Welcome to the Better Boards Conference 2014!
We will be blogging over the whole weekend so keep checking back at this page for the latest updates on what’s happening around the conference. Whether you’re attending this year or keeping an eye on proceedings from a distance, we’ll have plenty of updates and highlights to share with you. Please feel free to engage with us here in the comments below or through social media. We will also be tweeting from @betterboards, share your tweets with us and other delegates by using the hashtag #betterboards
This Live Blog is now closed. FollowSaturday’s coverage here.
This marks the end of our coverage of events for Friday 1st of August 2014 at the Better Boards Conference. We hope you enjoyed our coverage of CEO’s Day and the Board Innovation Tour and look forward to welcoming many of you back tomorrow for the Main Conference event of the 2014 Better Boards Conference. Thank you to all of our wonderful speakers and sponsors.
5.05pm
And this marks the end of proceedings of CEO’s Day and the Board Innovation Tour. We trust that all delegates have found the experience enlightening and rewarding. We look forward to welcoming many of you back tomorrow morning before 9am for the commencement of the Main Conference. Make sure you remember to bring your Main Conference tickets and lanyards tomorrow! For those of you following online, we hope you’ll join us again tomorrow morning.
4.50pm

4.26pm
Insights from the Board Innovation Tour: Tony Vaughan, Acting CEO has outlined an organisation with a clear vision of its future and is moving to take a proactive role in prevention of health through innovative programs such as tele health, while maintaining their well established and successful emergency response operations.
4.18pm
"When you believe in something wholeheartedly it's an incredibly place to be" – @nzecoman #betterboards #inspiration
— Ideas Hoist (@IdeasHoist) August 1, 2014
4.05pm
It must be a busy day, over at the Board Innovation Tour. We’ve had some fantastic photos coming through from the Royal Flying Doctors Service Central Operations and hangar.

3.40pm
Thoughts from the Board Innovation Tour:
Both CEO and Deputy Chair of Adelaide Festival Centre have emphasised the need for the board to understand their role in the organisation; provide accountability, monitor and supervise, strategy formulation and policy making. All roles should have accountability and performance with a strong emphasis on the CEO/Board relationship.
3.37pm
Let's take a closer look at the slide behind @AdelaideFesCent Deputy Chair Bill Spur #betterboards pic.twitter.com/lU4TjTd2uw
— Better Boards (@betterboards) August 1, 2014
3.20pm
Get outside your silo or industry and think about the vast NFP sphere andto innovation – are we open to change? #ceochallenges #betterboards
— Better Boards (@betterboards) August 1, 2014
3.19pm
It's not just about mergers and amalgamations but alliances and collaborations. Our strengths lie in diversity #betterboards
— Better Boards (@betterboards) August 1, 2014
3.18pm
Thoughts from the CEO's Challenges session: We have to compete with others (corporates, etc.) in our industries or die #betterboards
— Better Boards (@betterboards) August 1, 2014
3.14pm
And the CEO’s Challenges session has taken off! Delegates were asked to vote on their major challenges and then Conference Chair Michael Goldsworthy and MC Keith Suter will take to the floor for questions and discussions on each issue.
3.01pm
The Board Innovation Tour is now at the Adelaide Festival Centre. CEO Douglas Gautier is telling delegates how the recovery of the Adelaide Festival Centre over the previous decade has been driven by quality programs marketed hard, fulfilling their public purpose & taking on leadership roles within industry (e.g. chairing Regional Performing Arts Centre Association).
1.46pm
Next up: The ever-popular CEO Round Tables. CEOs get the opportunity to hash out some important issues, facilitated by one of our excellent presenters, in the intimate environment of a round table of 10-12 other CEOs.
1.40pm
It’s lunch time on the Board Innovation Tour – at the National Wine Centre!
1.30pm
Lunch with the CEOs #betterboards pic.twitter.com/5qbEokOlyy
— Community Data Solns (@communityds) August 1, 2014
12.45pm
The Board Innovation Tour just heard from Phoenix Society CEO Paul Stevenson – “We still need to automate to stay efficient and effective and compere on the open market place.” This drives Phoenix to source more work for workers replaced and also leads to more interesting & engaging work for employees. Along with the ever present financial challenge, Paul Stevenson has labelled the NDIS as one of the organisation’s biggest challenges. While great for the disabled the combination of decreased funding, increasing wage expenses, increased competition and increased client mobility has created the perfect storm for existing providers.
12.35pm
We’ve had some updates from the Board Innovation Tour. They’re currently at the Phoenix Socety’s headquarters.
Chair, Graeme Bethune is speaking on rethinking, reinventing and relaunching Phoenix. Graeme says the conference theme encapsulates the organisation’s journey. Professionalised board, skills focus/”contemporary corporate experience” led to greater focus on organisational performance and strategy. The organisation source a CEO in the last 12 months with relevant corporate experience to help run as a community enterprise, focus on future challenges.
12.18pm
#betterboards Innovation Tour at @PhoenixSoc CEO speaks on how to stay efficient & effective on the open market place pic.twitter.com/NVXmpJG67N
— Better Boards (@betterboards) August 1, 2014
12.05pm

11.55am
“How can NFPs step outside the box and try something different/commercialise when they’re up against concerning public perceptions?”– Vera Visevic
11.40am
The next set of concurrent workshops is about to start. Choose from Corrinne Armour on “The Neuroscience of Trust: Creating an environment to ReInvent, ReThink and ReLaunch”, Vera Visevic on “Untangling the “not” in not-for-profit: Advice on commercialising your NFP”, Grant Hooper on “The Changing Funder Landscape: Do you know your audience?” and finally Sharon Ferrier on ““Passive, Pushy or Persuasive?” How to influence others to action”
11.25
@JoanneOBrien from @CRHMarketing just presented on Staff + Volunteers. How do you balance the tension? #betterboards pic.twitter.com/InfBeeaDfJ
— Better Boards (@betterboards) August 1, 2014
11.00am
Simon Matthias also notes the value of relationships and partnerships. Recognition also includes named buildings. “No longer in the business of asking, we are in the business of saying thank you”
Simon’s important things:
- Never stop talking about the need
- Seek endorsements
- Communicate progress
- Celebrate the milestones
- Thank & recognise.
10.51am
Simon Matthias the General Manager of Leukaemia Foundation SA/NT has highlighted for delegates the need for a long term approach to fundraising.
The Leukaemia Foundation built into this process strong volunteer/sponsor recognition (e.g. pavers, gardens, names of apartments, themed apartments. Below is a photo of a themed apartment for the Ferrari Club of Australia (SA)
10.45am
There are some great highlights coming through from our staff on the Board Innovation Tour.
Tour delegates are currently visiting the Leukaemia Foundation’s comprehensive treatment services village for people with blood cancer. Photo below:
10.30am
Thank you to David Cooke for his excellent opening keynote. After morning tea, CEO’s Day delegates will be heading to a choice of four concurrent workshops.
Up next: Joanne O’Brien is speaking on “Staff + Volunteers – Managing the Tension”, Philip Oude-Vrielink‘s workshop is on “Strategically Relevant Culture Regeneration – Your optimal culture and how to create it”, Kate Preiss and Ben Teoh are presenting “What the Tech? Using the latest trends in technology for better outcomes” and Wayne Turner‘s workshop is “Surviving and Thriving: Adapting your business model to compete in a market-driven environment”
10.12am

10.10am
Why do corporates give?
1. It's the right thing to do. 2. Risk mitigation 3. Enlightened self interest. #betterboards
— The Social Deck (@TheSocialDeckPR) August 1, 2014
10.03am
Dave Cooke says NFP CEOs are different – wonderful people! We need to shift mindset when influencing in Corporate boardroom #betterboards
— Corrinne Armour (@corrinnearmour) July 31, 2014
9.05am
David Cooke in his opening keynote on a new paradigm in corporate partnerships
8.45am
Good morning Board Members! We are now accepting registrations for the Board Innovation Tour. Head on over to the registration desk and the friendly staff will let you know what to do to get ready for the Tour.
8.30am
Good morning CEOs! The registration desk is all set up here at the Adelaide Convention Centre and we’re ready to go. Come to us to sign in, collect your delegate packs (our 2014 Better Boards Conference Magazine and the excellent delegate tote bags) and for any and every enquiry over the weekend.
8.15am
This year we are running two Friday events concurrently. The always-popular CEO’s Day will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, the same venue as the main conference, and offers CEOs of non-profit organisations the chance to explore the issues, challenges, rewards, risks and opportunities peculiar to their role. At the same time, we will be trying something new and exciting with our much-anticipated, sold-out Board Innovation Tour. The Tour kicks off at the Convention Centre, but will be taking a bus-load of delegates to a number of fantastic venues and locations around Adelaide to hear presentations from representatives of a few local non-profit organisations. This is an excellent opportunity for board members to get out and about with their ‘board member’ hat on, and hear ideas, innovations, strategies and experiences with a range of other directors. And don’t forget – lunch is at the National Wine Centre!
8.00am
Welcome to all new and returning delegates to the 8th Australasian Better Boards Conference. This year we are coming to you from Adelaide, at the wonderful Adelaide Convention Centre. We are looking forward to welcoming some new local faces in addition to many returning and the growing number travelling over from New Zealand.