Better Boards Conference 2026
Pathfinders – Governing with Courage
31 July - 1 August • Cairns Convention Centre
Presentation
How a Courageous Board Overcame the Blind Spots of Success
Paul Ostrowski
Chief Executive Officer, Latrobe Community Health Service
Paul commenced as Chief Executive Officer at Latrobe Community Health Service in 2023 and has worked extensively with both NFP and commercial in-home care services.
In his 25 years in the sector, Paul has led and supported organisations in Australia, North America, Asia and Europe, giving him insights into the strengths and weakness of many community care systems.
In addition to his CEO roles, Paul has held director roles in health in Australia, Hong Kong, Canada and the United States. Paul has a Bachelor of Engineering, a Masters of Management, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
In 2023, Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS) was already a highly successful independent community health organisation; supported by an experienced board, a strong balance sheet, and 1,500 dedicated staff. With the retirement of a long-standing CEO, the board sought new leadership with a mission to continue the formula; to preserve the foundations of LCHS’s success and ensure continuity.
Yet just months later, the board demonstrated genuine courage by asking a deeper question: “Are the governance systems that enabled our success so far still right for the future?”
What followed was a two-year governance transformation that reshaped how the Board engages with strategy, monitors compliance in a complex world, and partners with the executive team. Through deliberate reflection, challenging conversations and a willingness to let go of legacy practices, the board created the space to critically evaluate shifts in community need, health system reform, and organisational scale.
Today, board deliberations are richer; strategy is genuinely shared; and the classic ‘compliance versus performance’ tension has been rebalanced.
This case study will share practical insights and tools from the journey, including:
- How success can create blind spots and emerging risks for boards, and how to recognise them early.
- How even high performing boards can drift into operational detail, and what governance signals indicate it’s time to step back.
- A practical framework for enabling top down and bottom up strategy renewal that strengthens the board-CEO partnership.
- How a courageous governance review can produce unexpected benefits, from clarified accountabilities to improved strategic focus.
Attendees will leave armed with key questions to ask, reflective prompts, and insights on how to strengthen board capability, support their CEO, and lead their organisation with courage.
Master the art of the boardroom
Receive the Better Boards Newsletter
Sign up to the Better Boards Newsletter for regular content for directors and CEOs of NFP organisations, receive articles, conference information and webinar notices.
Conference Partners
