Board Matters

Natasha Cockerell CMInstD comes from a background in architecture and is involved in a variety of residential, commercial and educational projects with a passion for creating great spaces for learning. Her governance roles include Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Beachlands School and the MoE Weathertightness Review Panel (WRP), Passive House NZ (PHINZ) Board, Chair of Prendos NZ Ltd / Respond Architects. In this episode, she shares the value of upskilling when it comes to board roles, and why architects don’t necessarily make the best directors.

What do construction and the Christchurch Arts Centre have in common? Both are a focus for Murray Dickinson CMInstD who is the Executive Director for Naylor Love Construction and Chair of The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora. Murray has extensive experience across a wide range of industries which include construction, infrastructure, transport, retail, waste management and financial institutions, with expertise in financial management, risk management, strategic planning and sustainability. In this episode, he shares how he brings his love of buildings and the arts together and why strong governance is essential for all Kiwi businesses and organisations.

Raveen Jaduram CMInstD is a dedicated infrastructure leader with over 38 years’ experience in the water environment and infrastructure. He shares his experience of working in the industry, why having too many board roles is counter productive, and whether the Kiwi attitude makes governance in Aotearoa too laid back.

David Glover CMInstD is an experienced director, chair and CEO with over 35 years’ experience working in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and Europe. He is currently on eight boards including the new national board of the Institute of Directors, chair of Trust Horizon, DevAcademy Aotearoa, and Synapsys. A chartered director, and business advisor, he co-wrote ‘Don’t worry about the Robots’ a book on technology and the future of work. In this episode, he shares why his path to governance started with a desire to help start-ups.

Marama Royal MInstD is passionate about achieving positive outcomes for whānau, especially for tamariki (children) and mokopuna (grandchildren), and has experience in strategic planning, relationship management, leadership, governance and organisational change and holds various directorship and trusteeship roles. In this episode, she explains why seconding a motion doesn’t exist in Whanau and Iwi governance, and how she developed her governance lens through ‘learning by doing’.

Lawyer Julie Read QSO MInstD, arrived in New Zealand from Australia in 2013 to work for the Serious Fraud Office. She tells Steven Moe why it's an issue when directors take on too many board roles, what happens when conflicts of interest are at play, and why minute-taking is more complex than you might think, and the importance of accuracy and timing.

Glenn Moir (CMInstD) will be the first person to tell you what failure looks like when you can’t see the forest for the trees. He discusses why expensive lessons have contributed to better long-term decisions. Starting his career, first with the NZ Forest Service in Hokitika (1985), Glenn later pursued a Ranger Certification and a Commerce Degree and was also involved in the formation of the Forest Management Group (1993) - a business involved in forest investment, management, harvesting and consulting throughout New Zealand. As well as a partner in numerous forests throughout the Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Canterbury, Otago and Southland, Glenn is also a partner in a family-owned pet food business in Southland.

What makes governance unique in New Zealand and what needs to change? That’s the premise of the new season of Board Matters hosted by Steven Moe. Over seven episodes, Steven explores the ins and outs of issues that are top of mind for directors across a range of industries from forestry to architecture, the arts and construction to infrastructure and law, with topics that include future strategies, effective decision making, resourcing for not-for-profits, risk, the role of health and safety, and the mistakes made far too often by SMEs. Board Matters is brought to you by the Institute of Directors with support from the Advanced Directors Course.

In this episode Steven talks with Chris Webber MInstD who sits on the board of health provider Te Rau Matatini (Te Rau Ora) and is a strong advocate for Māori-run health programmes. In this podcast, Webber talks about wayfinding, a concept which comes from the Pacific navigation methodology. In this context, wayfinding is about how you maintain your waka, he says. “You point it in the right direction, you take notice of all the signs that come, that you have trained to be aware of, and the island comes towards you. It’s another way of thinking about things.” Boards need to choose a destination and take notice of signs – be they changes in the world, transformations in communities or legal and regulatory challenges – as they navigate their organisations, Webber says. Chris Webber is a Member of the Institute of Directors. Connect with Chris: linkedin.com/in/chris-webber-05aaa89/ Find out more about the Advanced Directors Course: https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/advanced-directors-course-2/ Find out more about the Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.org.nz/

In this episode Steven talks with Jonathan Mason CFInstD who is the chair of Vector and sits on the boards of Air New Zealand and the University of Auckland Foundation. Jonathan talks about the importance of careful scrutiny of the financials of the organisation to keep it in a sound state and the key to protecting shareholder value. He also notes that directors must also identify, and understand the needs of, a wider group of stakeholders when making decisions. He says that there have been arguments, historically, to just look at shareholders but, today, directors must recognise that a sustainable business strategy includes a stakeholder strategy. Jonathan Mason is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors. Connect with Jonathan: linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mason-40665a16/ Find out more about the Advanced Directors Course: https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/advanced-directors-course-2/ Find out more about the Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.org.nz/

In this episode Steven Moe talks with Rachel Afeaki-Taumoepeau CMInstD about the "relative pace of Governance." Rachel is chair of the Tonga Business Council and her governance roles include sitting on the board of Ember Wellbeing Trust and the advisory board of the Auckland Council Waterfront TAG Place Committee. Rachel understands the challenges of developing in governance, based on 20 years as a “Pasifika” presence at the board table. “I did become that one woman at the table, and the table was men who were all pakeha. I became the youngest person at the table, the young female.” It is important to keep that young and open mindset as you gain experience in order to govern well in fast-changing times, rather than become set in your thinking, she says. Rachel Afeaki-Taumoepeau is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. Connect with Rachel: linkedin.com/in/rachel-afeaki-taumoepeau-cminstd-6b335b48/ Find out more about the Advanced Directors Course: https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/advanced-directors-course-2/ Find out more about the Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.org.nz/

In this episode Steven talks with Julia Chambers CMInstD who is Chair of Humble Bee ltd, a company focussed on replacing petrochemical plastics with bio-plastic substitutes. She is also a non-executive director on Lincoln Agritech Limited. Working in the start-up sector, Julia found herself shoulder-tapped to join boards. One of her big learnings was to continue to be true and to “honour the things that are important” when she moved into the boardroom. “The rate of change is accelerating,” she says, challenging directors to reflect on their personal suitability for board roles in the modern world. “If it’s not you anymore, then step aside and let someone else fill that seat. The boards I am involved with, I tell you, we are really precious about those seats and who sits in them because of the impact that having the right person, the right team, can have.” Julia Chambers is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. Connect with Julia: linkedin.com/in/julia-chambers-04a3471/ Find out more about the Advanced Directors Course: https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/advanced-directors-course-2/ Find out more about the Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.org.nz/

In this episode of Board Matters Steven talks with Samantha Sharif CMInstD. Samantha is a director of ASX-listed New Talisman Gold, SIL/MFL Mutual Funds, Motor Trades Association and is deputy chair of the NZ Shareholders Association. Samantha says understanding purpose is imperative to good governance. “The question is part of a bigger conversation around purpose and that is the lens you have got to bring to the table,” she says. It can be difficult when involved in a complex debate to keep sight of the decision you are trying to make...When that happens, bring up the “why?” Samantha Sharif is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. Connect with Samantha: linkedin.com/in/samantha-sharif-a502bb7/ Find out more about the Advanced Directors Course: https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/advanced-directors-course-2/ Find out more about the Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.org.nz/

With Māori language week coming mid September, Steven Moe sat down with Ngahihi o te ra Bidois t talk about Māori perspectives at the board table and embedding te reo and tikanga Māori in the boardroom. Among his governance roles, Bidois is the chair of the Eastern Region Fish and Game Council and the Tauhara North No. 2 Trust. He is an internationally recognised inspirational speaker. Te reo Māori is an official language of New Zealand and should be heard in our boardrooms, says Ngahihi. He says Māori would be more likely to join the governance community, and enhance its diversity, if they saw it was welcoming of Māori perspectives. Ngahihi o te ra Bidois is a Member of the Institute of Directors. Connect with Ngahihi: thefaceofnewzealand.com linkedin.com/in/ngahihibidois/ Find out more about the Advanced Directors Course: https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/advanced-directors-course-2/ Find out more about the Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.org.nz/

In this episode Steven talks with Jana Rangooni CMInstD who is chair of Paralympics New Zealand, sits on the board of Toi Mai Workforce Development Council and is the Bay of Plenty representative on the Institute of Directors National Council. In this podcast, she stresses the importance of directors having curiosity and a willingness to ask relevant questions, even if they are difficult. “One of the key roles of directors is to understand things,” she says, “and to understand what is going on in the world and the environment we operate in.” Jana Rangooni is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. Connect with Jana: linkedin.com/in/jana-rangooni-68820b38 Find out more about the Advanced Directors Course: https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/advanced-directors-course-2/ Find out more about the Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.org.nz/

In this episode Steven talks with Kevin Jenkins, founder of MartinJenkins, a professional services firm advising businesses, the public sector, international organisations, and NGOs on organisational performance, public policy, finance and economic, and how best to use data. Kevin is also a contributor to the NZ Herald newspaper and other channels, and writes on a range of governance issues for the Institute of Directors in New Zealand. Kevin asks if the Four Pillars of Governance Best Practice can be applied successfully when working at the speed of a start-up company? His answer touches on the importance of time for contemplation, an understanding of company purpose and a willingness to find efficient ways to govern. He also looks at the evolution of board reports – shorter, with better dashboards and future-focussed, and explores the rise of Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) and how these might affect decisions made by boards in the future. Kevin Jenkins is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors See Kevin’s article on DAOs here: iod.org.nz/news/articles/australia-to-legalise-daos/ Connect with Kevin: linkedin.com/in/kevinjenkinsnz/ Find out more about the Advanced Directors Course: https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/advanced-directors-course-2/ Find out more about the Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.org.nz/

In this episode Steven speaks to Giselle McLachlan, who describes herself as a down-to-earth governance and business adviser on a mission to help 1000 kiwi businesses to flourish through great governance. She is founder of Grounded Governance, Chair of AbacusBio, Councillor of Te Kaunihera Medical Council and has previously chaired the Audit Committee for the Institute of Financial Advisors and the Medical Council. Giselle says that boards need to be future-focused, and as part of this, need to have good succession planning. Directors need to be constantly evaluating their own performance and refreshing their governance skills on an ongoing basis. She also talks about boards increasingly being places where directors can bring their whole selves, not just their director personas and offers directors a challenge - stop looking at the paucity of time and start to think about how much time we do have and where we should give it. Giselle is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors. Connect with Giselle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselle-mclachlan/ Find out more about the Advanced Directors Course: https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/advanced-directors-course-2/ Find out more about the Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.org.nz/

In this episode Steven talks with Melanie Templeton who has just stepped down as Chair of PledgeMe Ltd, is an Independent Director of Motor Trade Finance and Booster Investment Management Ltd, and also sits on a number of risk and audit committees. Melanie says that directors need to constantly evaluate their skillsets to become more diverse, culturally aware and future-focused. Likewise, adaptive boards need to be culturally intelligent and have a strong emphasis on their own purpose as a foundation to build on. She says that Aotearoa New Zealand's uniqueness is drawn from te ao Māori and it's great to see it being brought more into boardroom culture and practices. Melanie also offers us a challenge as directors - to engage with our stakeholders to bring benefits to our communities and the environment in addition to shareholders. Melanie Templeton is a Member of the Institute of Directors. Connect with Melanie: linkedin.com/in/melanietempleton/ Find out more about the Advanced Directors Course: https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/advanced-directors-course-2/ Find out more about the Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.org.nz/

In this episode Steven talks with Dr. Peter Stevens, Chief Executive of GS1 NZ, an organisation which develops global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility of supply chains globally. Peter has also sat on a number of boards across the education and not-for-profit sectors. In this episode, Peter notes that boards need to know where they are heading and to set the direction of travel. Board meetings should be front-loaded with what is ahead of the organisation when directors are fresh, rather than being fixated on reporting what has happened in the past. He also challenges boards to ensure they have the right skills at the board table and asks "where are the scientists and engineers on our boards?" Dr Peter Stevens is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors Connect with Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stevens-41a6779/ Find out more about the Advanced Directors Course: https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/advanced-directors-course-2/ Find out more about the Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.org.nz/

In this episode Steven talks with Maxine Graham who is a director at Pūmau Limited, board member of Te Arataura (Waikato Tainui Tribal Executive) and has spent much of her career on the advancement of Māori in education, workforce and business initiatives. The discussion centered on "reindigenising" governance practices and how this will shape organisations in Aotearoa and across the world as the movement gathers pace. “I stand here not as myself, I stand here in the footsteps of my tūpuna to make decisions for my mokopuna to come,” says Maxine about her role in governance. A big part of how that is framed is in ‘connections’ and the relationship between people, the community and environment. We need to remember who we are serving and to acknowledge we represent those who have come before us and those who will come after. Maxine Graham is a Member of the Institute of Directors. Connect with Maxine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxine-graham-0b033a61 Find out more about the Advanced Directors Course: https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/advanced-directors-course-2/ Find out more about the Institute of Directors: https://www.iod.org.nz/