Take on Board

Today on the Take on Board podcast, I’m speaking with Giselle McLachlan about being a great board chair, and I’m delighted to welcome her back after her earlier appearance in the early days of video. Giselle is a reformed lawyer based in Wanaka on New Zealand’s South Island, and through her work at Grounded Governance, she coaches, teaches, facilitates workshops, and supports boards, particularly chairs, in doing their role well. We discuss why chairing is often misunderstood as simply “running the meeting,” why finishing on time isn’t the measure of good chairing, and the importance of the work before and after meetings. Giselle shares her “five Ts” framework—time, tone, talent, teamwork, and tikanga/traditions—and offers practical examples, including board connection practices, expectations for pre-reading, and how to manage differing director preferences.Links and ResourcesGiselle on LinkedInGiselle's website - Grounded GovernanceGiselle's been on the podcast before: Episode 328: Giselle McLachlan wants to help prepare your boardroom for the futureUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Watch on YouTubeJoin 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 me

Today on the Take on Board podcast, I’m speaking with Shona McGlashan about inclusive board cultures. Shona is chair of Pain BC and vice-chair and governance committee chair of Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. Shona is a governance professional, board director, and consultant who believes boards are only as effective as the culture they create.Shona discusses why everyone in the boardroom must actively create inclusion, sharing an early-career lesson about “total football” and making space for people to speak up. She outlines practical accessibility and psychological safety practices, recruitment approaches that brought millennial directors onto Pain BC’s board, and how diverse lived experience strengthens decision-making while directors are not delegates.Links and ResourcesShona on LinkedIn Shona's websiteYou can find a series of governance-related articles hereUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Watch on YouTubeJoin 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 me

This week on the Take on Board podcast, it's another Ask Me Anything. A few weeks ago, you heard me in conversation with Cathy Robinson from the Board Observership Program and Reena Rihan, an alum of the program, which led to a Q&A session with the Board Observership participants.They had so many awesome questions that we didn't get through them all in the 90-minute session. So today, Cathy is joining me again to ask me those questions. It might also be a good prompt to say I've just started a YouTube series called Ask Me Anything, where I give short, snappy responses to your governance questions. So if I don't answer your governance question today, or if you've got something not covered today or in the previous episode, send it in. Whatever your favorite way of getting in touch is, please reach out, ask me the question, and at some stage I will cover it in that YouTube short series. Links and ResourcesThe Observership ProgramEpisode 369: The Observership Program and your board futureAsk Me Anything - Send your questionsUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Watch on YouTubeJoin 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 me

Today on the Take on Board podcast, I have an insightful conversation with Sara Harrup, a governance professional, entrepreneur, and board chair with a portfolio of board roles, including deputy chair of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.We explore her journey and expertise in neuro-inclusive governance, where she focuses on designing environments that accommodate different neurocognitive styles. Sara, an autistic woman with ADHD, brings professional and personal depth to challenging traditional board dynamics.Sara shares her experiences and discusses her recent decision to evolve her neuro-inclusion frameworks, reflecting on the insights that prompted this transformation.Links and ResourcesSara on LinkedInUnique Mind co.Diversity Council of AustraliaEpisode 288: Sara Harrup explains what boards need to know about CEOs and executives who are neurodivergentEpisode 294: Sara Harrup answers the thorny questions about neurodiversity in this community Q and AUpcoming 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 me

Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Gabrielle Trenbath about her journey to the boardroom, and we'll probably touch on disability inclusion in the boardroom. Gabrielle is on the boards of the National Disability Services Board and Hartley Life Care. She has previously served on the boards of Avivo, the Disability Service Commission, the Pat Giles Centre for Non Violence, and Music for Canberra.Gabrielle is a non-executive director with seven years' governance experience across community and human services. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a chartered secretary, she works in the Australian Public Service in diversity, equity and inclusion, bringing lived experience of disability and a strong focus on strategy and impact.  Links and ResourcesGabrielle Trenbath on LinkedInDisability Leadership InstituteThe Observership ProgramUpcoming 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 me

Today on the Take on Board podcast, we're hosting a Take on Board community Q&A with Sarah Gray on managing perimenopause and menopause in the boardroom. This is the event that followed Helga and Sarah's mid-July conversation about managing perimenopause and menopause in the boardroom.Today, the women of the Take on Board community gathered to ask whether boards should have a menopause policy, how to handle resistance from people who think women should just “get on with the job,” and practical ways chairs and directors can create supportive conditions.Sarah recommends starting with education and awareness before policy, putting menopause on the governance agenda, and creating practical supports like comfortable meeting environments, earlier board papers, buddying up, confidential routes to seek help, and permission for short comfort breaks.She also discusses confidence and self-perception, encourages seeking feedback, and offers nutrition tips for meetings—hydration and brain-supporting snacks such as nuts and seeds (including walnuts) instead of lollies.Links and ResourcesEpisode 365: (Peri)menopause and the boardroom: what you need to know with Sarah GraySarah's Book: It's Not You It's PerimenopauseSarah's website: The Nutrition Pharmacist 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 me

Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Micaela Drieberg about  board reports and her lessons learned from both sides of the table. Micaela, CEO of Gender Equity Victoria is a strategic, collaborative leader with over 20 years of experience across for-purpose sectors, including all three levels of government, universities, not-for-profit organisations and peak bodies. Micaela has previously served as a Mayor and Ministerial Adviser.In addition to her work with GEN VIC she is also a Teaching Associate with Monash University and participates in several government advisory bodiesLinks and ResourcesMicaela Drieberg 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 me

Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Pam Macdonald about the importance of the relationship between the chair and the CEO. Pam is the deputy chair of Intereach and president of Active Education Australia. She was formerly on the boards of Remembrance Park Central Victoria, Golden Dragon Museum, National Chinese Museum Australia, Community Foundation Central Victoria, Women's Housing Limited, Career Development Association, and the Australian Human Resources Institute. Pam has over 20 years' experience as a director and as a human resources professional, two skill sets she combines with her strategic mindset to ensure that the people and processes aspects of effective governance are brought to the fore.An experienced facilitator, Pam views the board as a team, albeit one with significant responsibility and the opportunity to harness the collective capability around the table to best serve the organization and community. Her consulting business also involves mentoring and coaching directors and board chairs from time to time, especially those referred to her when they are facing challenges. Links and ResourcesPam MacDonald 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 me