Articles written By Better Boards

Flying Minutes

Jump to Section When to use flying minutes How to conduct a flying minute After the vote Example of a flying minute Common mistakes Flying minutes vs circular resolutions Using a board portal for flying minutes Frequently Asked Questions Related Terms Additional Resources A flying minute is a decision made and recorded by a board outside of its normal meeting schedule. The term is widely used in not-for-profit, government, and incorporated association settings, particularly in Australia and New Zealand.

AI Governance for Charity and Not-for-Profit Boards

Boards, executives and staff of charities and not-for-profits are increasingly using and being told to incorporate AI or be left behind. Join us for a panel discussion on governance considerations relating to the adoption, implementation and management of AI for charities and not-for-profits. Led by Vera Visevic, Partner in the NFPs, Human Rights and Social Impact team at Mills Oakley, the panel discussion will include the expertise of Llewellyn Spink (AI Corporate Governance Lead at the Human Technology Institute at the University of Technology Sydney), Bel Temby (Founder and Website Partner at Digital Services Lab and co-founder and board member of The Mallacoota Wilderness Collective Inc) and Tammy Ven Dange (Strategic IT Advisor for Associations and NFPs, Roundbox Consulting).

Navigating Not-for-profit and Charity Mergers

Join us for a focused, expert-led webinar from Moores on the legal and practical considerations that apply to Not-for-Profit Mergers. Whether you’re exploring your options or ready to make the leap, this webinar will unpack the complexities of not-for-profit and charity mergers across areas including governance, property, contracts and employment. You’ll hear actionable insights into: Governance design and board duties in a merged entity Property transfers and lease obligations Contract novation, assignment and risk allocation

Governing Toward 2035

This webinar is free to all - limited to 100 seats. Governing in 2035 seems like a world away. Governing for today is one thing, governing for tomorrow is another. For directors and CEOs who take the long view, this webinar will identify the emerging and known parameters that will guide their board’s strategic thinking, discussion and decisions about the mid - long term governance of their organisation. The practical application of such an approach impacts all elements and processes of a board’s governance, a prime example being the determination of strategic intent, strategic trajectory and strategic destiny of one’s organisation, which are absolutely mission critical elements as a board develops a new strategic plan.

Common Accounting Terms for Not-for-profit Organisations

Having a good level of financial understanding can enable an organisation’s board members to make better decisions about the financial future of the organisation they serve. Understanding common accounting terms can help boards to better understand and systematically record financial transactions, track spending and revenue, and interpret financial statements. While they may not have the expertise to conduct reviews or audits, boards are in a unique position to provide oversight of accounting activities.

Emotional Intelligence in the Boardroom

Strong governance goes beyond technical skills — emotional intelligence (EQ) is the hidden driver of effective leadership and board performance. In this webinar, Sanela Osmic GAICD, Founder & CEO of Ethical Governance and author of Leading with Emotional Intelligence: A Guide for Board Directors, will share practical strategies to enhance decision-making, strengthen collaboration, and navigate complex boardroom dynamics. Attendees will gain: Tools to apply EQ in high-stakes governance situations. Insights into fostering trust, collaboration, and constructive dialogue.

Critical Thinking in the Boardroom

In this webinar, you will learn how to consider and apply critical thinking to aid in improved decision-making within the boardroom. This session will explore how directors can challenge assumptions, evaluate evidence and make more confident, informed and relevant decisions in the ever-changing and complex organisation environments we find ourselves in today. Key takeaways from this webinar: Understand the foundations of critical thinking and its relevance to governance Learn practical tools to improve decision-making at a board level, and under constraints Explore common cognitive biases and how to overcome them Discover how to foster a culture of inquiry and constructive challenge Apply critical thinking effectively to real world board scenarios and drive organisational excellence.

Governance Red Flags

Whether your board operates in a traditional, contemporary or exemplary governance model, one always needs to be lookout governance red flags. Red flags are alerts, be they evidence, insights, observations or signals that brings one’s attention to adverse governance organisational or service attitudes, behaviours, work practices, incidents or events that may involve the board, directors, the chief executive officer, executives, staff or other stakeholders. Given boards govern an organisation, the chief executive officer leads the organisation and managers manage the organisation; it is important to acknowledge that whilst they all operate at different levels, they also operate within some common legislative and standards, compliance and quality frameworks.

Beyond the Board Skills Matrix - Leadership Capacity Planning

The value of a board skills matrix goes beyond checking off a few boxes. Diverse boards are vital to an organisation’s long-term success and ability to self-assess. Yet, many non-profit leaders feel unequipped to manage certain aspects of their oversight responsibilities. A report from Stanford University found that 70% of nonprofit board directors don’t have a succession plan in place and that a third are dissatisfied with their ability to evaluate the performance of their organisation.

Writing Effective Resolutions - Tips on How to Write a Clear and Actionable Board Resolution

Using best practices to write a board resolution is an important step for directors who want to be accountable to their members and beneficiaries. The decisions board directors make represent the final authority of an organisation and, consequently, can have repercussions, not only on the governance of the entity but on its ability to operate. Resolutions formalize important decisions made by the board by putting them in writing. Having a clear process for writing, presenting, and voting on resolutions is essential to helping a board meet its legal obligations to ASIC and other regulators.