Articles written By Better Boards

Stepping Up: Mastering the Role of Chairperson

Many directors are thrust into the chairperson or president position by default, often because they have the most tenure or because no one else stepped forward. This panel offers chairpersons at any stage of their career — aspiring, new, or experienced — practical advice and strategies to refine their chairing skills. The panel will explore a variety of crucial topics that contribute to an effective board/chairperson dynamic including these key questions:

What is a Disqualified Person?

If your Australian charity or not-for-profit is unsure whether an individual serving on its board or committee (or applying to serve) is a Disqualified Person, the first step is to understand the definition of a ‘Responsible Person’. The next is to review whether the rules set out by regulators have been followed. Under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), Australia has strict governance standards that ensure charities make reasonable efforts to check whether the people they select as board members, committee members, and trustees are not disqualified from managing a corporation or from being selected as a Responsible Person.

Best Practice Governance for Better Board Decision-Making

Understanding and implementing best practices in governance is crucial for boards to make informed, effective decisions. How do structured processes enhance board decision-making? Why are rigorous procedures and detailed record-keeping fundamental? How can directors leverage governance tools to enhance their decision-making? In this session, Tamara Barr draws on two decades of experience in Company Secretary roles as she covers the tools and best practice processes employed by highly effective boards. She will explore the essential tools and systems that keep boards performing at their best, enhancing overall functionality and decision-making efficiency.

Risk Register

Having a risk register is a critical part of a non-profit’s toolkit for managing risks. If your organisation regularly plans large, long, or complex projects, collects personal information, or works with vulnerable people, it can become difficult to manage the risks as they grow. Developing internal resources to manage important risk areas like cyber security, climate, protecting vulnerable people, avoiding financial abuse, and ethically working with partners becomes critical. What is a Risk Register?

Straw Poll

Straw polls play an important role in the work Board Directors do, helping them get a clear picture of everyone’s opinion so they can align decisions and priorities with wider views. In general, polls are used to make organisations more democratic. Many Not-for-profit Boards, operating in Western nations, are an extension of democratic values and practices. Straw polls are one of the earliest forms of democratic voting and have been around since the revolutions of the 19th century.

Unlock Your Board's Potential With Effective Board Assessments

In this webinar Raphael will explore how you can use board evaluation to unlock your board’s full potential. Board and director assessment, when done well, is a powerful tool for enhancing your board’s performance, effectiveness and composition. In this webinar we’ll cover: Understanding Board Evaluations: Explore the purpose, methodology, and benefits of conducting thorough board evaluations and assessment. Board and Individual Director Benefits: Gain insights into how evaluations contribute to overarching governance quality, individual director growth, and the strategic alignment of the board with the organisation’s strategic direction.

Board of Directors

Definition and Fundamental Role The Board of Directors refers to a group of individuals elected or appointed to act as representatives of the stakeholders of an organisation, overseeing its strategic direction, financial health, and overall policy. The board’s paramount duty is ensuring the organisation’s prosperity by collectively directing the organisation’s affairs while meeting the appropriate interests of its shareholders (in the case of for-profit entities) or members (in not-for-profit organisations).

Chief Executive Officer

Introduction to the CEO Role The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), is the top executive position within an organisation, tasked with making major corporate decisions, managing the overall operations and resources of the company, and being the main point of communication between the board of directors and the corporate operations. This role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities that can vary depending on the organisation’s size, culture, and industry, but fundamental aspects of the role are consistent across the board.

Chairperson

A chairperson, also commonly referred to as the chairman, chairwoman or simply chair, holds a pivotal position in the structure of many organisations, ranging from corporate entities to academic institutions, and indeed in not-for-profit organisations. The role and responsibilities of a chairperson, while varying somewhat depending on the specific regulatory and organisational context, fundamentally embody leadership, governance, and oversight functions designed to steer the organisation towards achieving its mission, goals, and objectives.

Bylaws

An Overview Bylaws are a set of rules or guidelines created by an organisation to govern its actions, operations, and decision-making processes. These provide a structured framework to manage internal affairs and guide the behaviour of its members, ensuring that activities are conducted in a consistent and orderly manner. Bylaws can vary between organisations but commonly address key aspects such as the organisation’s purpose, membership requirements, governance structure, officer roles and responsibilities, meeting protocols, voting procedures, and processes for making amendments.