Governance Bites

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...

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 sits down with thebigword CEO Josh Gould to unpack how effective governance drives sustainable growth. From defining what growth-oriented governance looks like in practice to identifying the behaviours that separate high-performing boards from those that hold organisations back, this conversation is packed with practical insights. Josh shares the c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich sits down with Rosey Nathan to unpack the trends reshaping modern boards. From overconfidence in readiness to the realities of cybersecurity, AI, and misinformation, this conversation challenges whether boards are moving fast enough, or relying too heavily on others. They explore digital literacy as a core director skill, the evolving nature of rep...

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 Are conflicts of interest a negative? Governance expert Steven Bowman, who has worked with boards for over 40 years, argues they are necessary — if you never have them, you likely have the wrong board. In this insightful conversation, interviewer Mark Banicevich explores how boards must shift from requiring a declaration of conflict of interest to a declaration of interest, allowi...

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 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 Veteran governance expert Steven Bowman, who has spent over 40 years in the board and CEO space, reveals the key to Mastering the Effective Board Meeting in this insightful interview with Mark Banicevich. Steven insists the role of any board is not to monitor compliance or produce busy reports, but to create the future. Discover critical strategies like structuring your agenda wit...

Send us Fan Mail Is employee financial stress impacting your company’s bottom line? In this essential Governance Bites episode, host Mark Banicevich speaks with legal advisor and independent director Tracey Cross about why boards must prioritize employee financial well-being. Tracey explains that unresolved financial issues drive underperformance and stress, noting 79% of non-relation stress is fi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, John Mason joins Mark Banicevich to unpack the fast-changing world of visual learning — and what it means for today’s directors. With attention spans shrinking and Gen Z and Gen Alpha now dominating many workforces, John explains why short, authentic, phone-shot videos are transforming how organisations share knowledge. They discuss why corporate-style training is...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich sits down with governance expert Joseph Catanzariti AM to explore the critical role of the chair in recruiting a CEO. The conversation ranges from what truly makes an effective director, to how chairs should navigate CEO succession, manage subcommittees, work with external advisers, and ensure a transparent, rigorous process. Joe also shares insigh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich sits down with family governance expert Sandy Kimpton to discuss a crucial topic: what is true intergenerational success? Discover why family governance is about more than just wealth management; it's about developing human capital and preserving your family’s legacy and values. Sandy explains the power of "operating w...

Send us Fan Mail Tune into Governance Bites as Mark Banicevich interviews governance expert STeven Bowman, who draws on nearly 40 years of experience in the board and CEO space,. This conversation dissects the crucial yet often misunderstood practice of Board Only Sessions (or ""in camera"" time). Steven reveals why this dedicated time, which excludes executive staff, is vital...

Send us Fan Mail In this essential episode, Mark Banicevich interviews governance veteran Ian Fitzgerald on the immediate and long-term impact of artificial intelligence on the boardroom. Ian breaks down how AI enhances the four pillars of governance—from using AI for scenario planning and deeper strategic insight to improving oversight and risk management through pattern recognition. The discussi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich sits down with Tony Dench to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence [AI] on boards and governance. They discuss why AI is no longer optional, the opportunities it creates, the risks boards must manage, and how to approach ethical and ESG [environmental, social and governance] considerations. Tony shares pra...

Send us Fan Mail In this high-value episode of Governance Bites, interviewer Mark Banicevich speaks with Dr John Peebles, a governance PhD and experienced chair, on the explosive topic of CEO and Director Remuneration. Dr Peebles reveals how New Zealand’s executive pay is rapidly shifting from a conservative, base-salary model to an aggressive, US-style incentive structure, with potential short-te...

Send us Fan Mail Is your board underperforming? Governance expert Tracey Cross, an independent director and legal advisor, joins Mark Banicevich on Governance Bites to reveal the ""Six Secrets to Supercharge Your Board Performance"". This discussion is essential, especially given that 67% of respondents to an important survey would like to replace a board member. Tracey emphasi...

Send us Fan Mail Join Mark Banicevich on Governance Bites as he talks with Steven Bowman, a governance expert with 45 years in the CEO and board space. They unpack the fundamental differences between a CEO and a Managing Director (MD). The core distinction is that an MD is both a manager and a voting director of the board. Steven shares the criteria for adopting the MD title, such as having a boar...