being too busy, is not a new thing: it can be dated back as far as 400 BC and Socrates, quoted as saying “beware the barrenness of a busy life”.
There seems to be something inherent in the human DNA that has us think, feel and act busy. And we’re now grappling with unfettered activity-on-steroids, with our always-on internet-connected environment, turbo charged by COVID.
This is no more evident than in workplaces – and New Zealand workplaces are no exception.
Learn from three of Australasia's top board secretaries why the preparation of board minutes is a vital component of directors’ responsibilities, and what good minutes contain.
Includes: Bonus minute taking guide, and minutes template for attendees.
Are you taking the preparation of your minutes seriously and do you know why you should?
Inquiries into organisational misdeeds and collapses invariably point to the shortcoming in board meeting minutes that might otherwise have explained and justified the decisions directors had taken. That scenario underlines only one of the reasons for the importance of having a thorough record of the board’s deliberations.
Todays article demystifies the art of creating an effective skills-based board for organizations. Whether you're for-profit, for-purpose, or something else entirely, a well-constructed board skills matrix can be a game-changer. The article delves into what to include in this matrix, from hard skills to emotional intelligence and even diversity attributes. It addresses common questions like how to measure and survey board members, and crucially, how to leverage the matrix for positive organizational outcomes. The piece is a comprehensive guide to setting up, assessing, and optimizing a board that not only serves your current needs but also anticipates future challenges and opportunities. If you're involved in board development or governance, this is a must-read for you.
- The article discusses how to get a good Return on Attendance (ROA) from conferences that board members attend.
- The first step is to decide on the criteria for board attendance at any face-to-face event. This could include factors such as the relevance of the event to the organization, the quality of the speakers, and the opportunity for networking.
- Once the criteria have been established, board members who want to attend a conference need to clearly state their reasons for wanting to go and what they hope to achieve. They should also commit to sharing what they learn at the conference with the rest of the board.
- Board members should also make sure to arrive on time for events and sit near the front of the room. They should also be proactive in networking with other attendees and asking questions.
- After the conference, board members should take some time to summarize their notes and share them with the rest of the board. They should also follow up with any contacts they made at the conference.
The success of your CEO comes down to having a solid connection between the board and the CEO. But how does a board do that while avoiding the common mistakes that destroy this critical relationship?
It starts with the Board understanding their overall purpose and role within the organisation and then cascading that down through the CEO position and relationship using proactive and practical methods to ensure organisation success.
Learn from Lisa Cook, Simon Telfer and Lynda Carroll how to build a powerful working relationship with your CEO. Understand where it can go wrong and the seven things that every board can do to get it right.
Download the webinar white paper here
How to improve the probability of successful mergers & acquisitions through better transaction governance
In this interactive webinar, Dr Dean Blomson and our expert panel will discuss the following issues:
- Important themes coming out of recent research and direct experience;
- Why soft skills and self-awareness really matter and why critical challenge is the best defence;
- Key questions to ask, at each major stage, so that destruction of shareholder value does not happen on your watch;
- How boards and management need to become M&A match fit.
Learn how to use benchmarking to improve your board. Also, find out how to focus on the vital few to deliver the biggest improvement in your governance and oversight while ensuring your board increases its impact, adds value and leaves a lasting legacy.
Discover the power of benchmarking to evaluate your board's strengths and weaknesses, driving meaningful change. Learn why benchmarking is crucial for interpreting board survey results and how it enhances understanding. Explore key areas of board effectiveness supported by research and how a benchmarked survey can facilitate improvement. Focus on critical aspects to enhance governance, increase impact, add value, and create a lasting legacy.
Why Listen?
- Better Boards means Better Organisations
- Learn how to pick a good board survey from a bad one
- Find out why benchmarking can make all the difference
- Learn how to use a benchmarked report to drive change on your board
- Get a FREEshort benchmarked report of your own board’s effectiveness
Learn why a high-performance board starts with answering the question ‘what does great look like?’; and how the four pillars of board effectiveness help to create and sustain your board’s high-performance ambitions.
Good governance is an active choice
It starts with us – as individual board members and as a board – to make the time and have the intention to create a system that supports the board and board members towards governance excellence. Effectively shaping the four interdependent pillars of board effectiveness :
1) People,
2) Information Architecture,
3) Structures and Processes,
4) Group Dynamics and Board Culture ,
will help you to achieve and sustain board effectiveness.
Why listen
If you’re ready to take action towards building an effective board, this podcast will help you to:
- Understand what a high performing board is.
- Discover how to take meaningful action towards building a high performing board.
- Learn how the four pillars of board effectiveness help to create and sustain board effectiveness.
- Hear real world case studies on how to apply the four pillars of board effectiveness.
This podcast is best suited best for Board Chairs, Board Members, Committee Chairs, Committee Members across all types of organisations and boards/committees.
Hubris is the enemy of board effectiveness and, therefore, organisational success. At this webinar, we unpack what hubris looks like in the boardroom and how to eliminate it.
Research has shown that hubris is the chief enemy of learning and development of boards and, therefore, of the long-term survival of the organisations of which directors and trustees are custodians. Hubris makes people deaf to learning and threatened by it. If hubristic people hold sway on a board, rational, objective decision-making can be compromised, along with effective risk management.
At this webinar, learn how to eradicate hubris in the boardroom and pave the way for better decision-making, improved risk management, enhanced reputation, and a commitment to continuous growth and innovation by the board.
Why Listen?
Hubris is the greatest hindrance to learning and development in the boardroom and, therefore, board effectiveness. In the podcast, you will discover:
- What hubris looks like in the boardroom
- Why the 'fight' to remove hubris is a fight for board effectiveness
- The benefits of shedding hubris
- How to eliminate hubris from the boardroom
Ever sat in your non-profit board meeting wondering if the board meeting would ever end? And what good governance really looks like? If so, this podcast is for you.
While many of despair at the current state of the world, with the economic, social and climate challenges we face, thousands of us are doing something about it by volunteering for the boards of NFP and community organisations. These board roles can be complex and often we have little training and support for them. As a result, NFP boards often get bogged down in operational detail and administration. Based on research undertaken for a Winston Churchill Fellowship, Dr Jo Cribb will share what works to support NFP boards to impactful, to get out the detail and into transforming their communities.
Why listen?
Listen to this podcast if you:
- are on the board, or want to be on the board of a NFP or community group
- want to learn about how to be more effective on that board and make the most impact for your community
- want access to practical tools and templates to make your board work easier
This podcast is aimed at board members of non-profit and community organisations, Chairs, board advisors, Chief Executives and General Managers of non-profit's, those who want to be appointed to boards and anyone interested in the performance of non-profit boards.
Our panelists bring a wealth of experience in a variety of business areas, including governance, board matters and administrative processes. They'll share their insights and take your questions on these topics (and others you might have), and provide valuable tips and strategies to help you achieve your governance goals.
Whether you're a business owner, company chair, CEO, board member, company secretary of administrative support, or simply interested in learning more about governance, we believe you'll find this webinar informative and engaging.
Discover the groundbreaking findings of a 2022 study conducted by a leading business management school in the US, which revealed a remarkable 73% increase in productivity by implementing a simple yet effective policy: banning meetings three days a week. In this eye-opening video, we delve into the reasons behind the productivity-crippling nature of excessive meetings and explore strategies to optimize collaboration and streamline decision-making.
Did you know that employees spend a staggering 85% of their time in meetings? Unsurprisingly, this constant interruption to workflow has a detrimental impact on productivity, resulting in inconsistency and unpredictability. Even top executives are dissatisfied with the effectiveness of decision-making processes, with 61% expressing their frustration, especially during meetings.
The negative effects of unproductive meetings are widespread, with executives reporting that more than half of their valuable time is wasted in meetings that fail to contribute effectively to decision-making. However, change is in the air. An insightful survey conducted by McKinsey highlighted that 80% of executives are now considering or have already implemented changes in meeting structures and frequencies to adapt to the evolving work landscape in the wake of the pandemic.
The undeniable truth is that efficient use of meeting time translates into better decision-making. This, in turn, drives key performance indicators (KPIs), shapes future strategies, and paves the way for long-term growth. But how can we maximize the potential of meetings, considering their integral role in our workflows and organizational structures? How can we foster high-value collaboration and optimize the limited time we have?
Join us in this thought-provoking video as we explore actionable techniques and best practices to reclaim your time and transform your meetings into productive powerhouses. Discover innovative approaches to meeting management, effective communication, and decision-making that will revolutionize your team's productivity and drive your organization towards success.
Don't let unproductive meetings hinder your progress any longer. Watch now and unlock the secret to achieving more with fewer meetings!
Why do some chairs lead productive meetings whilst others struggle? This webinar explores practical tools you can apply before and during meetings to remove friction and ensure your board operates as a cohesive decision-making team.
Every director will recognise the feeling of frustration when their board is stuck in a loop of disagreements, unable to make a decision, or struggling to remain focus on the decision rather than the impediments to progress. Few directors have a toolkit of actions they can take to remedy the situation and help the chair to regain the meeting’s momentum.
Learn how to focus the board on the issues rather than the dissent and how to make your meetings meaningful opportunities to share and develop ideas in this online professional forum
Your organisation’s culture can be a tremendous asset as it can drive innovation, boost employee contribution, and enhance customer satisfaction. However, on the flip side, culture can be the greatest risk to productivity, execution of strategy, compliance, reputation, and financial sustainability. Many of the indicators of culture risk are not visible to boards who are responsible for all the associated risks and negative impacts.
An informative session for governors currently being exposed to the raft of opportunity that is AI, designed to equip directors with knowledge and tools to help with the explorations and decision making these new technologies represent.
Unlock success in a turbulent business world with our exclusive webinar
In today's volatile business world, effective crisis management is crucial for leaders. Our enlightening webinar helps you develop this vital skill, ensuring your organization's long-term success and reputation. Learn from experienced professionals how to expertly navigate crises, maintain strong communication, and make sound decisions under pressure.
Explore how technology is positively impacting boardrooms.
Join us for a cutting-edge webinar that will delve into the world of boardroom technology. Discover how innovations like AI tools, board software, document signing tools, and meeting AI are revolutionising the way board members work together, communicate, and make critical decisions.
Are you looking to improve the effectiveness of your board packs and avoid costly mistakes? Our expert panel provide valuable insights on how to avoid common mistakes such as incomplete information, lack of clarity, poor presentation, and a lack of engagement among board members.
You'll also learn best practices for creating effective board packs, including tips on presentation, content, and timing. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and improve your organisation's decision-making.
Learn where diversity of thought adds value for boards and what you can do to boost your board’s decision-making performance. This interactive session is full of research-based insights that you can apply to your board’s practices and wider organisation. Boards are called on to make complex decisions that affect whether their organisations will flourish or fail. Boards with wide-ranging diversity of thought can draw on different experiences, perspectives and cognitive preferences to avoid the unchallenged assumptions of groupthink. They can also demonstrate increased creativity, coming up with alternative approaches to opportunities and challenges.
Improve your board effectiveness and learn the art of board annual work planning from Steven Bowman, Lynda Carroll and Giselle McLachlan, some of Australasia's leading experts in business governance and strategic planning.
Ask our panel of experts any burning questions you have about governance, boards and board meetingsOur panelists bring a wealth of experience in a variety of business areas, including governance, board matters and administrative processes. They'll share their insights and take your questions on these topics (and others you might have), and provide valuable tips and strategies to help you achieve your governance goals.
Whether you're a business owner, company chair, CEO, board member, company secretary of administrative support, or simply interested in learning more about governance, we believe you'll find this webinar informative and engaging.
Are you taking the preparation of your minutes seriously and do you know why you should?
Inquiries into organisational misdeeds and collapses invariably point to the shortcoming in board meeting minutes that might otherwise have explained and justified the decisions directors had taken. That scenario underlines only one of the reasons for the importance of having a thorough record of the board’s deliberations.
Effective Board Engagement Key to Success:
Board engagement is a critical aspect of the success of a board. This includes engaging with potential new directors when recruiting, engaging with other board members, engaging with staff and senior executives, engaging with stakeholders to gather perspectives and understanding of the sector, and engaging before and after meetings.
Effective Board Engagement Key to Success:
Board engagement is a critical aspect of the success of a board. This includes engaging with potential new directors when recruiting, engaging with other board members, engaging with staff and senior executives, engaging with stakeholders to gather perspectives and understanding of the sector, and engaging before and after meetings.
Effectively and efficiently integrate, activate, and motivate your board members. Learn why it matters and how to do it.
Working with this fact, effectively and efficiently integrating, activating, and motivating your board members becomes much easier through the use of people-first principles and a purpose-focused board. This webinar will walk you through smart and practical techniques that all boards can introduce to create an engaged, empowered, and energised board.
Effectively and efficiently integrate, activate, and motivate your board members. Learn why it matters and how to do it.
We expect board members to show up, but what we get are humans
Working with this fact, effectively and efficiently integrating, activating, and motivating your board members becomes much easier through the use of people-first principles and a purpose-focused board. This webinar will walk you through smart and practical techniques that all boards can introduce to create an engaged, empowered, and energised board.
Why attend?
Every board has the opportunity to leverage its inherent potential by attending this webinar. Specifically, this webinar will help you:
- Develop strategies to integrate and onboard new board members to deliver value fast
- Understand how to activate board members and ensure they are working on the right things at the right time
- Learn how to tap into board members’ motivations to sustain their board participation
Learn how to build a powerful working relationship with your CEO. Understand where it can go wrong and the seven things that every board can do to get it right.
Two out of Five CEOs fail in three years:
The success of your CEO comes down to having a solid connection between the board and the CEO. But how does a board do that while avoiding the common mistakes that destroy this critical relationship?
It starts with the Board understanding their overall purpose and role within the organisation and then cascading that down through the CEO position and relationship using proactive and practical methods to ensure organizational success.
Discover a quality engagement practice framework and 10 step facilitated processes for designing Board engagement with external stakeholders. Ideal for Chairs and Board members leading stakeholder engagement.
Partnering, alliancing and co-governance
Engagement practice continues to professionalise in our Australasian context. It has emerged from the fields of public participation and project management and is becoming increasingly valued. It integrates with aligned fields including communications, public relations, marketing, planning and evaluation. Due to significant drivers of change over recent years, many organisations are facing an increasing need to collaborate. This includes partnering, alliancing and co-governance approaches. Having a quality engagement approach produces clear benefits for organisations and communities. It is one of the best risk management mitigations you can apply to both external and internal organisational engagement.
An annual operating plan is a prized document
It's the blueprint for building your organisation in any given year. You wouldn’t build a house without architectural drawings. Unfortunately, many SME/NFP CEO’s run their organisation's with only a sketch of what they are building.
This webinar is aimed at CEOs of commercial and not for profit organisations with revenues between $2M and $40M and a functioning management/leadership team (i.e. 3+ managers) who don’t have a strong track record of strategic and operational planning
Learn how reporting can slowly destroy an organisation or conversely, keep it focused and positioned for the future.
Late reporting can kill the CEO either through director frustration and getting little or too much information, or the organisation facing threats to its future that are ignored through late reporting of trends, issues, or strategic implications.
Learn why a high-performance board starts with answering the question ‘what does great look like?’; and how the four pillars of board effectiveness help to create and sustain your board’s high-performance ambitions.
Good governance is an active choice
It starts with us – as individual board members and as a board – to make the time and have the intention to create a system that supports the board and board members towards governance excellence. Effectively shaping the four interdependent pillars of board effectiveness :
1) People,
2) Information Architecture,
3) Structures and Processes,
4) Group Dynamics and Board Culture ,
will help you to achieve and sustain board effectiveness.
What you'll learn;
If you’re ready to take action towards building an effective board, this webinar will help you to:
- Understand what a high performing board is.
- Discover how to take meaningful action towards building a high performing board.
- Learn how the four pillars of board effectiveness help to create and sustain board effectiveness.
- Hear real world case studies on how to apply the four pillars of board effectiveness.
Privately owned business board members experience both unique challenges and stimulating rewards. Our expert panel will discuss these in depth, sharing first hand insights and war stories.
It’s a far more human experience as you navigate family dynamics, founder personality and succession conversations. Sometimes decisions are made for reasons that are not commercial in nature. These organisations often have a stronger values base and deeper connection with their community. Board members need to be more agile and pragmatic in their approach. The rewards are great: decisions can be implemented quickly and success can be experienced first hand.
The role of the director is evolving. Are you?
The concept of the 'Future Director' is a destination for all directors – regardless of age or tenure, aspiring or experienced – to become the relevant modern board members the world needs now, as well as into the future. They are fit for purpose, which at a basic level means being a leader who is self-aware and highly effective at creating the conditions for good decision-making and stewardship.
Learn about 2021’s Top Five Governance Risks and Boards Top Tips for addressing them. Gain insight into how continuous Board and director review and development (Evaluation) is the number one tip for building your board's capabilities for being effective
This webinar explores the true impact and cost of payment fraud, the difference between internal and external fraud and why good organisations get caught out.
Know where the risks are in your organisation
Internal controls are limited by a number of factors including the very payment systems used to make payments themselves. Understanding that these limitations exist is an important part of governance and will help inform board members in understanding where risks exist in their organisation.
Learn how to clearly articulate the culture the board requires for your organisation, and the different methodologies for monitoring and measurement.
Organisational culture starts at the board levelRecent legal cases have clearly identified that boards are ultimately responsible for the culture of an organisation. What does this mean for you as a director and your board?
- Where should a Board start?
- How do we know what culture we require as a Board?
- What culture do we currently have, and what needs to change
- How should a Board monitor and measure culture and cultural change?
- How does the Board sustain a focus on culture over time?
Learn how;
- To gain clarity on how to clearly articulate the required culture
- To understand the boards role in ensuring the appropriate culture throughout the organisation
- The board can appropriately monitor and measure culture through the organisation
- To deal with major organisational culture when it goes horribly wrong
Identify issues or governance challenges facing your charity or Non Profit Board. Understand the keys to what good governance looks like for your organisation in 2022, and beyond.
The phrase “good governance” can be an intangible, buzz-word, that is often used but difficult to derive meaning from and apply in practice. In reality, a good governance standard can and should take many forms.
The success of any organisation, including NonProfits (NFPs) will be dependent on the quality of its leadership. This starts at the board level, given that it is the board that is responsible for setting the tone of the organisation’s culture.
Identify issues or governance challenges facing your charity or Non Profit Board. Understand the keys to what good governance looks like for your organisation in 2022, and beyond.
The phrase “good governance” can be an intangible, buzz-word, that is often used but difficult to derive meaning from and apply in practice. In reality, a good governance standard can and should take many forms.
The success of any organisation, including NonProfits (NFPs) will be dependent on the quality of its leadership. This starts at the board level, given that it is the board that is responsible for setting the tone of the organisation’s culture.
Focus only on those strategic items that matter
Do your meetings tend to get unfocussed or off-track, or are they a sound use of time, focusing on strategic items that move your organisation forward?
Provide your directors with clarity on what they should do with each paper, and reduce the amount of time wasted on ineffectual discussions.
Learn how to contribute to effective boardroom dynamics to get the best out of the governance minds in the room and support high quality decision-making.
A key factor in building positive board dynamics
We have all been on those boards where there is a person who just seems to disrupt the flow, sees the world differently or consistently seeks out opportunities for conflict. How we respond to these situations is a key factor in building positive board dynamics. While a skilled Chair helps, every board member has a responsibility for the success of the meeting and the quality of the decisions made. Learn about the key ingredients of effective board dynamics and how these contribute to high quality decision-making.
While minutes often feature in-jokes about board performance (for example, ‘boards take minutes and waste hours’), they are no laughing matter. Board meetings are an essential component of an organisation’s decision-making process. The record (minutes) of the conduct of those meetings is a direct indication of the quality of a board’s administration.
For various reasons, the quality of the minutes and the protection of their integrity, once approved and signed off, are treated with considerable gravity. Boards should pay closer attention to both the recording and approval of their minutes than is often the case.
According to directors, the CEO report is the most important document in the board pack and it’s their go-to doc. However, most organisations struggle with it and very few get it right.
Why? Because there are many pitfalls to avoid and it can get tricky. CEOs who are pressed for time often assume that everything the board members need can be found in the team’s documents.
It’s also not uncommon for CEOs to believe that it’s frustrating for directors to read a document that duplicates what has already been laid out in the board pack. For these reasons, CEOs don’t always think it’s necessary to write a report.
They think they can just verbally say what they need or provide bullet points. However, that’s not enough. When CEO reports are done well, they provide chief executives with opportunities for reflection and it allows them to tap into the expertise because it answers many questions.
For one, CEO reports give board members insight into what’s on the CEOs’ mind, which is something the board needs to be truly effective and benefit the organisation as much as possible.
Traditional Board induction packs can leave new Directors disengaged (even before they begin). This can be challenging especially if you want them to reach their potential quickly but don’t have the time to coach them personally through this transition.
Imagine if...
- All the Directors who undertook your Board induction were confident and prepared at their first meeting.
- Each of your new Directors was asking the right questions, reading and participating in all Board papers and discussions.
- All new Directors were enthusiastic about their tenure, and brought fresh insights to the table, even if they are volunteers with little to no formal experience.
Board meeting cycles are the lifeblood of the work of the Board. Individual Board meetings are where most of the discussion and ultimately decisions are made and are therefore the most important mechanism that the Board has at its disposal. The authority of the Board arises from its collective nature, which necessitates meetings to address the collective decision making.
In many instances, Board schedules are treated as an agreed set of dates that the Board will meet, with little or no thought given to the larger strategic issue of the specific focus for each of those Board meetings. As the most important tool of the Board, meeting cycles require more advance planning and alignment with the strategic, risk, governance and operational requirements of the organisation. The role of Board committees also needs to be reviewed and integrated into the Board meeting cycle. Gone are the days when Board committees met just prior to the Board meeting, as it was convenient for all concerned.
Is your board using its most effective tool?
The organisations we govern have responsibilities that require round the clock decision making. Boards can only make decisions when they convene formally for board meetings.
Do we expect our staff to sit around waiting for us to turn up to make everyday kinds of decisions? Of course not, and so, we have to delegate authority to them to act on our behalf when the board is not in session.
When we delegate to our chief executive, do we give them a blank cheque to make whatever choices take their fancy? No, we don’t do that either! We give ‘policy’ guidance which fully realised is a very effective and necessary form of ‘remote control device’ but far too often neglected by boards of all kinds.
Your board is the ultimate decision-making group for your organisation. Board members are rightfully asked to address and take responsibility for the most complex matters you will ever face.
Diversity of Thought adds value when facing complexity. Boards should therefore aspire to a higher level of Diversity of Thought than other organisational groups. This requires boards to consider their composition based on Diversity of Thought, alongside the typical skills, experience and representative diversity
It's governance, but not as you know it!
A fit-for-purpose startup board provides a great platform for supercharging your growth – but early stage boards can be scary for founders and directors.
Join us to discover how experienced startup directors operate, and what you should be looking for when you form your company’s first board. We’ll talk through the value of having a board early on, and where that board should focus its time and attention to support the business.
No plan survives contact with reality!
The best strategy is one where there is a fearless discussion with directors and senior executives about what's not working and what we have missed.
Join us for insights on to how to use each Board meeting as a mini-review of the strategic plan and strengthen the strategic focus of the Board (and possibly making your Board meetings shorter).
And techniques for an annual review (also short and focused with the Board and senior executive) which can be both an opportunity to reflect on the strategies, and a great induction opportunity for new Directors.
Develop your organisation's strategic development roadmap
Strategy is about having a clear focus on the future you are trying to create, being aware of different future possibilities, understanding the current environment, analysing what this means to your organisation, and then choosing what needs to be done based on this analysis, in advance of needing to act.
As a board member of an SME or Nonprofit, preparing for the upcoming board meeting, you have lots of information to review and want to get to the important stuff quickly!
You don’t want to be nine pages in and still wondering if the new marketing program is delivering results. Nor do you want to be forced to search old minutes for the performance targets you agreed to. Unfortunately, with poorly structured and unfocused CEO reports this sort of scenario is all too common. It’s frustrating!!
Wouldn’t it be great if the first pages of the CEO’s report provided a concise summary of the business’ performance and needs, then it clearly outlined the key areas you need to prepare for? It would certainly reduce some of your frustrations and make things easier going to the next meeting.
Good news for SME’s and Nonprofits! Producing a CEO Report that delights the board, is very achievable, with a few key principles you will learn from this podcast.
We have already noted that the board’s job is a thinking one. As a group and as individuals the board must be committed to learning. The board needs skills of active and purposeful inquiry. The best directors maintain open minds on issues always searching for new information. None of this happens by accident. To mold the board into a genuine learning entity needs effort and some planning. Here we cover some basic steps to assist.
The meeting is where governance actually happens. Only the board as a group can make decisions. Sadly too often the precious time is poorly spent, focussing on things that have already happened or reviewing management busyness. The board’s role is to create the future not mind the shop and in the meeting is where that happens. We look at how to structure your meeting and your years work to ensure that the board is focused in the right places
Board work is thinking work. Too many boards get stuck in oversight mode and reacting to what comes before them. The engaged board is in constant strategic mode, checking that resources are being used in an optimal way. Also, understanding and reacting to the changing world. Here we look at how that happens.
A board is generally physically present less than 1% of the time but with full responsibility 100% of the time. It needs to be comfortable that for the vast majority of the time is not in session the organisation is well run and pointed in the right direction. The connection to the chief executive is the primary mechanism for ensuring that all is as it should be. Here we look at how that happens.
Too often boards leave planning to management, rubber stamping what comes back. Only the board can decide the purpose of the organisation and what it is to achieve. In this second session, we discuss the board’s role in outlining the top lines of planning.
We start by looking at what governance is and isn’t. The board as a subset of the owners has a separate and distinct role that needs to be made clear, understood and adhered to by directors and management alike. In this first session, we explore some of the key principles that define governance.