Governance Bites

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Governance Bites, independent director David Whyte reflects on more than 20 years of governance experience across New Zealand and Australia. Drawing on senior leadership roles in financial services and board appointments, David shares lessons on leadership, boardroom dynamics, managing conflicts of interest and navigating regulatory relationships. He also explor...

Send us Fan Mail How much industry knowledge does a director really need? In this Governance Bites interview, Jerry Hall and Mark Banicevich explore why directors need to understand not only their industry, but also the regulatory, technological and other changes affecting it. They discuss the importance of directors doing their own homework rather than relying solely on management, and how boards...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich speaks with Giselle McLachlan about one of the toughest questions every board must face: When is the right time for a director to step down? They explore board renewal, succession planning, term limits, chair succession, and how directors can recognise when they are no longer adding value. Giselle McLachlan shares practical insi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich interviews Jerry Hall about senior managers accountability regimes and whether New Zealand should adopt a framework similar to those operating in the UK and Australia. They explore how these regimes strengthen governance, clarify executive accountability, improve regulatory oversight, and support better leadership appointments w...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Governance Bites, David Turner and Mark Banicevich explore how boards can move beyond simply managing risk to actively capturing opportunity. They discuss why agility and speed of decision-making are becoming critical competitive advantages, how to avoid analysis paralysis, and how boards can balance oversight with management autonomy. They also examine dynamic...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich speaks with governance expert Giselle McLachlan about one of the biggest factors influencing board performance: alignment between the board and management. They explore why alignment goes beyond agreement, the critical role of trust, strategy, role clarity and the Chair–CEO relationship, how to recognise when alignment is slippi...

Send us Fan Mail What should directors discuss before the board meeting officially begins? In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich interviews Dr Peter Crow about the value of board-only (or board-alone) time and why it is a hallmark of effective governance. They explore which conversations belong in these private sessions, how they strengthen board dynamics and decision-making, common...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Governance Bites, David Turner and Mark Banicevich explore what happens when the relationship between a board and CEO starts to break down. They discuss the warning signs of misalignment, the importance of trust and two-way communication, where governance can slip into micromanagement, and how chairs can keep relationships healthy. David Turner also explains why...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich sits down with Jerry Hall, an internationally experienced insurance executive and board director, to explore how global governance experience can strengthen New Zealand boards. Drawing on leadership roles across the UK, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, Jerry Hall explains why international perspectives help boards anticipate...

Send us Fan Mail How can boards become more effective by embracing discomfort rather than avoiding it? In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich speaks with Giselle McLachlan about the concept of "governance yoga" – a practical approach to helping boards stretch their thinking, challenge assumptions and improve decision-making. They explore why healthy discomfort drives better...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Governance Bites, David Turner joins Mark Banicevich to explore how boards need to rethink risk management in an increasingly complex and unpredictable world. They discuss moving beyond spreadsheets and compliance to use risk as a strategic advantage, developing meaningful risk appetite, identifying emerging and “unknown” risks, and overseeing AI and cybersecuri...

Send us Fan Mail Regulatory change is reshaping governance, and boards can no longer treat compliance as someone else's responsibility. In this episode, Mark Banicevich speaks with Jerry Hall, an international insurance executive and governance expert, about why regulatory preparedness is now a board-level issue. Drawing on experience from the UK, Europe and New Zealand, Jerry Hall explains h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich speaks with Giselle McLachlan about what separates an effective board chair from an average one. They explore the practical framework of the Five Ts of Chairing—time, tone, talent, teamwork and tikanga (traditions)—and how these elements shape stronger board performance. The conversation covers common mistakes chairs make, build...

Send us Fan Mail What separates outstanding boards from merely competent ones? In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich interviews Dr Peter Crow about the journey to becoming an effective director. Drawing on decades of governance experience, Dr Crow shares the lessons that shaped his board career, the misconceptions many new directors have, the habits that distinguish high-performing...

Send us Fan Mail Why do so few companies capture the majority of economic profit — and what separates the winners from everyone else? In this episode, Seve Bambury joins Mark Banicevich to explore how governance can become a genuine engine of value creation rather than simply a system of oversight. They unpack the “5 Big Moves” framework, why boards often avoid bold decisions, and how organisation...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich sits down with Rosey Nathan to explore how boardroom culture shapes decision quality and outcomes. They unpack early warning signs of underperformance, the fine line between constructive challenge and destructive behaviour, and how chairs can manage dominant voices while drawing out quieter perspectives. The discussion tackles whether toxic culture...

Send us Fan Mail Every business eventually hits an “experience ceiling” — the point where growth is constrained by the leadership team’s current level of knowledge and problem-solving capability. In this episode, Steve Bambury joins Mark Banicevich to unpack how purpose-led organisations can break through by “renting” the experience of seasoned operators who have already solved the challenges ahea...

Send us Fan Mail Thinking of joining a board? Don’t let ego cloud your judgment. In this episode, Mark Banicevich interviews director Nigel Scott, who reveals why board due diligence is the "underestimated" shield for your professional reputation. We dive into Nigel’s essential 40-hour checklist: from scrutinising board packs and D&O insurance, to the power of the "try before yo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich interviews Rosey Nathan on what really drives boardroom decision, and where they go wrong. Is it flawed information, judgment, or a lack of courage? They explore how boards can sharpen decision quality, prioritise what truly matters, and ensure accountability is more than rhetoric. From managing dissent to learning from failure, this conversation r...

Send us Fan Mail Most founders start as the pilot of the business, but many never leave the cockpit. In this episode, Steve Bambury joins Mark Banicevich to explore why growth stalls when the founder remains the single point of decision-making. They unpack how high-performing advisory boards act as “air traffic control” - providing strategic visibility, challenge, coordination, and future-focused...

Send us Fan Mail Sir William (Bill) Birch brings decades of high-level public leadership and governance experience to the conversation. A senior figure in New Zealand politics for more than two decades, he held several key ministerial portfolios, including Finance, National Development and Energy. During his time in government he was closely involved in major economic reforms and policy decisions...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich interviews thebigword CEO Josh Gould on how organisations can turn technology investments into lasting value through strong collaboration. They explore what true alignment between boards, investors, and leadership looks like, and the costly consequences when it’s missing. Josh shares practical insights on balancing short-term pressures with long-te...

Send us Fan Mail How does a board evolve from survival mode to strategic scaling? In this episode, Mark Banicevich interviews veteran director Nigel Scott on the high-growth governance journey. Discover why the hands-on "smart capital" approach of startups must shift as businesses mature. Nigel breaks down the "nose in, fingers out" philosophy, the necessity of skills matrices,...

Send us Fan Mail Laurence Kubiak brings a rare combination of executive leadership and boardroom governance experience across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. He is Chief Executive Officer of Nautech Electronics Ltd, New Zealand’s largest independent contract electronics manufacturer, and serves as a director of Northpower Ltd. Laurence previously chaired Trustees Executors Limited...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich speaks with Rosey Nathan about what truly drives board performance. Is underperformance a capability, behavioural, or leadership issue? They unpack the warning signs of ineffective boards, the evolving role of the chair, and whether board evaluations are delivering real value, or just ticking boxes. The conversation explores future-ready capabiliti...