Crisis Management
Date: April 2020
This month’s articles focus on governing through COVID-19. We ask some directors about how they and their boards are adjusting to the crisis, and provide a snapshot of some leadership-related issues that directors should consider. A crisis management expert based in China outlines some of his learnings. We also hear from economists on governing in slow growth times, and speak to the CEO of the Australasian Investor Relations Association about the investor relationship implications of COVID-19 for boards.
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Role in Culture
Date: March 2020
Organisational resilience in the face of crisis is determined by a number of factors, not least of which is culture. This month’s GLC focuses on whether boards have fully embraced their role in culture, and taken steps to enhance the governance of organisational culture. We also consider how to develop a good culture within the boardroom itself.
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2020 Governance
Date: February 2020
This month we look to the year ahead. We ask four experienced directors for their views on key governance issues in 2020. We consider shareholder activism and the growing pressure on boards to focus on sustainability. We also touch on recent international developments, including changes to the law around ESG reporting in the UK, as well as the evolving nature of board leadership in Asia.
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NFP Sector
Date: December 2019
This month’s focus is the NFP sector. We look at strains on resources in the sector, as well as the capacity for and desirability of remunerating NFP directors. We also consider specific issues faced by disability and aid agencies. Finally, there is a discussion on the changing nature of the corporation and whether the divide between for-profit and not-for-profit organisations remains as relevant today.
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Innovation
Date: November 2019
This month’s focus is innovation. The Chair and CEO of CHOICE describe how innovation is prioritised at the leading consumer advocacy group. We hear from experienced directors about how boards can govern innovation. We look at market disclosure of innovation as well as the governance of start-ups. Finally, there is food for thought as Dr Dean Blomson suggests a new model of corporate governance.
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Ethics in the Boardroom
Date: October 2019
This month we consider ethics in the context of corporate governance. We also proudly launch ‘Ethics in the boardroom: A decision-making guide for directors’ – a collaboration between the AICD and The Ethics Centre.
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Governing for Stakeholders
Date: September 2019
This month we look beyond the concept of shareholder primacy to governing for stakeholders. We speak to renowned law academics, Profs Pamela Hanrahan and Ian Ramsay, about the board’s responsibility to stakeholders and possible changes to directors’ duties. We look at ways to reflect the needs of consumers and employees in boardroom decisions. Finally, we look at the benefits for boards of listening to the retail stakeholder voice.
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Board Meetings
Date: August 2019
This month we look at board meeting processes and practices. The issues we cover range from practical insights into board minute taking to contemplating the potential of new technologies like blockchain to drive great shifts in governance. We also delve into a hard-to-define, intangible quality – director chemistry – that ensures the sum of a board is far greater than its part
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Succession Planning
Date: 19 July 2019
This month we look at succession planning. We explore what is arguably the most important role of the board – appointing a CEO. We review some of the latest academic and industry research on CEO transition events, and suggest some tips to help ensure effective succession planning. We also consider the need for new thinking on the supply of future directors, as former CEOs are becoming less interested in listed-company boards. Finally, we talk to the CEO of executive search firm, Gerard Daniels, about the growing importance of the Chief Risk Officer and Chief Information Officer in many organisations, and the implications for boards.
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Culture and Remuneration
Date: 21 June 2019
This month we look at culture and remuneration. We hear from a leading company director and an AICD Senior Policy Adviser on the board’s role in relation to the remuneration of front-line employees. Tony Featherstone, the GLC’s Consulting Editor, examines the case for higher board pay. There is also discussion around how boards can better understand culture in their organisations, as well as the growing focus of institutional investors on the governance of organisation culture.
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Indigenous Governance
Date: 17 May 2019
This month we look at Indigenous governance. Highlights include insights from Indigenous lawyers and a governance expert on the relationship between western style governance and Indigenous governance. We also take a close look at the governance of two successful Indigenous organisations Purple House and the Yawuru Registered Native Title Holders Body Corporate. Finally, we consider some proposed Indigenous governance reforms.
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Reporting to the board
Date: 18 April 2019
This month we look at reporting to the board. Highlights include an interview with one of Australia’s leading directors, Kevin McCann AM FAICD; insights from the Chair of MinterEllison and the AICD Law Committee, Bruce Cowley FAICD, on how boards can ensure they’re receiving the ‘right’ information from management; and tips from AICD facilitator, Dr Judith MacCormick FAICD, on improving the quality of board reporting.
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Governance of emerging ventures
Date: 15 March 2019
This month we look at the governance of emerging ventures. We speak to one of Australia’s most influential female entrepeneurs, Jo Burston, about forming boards that suit emerging ventures. We also canvass views on when a start-up should form an advisory board and later a board of directors. We explore links between emerging ventures, the governance community and corporate social responsibility, as well as the implications for governance of the growth in private companies.
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Hot topics in 2019
Date: 15 February 2019
Five eminent directors discuss their top governance issues for 2019. We canvass the views of global governance experts on whether the governance model of banks is still appropriate for such large, complex organisations. We also consider climate risks, ACSI's just released tool on modern-slavery risks, and some technology governance issues for boards to consider in 2019.
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Performance
Date: 21 December 2018
Professor Bryan Horrigan considers whether a company’s performance and corporate governance today includes fulfilling its social licence to operate. We speak to a NFP director and former charity analyst about measuring and reporting on the performance of NFPs. We also look at board reviews, some ways to drive innovation in board processes, and the influence that index funds are having on board performance.
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Accountability
Date: 16 November 2018
This edition looks at the accountability of the board, of individual directors, the CEO and investors. Following developments in the UK, we contemplate changes which would further accountability and governance in the private sector. We look at the importance of communication and an open, respectful organisational culture as mechanisms to help ensure accountability.
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Governing in the future
Date: 19 October 2018
The Directors' Playbook: the Future of Work aims to help directors rise to the challenge of governing the future of work. This edition also includes commentary from a global governance expert on international trends, considers how directors can best equip themselves in modern workplaces, and contemplates a future with robo directors!
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Trust
Date: 21 September 2018
The 'Trust Lady' unpacks the concept of trust, while AICD Managing Director and CEO, Angus Armour FAICD, describes and explains our existing 'low trust' environment and how trust can be re-established. An AICD facilitator reflects on the role of our leaders in winning back the trust and belief of the community. The edition also touches on the relationship between trust and remuneration, the digital economy and whether boards and directors should engage in public debate.
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Corporate social responsibility
Date: 24 August 2018
This edition explores two important issues for boards relating to human rights: the intersection of human rights and technology and whether directors' duties extend to human rights issues. It considers emerging CSR issues for boards, including the implications of the Task Force for Climate-related Financial Disclosures. We provide a snapshot of our research with the University of Sydney on corporate social responsibility.
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Building better boards
Date: 20 July 2018
We look at board structure, composition and culture. There is also a summary of the latest academic and market research on governance issues.
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Organisational culture
Date: 15 June 2018
What are the key findings on organisational culture and implications for directors of the Report on the Commonwealth Bank of Australia released by APRA in May 2018?
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Decision making
Date: 18 May 2018
We look at some of the key measures affecting the quality of board decision-making. Australian researchers discuss their findings on the importance of financial statements for investor decision-making, and there is guidance for not-for-profits on effective management of financial capital.
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Disruption
Date: 18 April 2018
The GLC talks to leading entrepreneur Patrick Grove about the different approaches to governance and strategy in disrupting companies. There is a discussion of technology megatrends and how boards are responding to the opportunities and threats of disruption.
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