Better Boards Conference 2026
Pathfinders – Governing with Courage
31 July - 1 August • Cairns Convention Centre
Presentation
Setting Sail: Nautical Insights on Director's Governance Roles and Responsibilities
Aaron Goldsworthy
Senior Consultant, Australian Strategic Services
A Senior Consultant with Australian Strategic Services for over 10 years Aaron assists boards and individual directors to understand and enact the practical work of a director. He has worked with a wide variety of not for profit, charitable and private boards, chief executive officers and executives on a range of projects. These include board reviews, strategy facilitation and strategic plan development, business development, amalgamations and mergers, industry big picture trends and research, and advising on and developing governance and risk management frameworks.
To practically and effectively fulfil their governance roles and responsibilities directors must first understand them.
In this engaging and informative presentation, Aaron will provide new or enhanced understandings of a director’s governance roles and responsibilities, especially strategic leadership, by reframing the role of directors to that of Admirals, who via their strategic leadership responsibility must set the course for a desired future, monitor the winds of change and more to keep their boat seaworthy and safe.
The presentation will also explore the practice of Polynesian wayfinders and how their art and science of non-instrument navigation provides lessons and ideas for directors on strategic leadership.
Master the art of the boardroom
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