Helga Svendsen

Take on Board

Business EN ↓ 384 episodes

Welcome to the Take on Board podcast, where we talk all things boards and governance. Being on a board can be interesting, valuable and exciting. Yet it can also be lonely, challenging and hard. Each week I talk to women who have been there, done that. Together we'll discover what we need to take on board to be your best in the boardroom. https://helgasvendsen.com.au/take-on-board-podcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: helgasvendsen.com.au

Author

Helga Svendsen

Category

Business

Podcast website

helgasvendsen.com.au

Latest episode

Oct 27, 2026

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Episodes

Michelle Redfern takes lessons from the pitch into the boardroom 01.02.2022

Today on the Take on Board podcast, I’m speaking with Michelle Redfern about building a board portfolio - aligned with interests, purpose and skills. Michelle is Chair of Speckle Financial Health and also a member of Wayfinder Steering Committee. She is also the former Deputy Chair of Good Shepherd Microfinance and a former board member of Williamstown Football Club, The Gippsland League and Swinb...

Beverly Behan has tips to help you become a boardroom star 25.01.2022

Today on the Take on Board podcast, I’m speaking with Beverley Behan about becoming a board room star. Beverly Behan is one of the foremost global experts on board effectiveness, having worked with nearly 200 boards in the S&P1500 and other companies around the world over the past 25 years. She is the author of governance classic, Great Companies Deserve Great Boards and the recently released...

Jac Phillips explains her board trajectory from nonprofit to listed boards 18.01.2022

Today on the Take on Board podcast, I’m speaking with Jac Phillips about her journey to the boardroom. Jac is currently on the board of Food Revolution Group (FOD) and was previously on the boards of Melbourne Communities Foundation, Fitted for Work, Skin & Cancer Foundation, Deakin University Marketing Advisory Board and Good Cycles. Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Jac Phillips Executiv...

I'm back! I have an update to my RSVP, plus a Take on Board giveaway 11.01.2022

Hello Take on Board community! How was your holiday period? Busy, restful, or a healthy dose of the two? I’ve revamped my RSVP and have a new goal. I need your help to hold me accountable. Are you in? Today I share some questions to help you level-up your icebreakers in 2022. And after years of asking you for your personal details, I answers my own questions. Plus, a giveaway just for helping buil...

It's time to RSVP: Reflections on 2021 and goals for 2022 21.12.2021

Welcome to the final episode of Take on Board for 2021. And what a year it’s been. In this episode, Helga is going to take you through her ‘RSVP’ process – an invitation to reflect on the year and set intentions for 2022. And you know what - this year has been tough. We do this in the final session of Board Accelerator – my program for women board members. So at the end of this episode, you’ll hea...

Board members causing troubles? Jane Davel has some ideas 14.12.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Jane Davel about being Chairing the board and board dynamics Jane is an independent non-executive director and currently serves as: Chair of St. Andrew’s Village Trust (Inc), member of the Electrical Workers Registration Board and the Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board of New Zealand, and independent board member of Rowing New Zealand. Sh...

Hey Boards, the law and Dr Niki Vincent says it's time to start your gender action plan 07.12.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Dr Niki Vincent about the new Victorian requirements for some organisations to have a gender action plan. Dr Niki Vincent commenced in the role of Victoria’s first Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner in October 2020. She’s currently on the Board of InTouch and has an extensive list of previous Directorships. Niki has a wealth of exp...

Now is the time to think about your board's accessibility action plan with Helen Freris 30.11.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Helen Freris about accessibility action plans. Helen is a community sector professional with key strengths in capacity building, training, delivery, program design, and coordination. She's currently the Health Services Manager at women with disabilities Victoria. Helen is also a fellow of the Williamson Community Leadership Program. Helen...

Co-CEO Amanda Robinson on what works, what doesn't and how boards can help 23.11.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Amanda Robinson about being a co-CEO. You’ll remember that Helga shared her top tips along with her personal experiences about co-chairing a board. Well that episode, prompted the fabulous Dominique Hes to introduce me to Amanda … and here we are. Amanda is a co-CEO at Marshall Day Acoustics, and looks after the Australian operations, incl...

Benchmarking psychological safety in the boardroom with Carolyn McSweeny Grant 16.11.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Carolyn Grant about psychological safety in the boardroom and it relates to decision-making. Carolyn is an Advisory Board member to Civic Ledger, Samford Support Network and Cerge Pty Ltd. She is an advisor, author and creator of tools and frameworks founded in neuroscience, to provide evidence based insights, to improve the quality of our...

Why you should create award winning annual reports with Bronwyn Wellings 09.11.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Bronwyn Wellings about tends in reporting and The Australasian Reporting Awards - yes, that’s a real thing. Who knew? Bronwyn is currently Chair of the St. Andrew’s Foundation, Deputy Chair of the Australasian Reporting Awards, Chair of the Finance, Audit, Risk and Remuneration Committee of the ETU (Victorian Branch) and a member of Victor...

Unpacking the fraught topic of vaccine mandates with Shana Shreier-Joffe 02.11.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Shana Shreier-Joffe about a hot topic in many boardrooms at the moment - mandatory vaccination in the workplace. Shana has over 20 years’ experience as an employment and industrial lawyer. She began her career as a barrister in South Africa and has a Masters in Law from Cambridge University. Shana’s clients include numerous publicly listed...

Your board should know this: New laws in relation to respect at work - Deb Coram explains 26.10.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Deb Coram about some of the recent developments in legislation in relation to respect at work. Deborah Coram is the CEO of two award winning compliance and governance organisations, Safetrac and Boardtrac which support organisations and their boards to implement programs that help build a culture of integrity. A lawyer by trade, Deb’s inte...

Practical ways to get ethics on your board agenda: Cris Parker has ideas 19.10.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga has brought Cris Parker back for another interview. Last week they discussed Cris’ work with the Ethics Centre and the service - Ethi-call. But there was still so much more to discuss. Cris graciously agreed to share more time to the Take on Board Community. She and Helga walk through the Banking and Finance Oath - from its origins to who has already signe...

Ethical questions swirling around your head, Cris Parker has a solution 12.10.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Cris Parker about the free service that The Ethics Centre runs call Ethi-call. I saw something about it recently on social media and reached out as I think this is a fabulous service for Board members and I wanted to know more – so here we are. Cris has worked at The Ethics Centre for 10 years and head up 2 initiatives - The Ethics Allianc...

Hear from a Mentor: Sandie de Wolf has a case study on what works 05.10.2021

Last week on Take on Board you heard from Megan May about being a mentee. So today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Sandie de Wolf AM about being a mentor in the same program. We’ll also touch on the Board relationship with the CEO and reporting to boards. Sandie chairs the Eastern Domestic Violence Service and the Western Integrated Family Violence Committee and she’s also on...

Megan May maximised her mentorship - she's got tips for you 28.09.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Megan May about her Mentoring experiences and her journey as a young female Director. Megan is a board member of Ballarat Community Health. She joined the BCH Board as a green 27 year old health professional and small business wonder. Six years later she now chairs the Quality of Care Committee and has just completed the AICD Directors Cou...

Practical ways for your board to approach innovation with Leonore Ryan 21.09.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Leonore Ryan about innovation. Leonore is a Non Executive Director of Western BACE Pty Ltd and is also on the boards of two family companies. She is the principal at idea2 opportunity which “exists to make the world a better place by supporting researchers and STEMM founders to start and build businesses based on their innovations.” With a...

Boards have a big role to play in wellbeing, health and safety - Samantha McGolrick explains 14.09.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Samantha McGolrick about the power of organisations to improve the health, happiness and resilience of our society. Sam’s niche is in educating board members on effective governance & leadership of wellbeing, health and safety matters as a means through which the board can cultivate a culture where people feel they matter and create sp...

Insights from the Take on Board Breakfast: A Deep Dive into ESG with Brynn O'Brien - Q & A 07.09.2021

Today on Take on Board, Brynn O’Brien shares her years of ESG insights with the Take on Board Community with a focus on climate change - the time to act was yesterday. There were so many excellent questions from the TOB Community that Brynn stuck around after the session to field more questions. This presentation was part of August’s Take on Board Breakfast event. Brynn has tips on how to approach...

Insights from the Take on Board Breakfast: A Deep Dive into ESG with Brynn O'Brien - A Climate Change Conversation 31.08.2021

Today on Take on Board, Brynn O’Brien shares her years of ESG insights with the Take on Board Community with a focus on climate change - the time to act was yesterday and this will help you help your boards get started if you haven’t. This presentation was part of August’s Take on Board Breakfast event. Brynn has tips on how to approach ESG, how to get buy in from the board and encourage them to s...

Not all boardroom culture is created equal with Maali Khader 24.08.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, I’m speaking with Maali Khader about culture in the boardroom. Maali is a highly experienced, effective and trusted lawyer. She is also a leading regional expert in corporate governance and sustainability and the CEO of the Middle East Institute of Directors. In just 18 years, Maali’s career – which began as a legal advisor for a legal firm - has rapidly evolved...

Hugs in the boardroom? Yes says Cassandra Kelly 17.08.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Cassandra Kelly about love and kindness in the boardroom. Businesses and leaders who dare to challenge the status quo and solve the most complex problems leverage Cassandra to accelerate their impact and to find the extra confidence required to make difficult and important decisions. Cassandra is the Chair of Treasury Corporation of Victor...

Top Tips: Co-chairing a Board - a Case Study with Helga Svendsen 10.08.2021

Today, Helga is talking co-chairing of boards and committees and you’re just hearing from her She's been a fan of job-share for years … as long as it’s done well. And Helga thinks some of the principles of good job share could apply to board room roles such as Chairing the board or committees. So, today, get ready, she's going to talk about some principles for co-chairing and then talk you through...

Size doesn't matter when thinking about Risk: Caitlin Siostrom explains 03.08.2021

Today on the Take on Board podcast, Helga is speaking with Caitlin Siostrom about the risk oversight on not for profit and small organization boards and how to create meaningful risk appetite statements and policies that are fit for purpose, no matter your resources. Caitlin is on the board of Times Change Women's Employment Service and chair of the risk committee. Time Change is a women's run not...

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