Governance Bites

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 In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich talks with Tony Dench about making the leap from executive leadership to a full-time governance career. Tony shares the realities of the transition — from losing the security of a salary to learning to run a small business, build a board portfolio, and shift from operational decision-making to strategic influence. They explore w...

Send us Fan Mail Unlock the essentials of effective governance with Dr John Peebles, author of the insightful and intentionally non-serious book, 'Parsley on Fish'. In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevcih talks with Dr Peebles about simplifying corporate governance principles, drawing on 30 years of experience. Learn why boards can't be "decorative but useless,&quo...

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...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich interviews Dr Richard Carson on the “3 Es” of sustainable change—Performance Efficient, Cost-Effective, and Culturally Empowered. They explore how boards of directors can apply this model to drive meaningful transformation, overcome common organisational challenges, and achieve long-term success. With practical examples from large organisations and...

Send us Fan Mail Even great teams need to assess their performance, and the same goes for a board. In this episode, I talk to Julie Hood about the crucial practice of board evaluations within sports organisations. We cover how to conduct a meaningful evaluation, whether through self-assessment or external review, even with limited resources. Learn what to look for, how to ensure honest feedback, a...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful conversation, Mark Banicevich speaks with Katie Beith about fresh research on governance in New Zealand listed companies. The study, Governing New Zealand Listed Companies: Navigating Shifting Winds, analysed five poorly performing firms to uncover how traditional governance metrics stack up against new measures of board effectiveness. Katie explains the data so...

Send us Fan Mail Holding a CEO accountable is a critical yet challenging duty for any board. In this episode, I talk to governance expert Julie Hood to dissect the nuances of this vital relationship within a sports organisation. They explore how boards can establish clear expectations, monitor performance, and navigate common pitfalls like micromanagement. Learn about effective performance reviews...

Send us Fan Mail Boards are often misunderstood, but they are crucial for an organisation's success. In this episode, I talk to Julie Hood about the board's complex role in strategic planning for sports organisations. We discuss how boards can go beyond oversight to actively shape strategy, avoid common pitfalls, and align plans with organisational values. This episode provides practical...

Send us Fan Mail Discover how investors really measure governance quality in this thought-provoking conversation between Mark Banicevich and Katie Beith. From the most common governance metrics and where analysts source the data, to the red flags that warn of poor performance, Katie shares expert insights that link boardroom practices with financial returns. The discussion tackles disclosure gaps,...

Send us Fan Mail In this engaging interview, Mark Banicevich sits down with Katie Beith to unpack the fast-evolving world of ESG—environmental, social, and governance. From how analysts measure ESG quality to the governance weaknesses that undermine credibility, Katie explains how ESG factors shape investment decisions and influence company performance. The conversation tackles whether ESG means t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Rob Everett about the difference between Crown Entity and private sector boards. They discuss how accountabilities to shareholders differ to accountabilities to public sector boards and Ministers, and the challenges balancing political direction with independent governance. Mark asks about the impact of the board appointment process, diffe...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Professor Lesley Ferkins about the involvement of sports boards in strategy. He asks how the board's role interacts with management, and what the most effective process is to develop a strategic plan. They discuss the importance of horizon scanning, and how to ensure the strategy aligns with the values and mission of the organisation....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks with Jon Davies about technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and governance. He asks how boards should be thinking about AI, and what directors need to ask (even if they are not technical). They discuss the human size of innovation, and potential impacts, and where lived experience can add the most value. They also discuss what traits futur...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Jamie Green about challenges faced by directors who sit on multiple boards. Mark asks about how directors grapple with the volume of information, and effective methods Jamie has encountered for dealing with it. He asks about the root cause of the challenge, and how realistic it is for directors to connect the dots over time and across boards....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Professor Lesley Ferkins about leadership in sport governance. Lesley starts by talking about how Professor Keith Grint (Emeritus Professor at Warwick University) talks about leadership. They discuss healthy board dynamics, and collaborative decision making, they key characteristics of an effective board enacting collaborative leadership,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Rob Everett about how boards can make their CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) successful. He asks what makes a board-CEO relationship work, and the role the board plays in the CEO’s success. They discuss CEO onboarding plans, the role of governance processes, and the tension between oversight and giving the board space to lead. Mark asks abo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Jamie Green about the challenges directors have preparing for board meetings. He asks about the signs of directors being overwhelmed, and the characteristics of board packs that make preparing for meetings challenging. They discuss how directors digest information both within board packs, and across board meetings over time, including backgrou...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Steven Moe about the liability of directors. They discuss penalties for breaching the core duties in the Companies Act 1993, and also list several other Acts of Parliament that enact director liability. They discuss potential penalties and defences, and whether there may be liability under common law or contract. Steven outlines steps director...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks with Jon Davies about startup CEOs reporting to their boards. He asks about the relationship between the startup CEO and the board, and managing accountabiity. They discuss board packs, key performance indicators, and meeting frequency. They also discuss the CEO disagreeing with the board, and how to deliver bad news.  Jon Davies is the CEO o...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Professor Lesley Ferkins about collaborative governance in sport. Lesley outlines what she means by "collaborative governance", and how it relates to federated sports structures (e.g., with national bodies, regional bodies, and local clubs). She talks about critical success factors for it to work effectively, common pitfalls, and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks with Martin Snedden about maximising your chance of a good board. Martin recently studied the board selection process of 9 top Australasian sports, and shares his findings. They discuss the optimum size of a board, elected and appointed board members, and a process for attaining the right mix of skills. Martin outlines the appointments panel,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Steven Moe about safe spaces in the boardroom. Steven opens by explaining the context, and who safe spaces are for. They discuss whey safe spaces may be necessary, how they are implemented, and what sort of behaviour results in needing safe spaces. They discuss the importance of safe spaces, and how they enhance an entity's governance. St...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks with Jon Davies about governance in startups and advisory boards. He asks about the journey that startups take towards governance: their value, common mistakes, what founders should seek, and the ideal size of an advisory board. They also discuss the best way to remunerate directors, keeping them engaged and motivated, and how to deal with an...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Stephen Upton about how not-for-profit organisations can recruit directors. Stephen outlines the key skills and competencies required for a not-for-profit board. They discuss the process of identifying skills on the board, and skill gaps, and the role of diversity in board composition. They discuss the challenges attracting and recruiting...