Take on Board

This week on the Take on Board podcast, I sharing my recap from the Climate Governance Forum in August 2024. It’s sponsored by AICD and these events are always fantastic for learning and networking. This year was no different. Some of the major moments for me are when speakers emphasized the importance of climate governance as a critical transformation since the Industrial Revolution. So we need to pay attention.There were takeaways that are important for boards: including the recent passage of a climate-related financial disclosure scheme, mandatory climate reporting, and the integration of sustainability into business operations. The forum highlighted the need for organizations to understand their environmental footprint, set targets, and address stakeholder views. The importance of nature-positive principles and regenerative practices was also stressed.Links and ResourcesTask Force on Climate-related Financial DisclosuresGlobal Nature Positive Summit Upcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me

Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Dominique Hes about how an organisation that has never had a long term strategy got started.   This is a ‘bonus episode’ in the Take on Board deep dive into strategy. Dominique reached out to me with a good story to tell, so we’re here to share it!  Dominique is on the board and Chair of Greenfleet. She has formerly been on the boards of Living Futures Institute of Australia and Trust for Nature.   Dominique is an author, educator, policy advisory and regenerative thinker. She started researching and writing on regenerative development, biophilia and placemaking in 2005, working in sustainability since 1994. Her focus is on real projects, on the ground and all the messy conversations that enable it to evolve and resolute with place. She is a board director and chair of Greenfleet and on the Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group.  PLEASE NOTE: Whilst we are talking about strategy … I also need to do a trigger warning on this episode where we touch on child abduction and PTSD. If you’d like to avoid that part of the discussion, we’ll make a note in the show notes about when you can skip to. It’s likely to be at around the 10m mark, after the introduction part. Or, of course, just skip this episode if these topics will be challenging for you, or tune in and reach out for support if you need it. Links and ResourcesDominique Hes on LinkedInUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me

Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Jamie Brunson about how her board guided the organization through the pandemic.Jamie is on the boards of Greater Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Avenue of the Arts, ArtPhilly, Stories to Grow By, and First Person Arts.  And has previously been on the boards of … Philadelphia Cultural Fund (Mayoral Appointee), Avenue of the Arts Board, City of Philadelphia Dept. of Behavioral Health Exec Committee, Mental Health Assoc, Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia  Jamie J is the Executive Director of First Person Arts, is an artist/activist using storytelling to build community and catalyze dialogue around important issues, especially those issues impacting the unheard. Jamie was named a 2022 NEA/ Delaware Division of the Arts Established Artist Fellow in Literature: Playwriting, executive producer of two documentary films, producer of 13 annual First Person Arts Festivals of memoir and documentary art, host of WHYY’s Philadelphia Revealed Podcast (July 2024); WHYY’s Commonspace Radio Hour and Podcast series (2018), and COVID Stories – A Digital Memoir (2020). She is a Creator of FPA’s Applied Storytelling division where storytelling activities are customized to build communities. Brunson holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College and BA from Temple University. Links and ResourcesJamie J. Brunson on LinkedInFirst Person ArtsUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me

Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Andrea Fernandes about communicating strategy.Andrea is on the board – and Acting President- of YWCA Hunter, an organisation that exists to connect, empower and support women and families.  Andrea has been involved in the for-purpose sector for nearly twenty years and continues to love the work. Besides serving on the board, Andrea is the Strategy & Planning Manager at YSAS, a large youth specific community organisation that works with young people and families across Victoria. Andrea has participated in The Observership Program, and recently completed studies with the AICD to enhance her skills alongside others in the boardroom. She happily spends her days in a strategy and planning role at YSAS, one of Australia's largest youth-specific community service organisations.Links and ResourcesAndrea on LinkedInThe Observership Program RACI Framework IAP2 Public Participation Spectrum The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier Strategy Mini-SeriesEpisode 267: Strategy mini series – Su Jella knows how to report against strategy and has tips for youEpisode 266: Strategy mini series – Denise North explains how you implement and monitor board strategyEpisode 265: Strategy Mini-Series – Felicity Green starts by developing and reviewing strategyEpisode 264: A dive deep into strategic planning with the latest Take on Board podcast mini-series!Upcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me

Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Su Jella on reporting against strategy. Su Jella helps to drive data and AI revolutions and opportunities. A visionary in Data, Analytics, and AI, Su doesn't merely confront the question, "What do we do with all this data?", she transforms this challenge into an enlightening journey of discovery, deriving actionable insights that fuel smarter business decisions.   Su's expertise is anchored in a groundbreaking approach - she integrates her leadership with a human-centric perspective blended with data-driven strategies and a deep technical acumen. Her collaborative work with boards and C-suite executives aligns data strategies with overarching business goals, paving the way for impactful, ethical decision-making.  Su's influence extends far beyond data. She is a passionate advocate for community building, a champion for women in leadership and STEM, a mentor and avid contributor to podcasts and writing about Leadership, Data and AI.  Su was recently awarded a Winner of Women in AI in Asia Pacific and also recognised as Australia's Top 25 Analytics Leaders. Links and ResourcesSu Jella on LinkedInThe Art of War by Sun Tzu Strategy Mini-SeriesEpisode 266: Strategy mini series – Denise North explains how you implement and monitor board strategyEpisode 265: Strategy Mini-Series – Felicity Green starts by developing and reviewing strategyEpisode 264: A dive deep into strategic planning with the latest Take on Board podcast mini-series!Upcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me

Today on the Take on Board podcast, I’m speaking with Denise North about implementing and monitoring strategy.  Denise is on the board of INSEAD Directors Network - an Alumni Group for IDP-Cs and a Director of own business, Denise North Consulting.   She has a long list of prior governance roles, including being:  Chair of the Advisory Board for Catherine Henry Lawyers Chair of Advisory Board  Chair of the INSEAD Alumni Association Australia & New Zealand Limited  Chair of Streetwize Communications Limited And roles at the Australian Society of Orthodontists Inc, Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Sydney University and Armidale Development Corporation Deputy Chair.  Denise brings a range of perspectives to the board room drawing on her years as a NED in the NFP, academic and government sectors and from her executive experience in professional services firms, start-ups and listed companies.   As an advisor, Denise works directly with boards to support them in reviewing their performance, developing and monitoring their organisation’s strategy and improving their board and executive leadership interactions. Links and ResourcesDenise North on LinkedInStrategy Mini-SeriesEpisode 265: Strategy Mini-Series – Felicity Green starts by developing and reviewing strategyEpisode 264: A dive deep into strategic planning with the latest Take on Board podcast mini-series!Upcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me

Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Felicity Green about developing and reviewing strategy. Felicity is on the boards of The Royal Children's Hospital Foundation and WaterAid Australia. She has previously been on the boards of Connected Communities Melbourne  Felicity is the co-founder of impact-led consulting practice, Ensemble Strategy, helping clients across the Not for Profit, government and philanthropic sectors to create strategies for a safer, fairer and more sustainable world. Previous to this venture, Felicity was the CEO of Spark Strategy. With an MBA from Peking University, multiple Not for Profit Board positions and recognition as a finalist in the Telstra Business Woman of the Year Awards, she has a proven track record of innovative strategic thinking that drives tangible impact. Links and ResourcesHumans of PurposeUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me

This week on Take on Board, you are hearing from me! I am excited to launch our first ever Take on Board mini-series on strategy.Over the next 5 weeks (including this one) you will be hearing from a series of guests on strategy, purpose and vision and I am very excited. The goal with this mini series- to make strategy accessible for all of you. So over the next several weeks we have an exciting and helpful strategy lineup ready for you. Felicity Green is a board member of the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation in Victoria and WaterAid, Australia and she takes us through developing strategy.Denise North knows loads about implementing and monitoring strategy. She’s on the boards of the INSEAD Directors Network, and runs her own business, Denise North Consulting. Then, I am speaking to Su Jella, from the Women's Tennis Foundation. Su takes us through data and reporting against strategy. And last but certainly not least in our first ever Take on Board mini-series is my chat with Andrea Fernandes, the president of YWCA Hunter, who gives us the lowdown on effectively communicating strategy.Links and ResourcesEpisode 255: Mel Sherrin unpacks the AICD Not-for-Profit Governance Principles and how all boards can use them SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results) free toolsPESTLE prompts free toolEpisode 102: Morgana Ryan on developing a board strategy (part 1)Episode 103: Morgana Ryan on developing a board strategy (part 2) The three Ps of strategic planning Upcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me

Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Christine Miller about diversity in the boardroom. Christine is on the boards of Advisory boards on: BioNJ, Antimicrobials Working Group, HBA. She has previously been on the boards of Iveric Bio.  Christine Miller is currently the President and CEO of Melinta Therapeutics, where she is accelerating transformation, and redefining the portfolio from pure play antibiotics to become a leader in the acute care space. Christine loves working in the healthcare space. She says: "The potential to drive innovation and transformation for companies, teams, stakeholders and patients – is the compass that guides my purpose. But a leader’s job is more than driving innovation – it’s about making sure there is honesty and meaning behind your purpose to ensure you’re always doing the right thing at the right time, no matter how hard things get."Links and ResourcesChristine Miller on LinkedInThe Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. CoveyAll episodes of Broads on Boards are out now!Upcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me