How Committees and Boards function
What is “governance” and why is it important?
The common requirements and routines of serving on Committees or Boards.
Good induction practices and what to ask for and look for in your first months as a Committee member. Tips on getting settled and key guiding documents to get your hands on.
How Committees and Boards work to make decisions. Debating issues and your responsibilities to make informed decisions.
Covering formal meetings and looking at the different roles undertaken during meetings as well as simple and effective meeting procedures and making and recording decisions.
Ways to raise and explore sensitive issues, how and when to invite additional expertise, as well as how to navigate sensitive conversations.
Things to consider when sharing insights – and engaging in environments with a diversity of skills, expertise and experience.
How to consider and understand advice, information or technical matters that you’re less familiar with.
Finance, risk and HR
Overview of key risks and questions to ask about the organisation’s legal structure and approaches that can minimise risks.
How to spot a conflict of interest and what to do about it.
Understanding the basic financials all Board/Committee members need to be across.
What do we mean by risk and compliance and why it’s important? Tips to navigate the basics and sound like a pro.
A deeper dive into finance and risk issues you’ll need to be across as a more senior governance member.
Some Boards or Committees are employers and need to look after staff.
Legal matters
How to find out about the internal and external rules that apply to different types of organisations, based on the organisation’s legal structure.
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All Board and Committees need to adhere to laws such as privacy and safety laws and the like. Some even operate in areas with special legislation like Child Protection laws.
Delivering the mission
Exploring how the organisation is delivering on its purpose and meeting its obligations.
How information, reporting, transparency and integrity of key information builds accountability and good decision-making.
Boring … but essential!
Ensuring the organisation regularly seeks and incorporates member and stakeholder feedback, and provides avenues for engagement.
About you
What might you bring to your committee or board and how will that gel with the skills of others? How the diversity of skills, experience, character traits and ways of working together are important for good governance.
Some tips about what to find out about the organisation before you join to see if it’s the right fit for you.
Tools and resources to help build your skills along your governance journey.