How to get the right people around the table
Board composition is a critically important component of governance. How do you create the right board to achieve the outcomes of the organisation?
Join Lucas Patchett, the founder and CEO of Orange Sky, and Verity Hawkins, the CEO of the Cancer Council of ACT, as we discuss tenure, succession planning and using a skills matrix to assess the suitability of board members.
Hear how OrangeSky levelled up their governance and how they picked complimentary skills to round out their board.
CEO reporting and the board relationship
CEO reporting is one of the key ways that information flows from the management team to the board.
In this episode, Kate Lidbetter, Chair of Gondwana Choirs and Steven Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW discuss how to structure a CEO report for maximum usefulness to the board. This episode covers
- what should be included in a CEO report,
- how often it should be provided, and
- how to structure it for ease of consumption by busy directors.
Planning for purpose, strategy and operations
What’s the difference between a strategic plan and an operational plan, and do we need both?
In this episode, Lisa Chung, Art Gallery NSW Foundation Board Trustee, Phil Butler, Not For Profit Sector Leader, AICD and Brett Herkt, CEO of BoardPro, discuss;
- the difference between a strategic plan and an operational plan,
- the elements of a good plan,
- How do purpose, strategy and operational plans all fit together?
- How should I go about pulling together an operational plan?
Sustainable financials for not-for-profits
Evaluating the organisation’s financial health is an important part of the role of the board.
In this episode, Liesel Wett, Chair - Goodwin Aged Care and Vicki Hartley, Chair - Dress for Success, discuss how to interpret financial statements, what to look for when evaluating financial health and how to have difficult conversations about the financial sustainability of the organisation. This episode covers
- Is the board satisfied that the organisation's resources are protected from misuse?
- Is there an agreed definition of success for this organisation?
- Why is profit perceived as a ‘dirty word’ and how can leaders debunk this misconception?
Fast growth and effective risk management
The board’s role is to oversee a framework that manages risk as an integral part of the decision-making process both at the board level and throughout the organisation.
In this episode, Chris Franks, Chair - Women in Aid & Development and Adam Davids, Director - Social Ventures Australia, discuss how to effectively manage risk in a fast growing organisation. This episode covers
- What is your board’s risk appetite and how did you determine it?
- Is the board aware of how risk is managed in the organisation?
- How often should the board undertake a review of the risk management framework?
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Transparent and accountable decision making
What happens when a plan doesn't go to plan?
In this episode, Ronni Kahn, Founder - OzHarvest, and Louise Baxter, CEO - Starlight Children's Foundation, discuss how to create a culture of transparency and accountability in your organisation. This episode covers:
- What are some of the traps that organisations can fall into when things go wrong?
- The role of the board in addressing issues and learning from mistakes.
- Is the board comfortable that it has the information it needs to make informed decisions?
Host
Phil Butler
NFP Sector lead at AICD
Since 2011 Phil has led the Not for Profit Project for AICD. This project is designed to support organisations in the NFP sector to achieve their respective missions through ongoing improvements in governance and to build greater awareness of the contribution of NFP directors and support their ongoing professional development.
Louise Baxter, GAICD
As the CEO and Executive Director of The Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia, Louise leads the organisation's purpose, vision & strategic growth. For Louise, leadership of Starlight is both a responsibility and a privilege. She is often described as an inspiring & authentic leader & this is what she strives to be every day.
She is passionate about the creation of organisational purpose & believe this is key to delivering maximum impact through people. She has been successful in developing high performing teams within a culture where change is embraced & innovation is embedded.
Lisa Chung, FAICD
Lisa is an experienced non-executive director and chairman of ASX listed, private and for-purpose company boards
She has senior and board level experience in diverse sectors including commercial property, urban development and infrastructure, outdoor advertising and mass media, professional services, education and training, visual and creative arts and social and community services
Adam Davids, MAICD
Adam is a proud Aboriginal man and descendant of the Wiradjuri people. He is a Fulbright Scholar, a Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellow, and a Partner of First Nations Equity Partners.
Adam Davids was one of the pioneers behind CareerTrackers and CareerSeekers and has undertaken ground breaking work to identify global racial equity standards for businesses to make an impact with underrepresented minorities.
Adams' career and research have shed light on global issues around racial wealth inequality, the lack of diversity in leadership, and how to build sustainable and high-impact non-profits.
Chris Franks, AM, FAICD
Fellow of the AICD with over 20 years of governance experience, currently serving as Chair of Women In Aid & Development, Director of Gateway Bank, Convenor of the Chairs Circle.
Chris has extensive executive experience in fundraising, consumer research marketing, customer service in both commercial and not-for-profit sectors.
In 2020 Chris was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia, AM, for her significant service to the community through social welfare initiatives.
Vicki Hartley, GAICD
Experienced Non-Executive Director in the financial services, property, investment funds and Not-for-Profit space. Chair of Dress for Success Sydney, Treasurer of Domestic Violence Service Management and Member of the Finance and Investment Committee for Western Sydney University, Chair of Finance advisory committee to NSW Aboriginal Land Council.
Verity Hawkins, GAICD
Cancer Council ACT is a not-for-profit community organisation that aims to promote a healthier community by reducing the incidence and impact of cancer in the ACT region. We do this through funding research, cancer support and information services, advocacy, prevention and education programs.
We depend on the generosity of the ACT community providing donations and supporting fundraising initiatives like Daffodil Day, Australia's Biggest Morning Tea and Relay for Life.
Brett Herkt
Brett is a serial entrepreneur, having built several high growth businesses over the last 20 years. He's created $10M exit value in an ICT business, persevered through to a modest exit on his first startup and carried the lessons into BoardPro's burgeoning success. Brett brings tenacity, a strategic mindset, strong generalist business skills and enduring curiosity to the table.
Ronni Kahn, AO
Ronni Kahn AO is a social entrepreneur and founder of Australia’s leading food rescue charity, OzHarvest. Ronni is a passionate advocate and activist renowned for disrupting the food waste landscape in Australia. She appears regularly in national media, serves in an advisory capacity to the government, and is a sought-after keynote speaker. Her mission to fight food waste and feed hungry people is supported by some of the world's finest chefs.
Ronni is an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) and was named Australian Local Hero of the Year. Her journey is the subject of a feature film, Food Fighter directed by Dan Goldberg. In 2020 she co-authored her biography; A Repurposed Life, which was nominated for an ABIA award for Biography Book of the Year.
Kate Lidbetter, GAICD
Kate is an experienced and successful CEO, working in the arts sector in a range of leadership roles for companies limited by guarantee and statutory authorities. She is a seasoned Chairman, Director and Company Secretary of not-for-profit arts organisations as well as an industry representative on a variety of panels and committees.
Lucas Patchett, OAM
Lucas has been an Orange Sky Board Member since the organisation was founded and has played a critical role in the strategic direction and culture of Orange Sky. Lucas has been foundational to the development of Orange Sky’s strategic goals and objectives, and has driven research and development across the organisation.
Lucas was awarded the Young Australian of the year and the 2017 Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year(Northern Region) for his work at Orange Sky.
Steven Pearce, GAICD
Steven is the CEO of SLSNSW responsible for the provision of leadership and management to a salaried and volunteer workforce of 76,000 members, one of the largest volunteer based community service organisations in Australia. He is acknowledged for his leadership and stakeholder management skills leading significant transformation in numerous organisations both cultural, inclusive, governance, technical and operational.
Liesel Wett, OAM, FAICD
Liesel is one of Canberra's brightest and active leaders. Her April 2014 appointment as CEO of Pathology Australia, Now Australian Pathology, rounds out a successful appointment as CEO of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia – a position which Liesel held from 2010. In that role, Liesel led a team of over 100 staff and 25,000 Pharmacists nationally. She has strong relationships within Government, and the public and private sector and has been successful in gaining significant government funding and influencing the health policy agenda.
Liesel also holds positions as Chair of Goodwin Aged Care Services in the ACT, a position she was elected to in 2014– the leading aged care provider in Canberra.