Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich interviews governance expert Ian Fitzgerald, as he shares lessons from over 35 years in boardrooms in New Zealand and overseas. Ian breaks down what truly defines a high-performing board. Discover the fundamental elements: trust-based teamwork, clarity of purpose, and diversity of thought. Ian reveals how boards balance short-term pressures with long-term value creation, the role of constructive culture and candour, and the power of regular boar...
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Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich interviews governance expert Ian Fitzgerald, as he shares lessons from over 35 years in boardrooms in New Zealand and overseas. Ian breaks down what truly defines a high-performing board. Discover the fundamental elements: trust-based teamwork, clarity of purpose, and diversity of thought. Ian reveals how boards balance short-term pressures with long-term value creation, the role of constructive culture and candour, and the power of regular boar...
Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich interviews governance expert Ian Fitzgerald, as he shares lessons from over 35 years in boardrooms in New Zealand and overseas. Ian breaks down what truly defines a high-performing board. Discover the fundamental elements: trust-based teamwork, clarity of purpose, and diversity of thought. Ian reveals how boards balance short-term pressures with long-term value creation, the role of constructive culture and candour, and the power of regular boar...
Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich speaks with Dr Richard Carson about why most change initiatives fail — and what boards can do differently. They explore the common traps leaders fall into, the importance of people-centred strategies, and how governance structures can support rather than hinder transformation. With real-world examples and practical governance advice, Dr Carson highlights how boards can secure employee buy-in, measure meaningful progress, and challenge top-down a...
Send us a text 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 with intentionality", providing practical steps to align family and business. Learn how a long-term family per...
Send us a text 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 what it really takes to succeed as a professional director, the importance of patience, humility, an...
Send us a text 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," why financial literacy is crucial, and the importance of having a robust process for electing a Chair. Dr Peebles shares ...
Send us a text 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 with intentionality", providing practical steps to align family and business. Learn how a long-term fami...
Send us a text 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 insights from years of boardroom experience, Dr Carson reveals how the 3 Es empower leaders to bal...
Send us a text 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, and how to use the results to drive real change. This is a must-listen for any board aiming to impro...
Send us a text 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 sources, highlights emerging metrics that may better predict company performance, and reflects on bes...
Send us a text 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, succession planning, and the subtle art of difficult conversations. This discussion provides esse...
Send us a text 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 advice on gathering diverse perspectives, monitoring implementation, and navigating the unique challenges of...
Send us a text 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, the balance between quantitative and qualitative measures, and which governance factors will shape...
Send us a text 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 trading returns for values, the role of governance in ensuring commitments are real, and what boards...
Send us a text 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, differences in director capability, and differences in risk appetite and oversight. They discuss the app...
Send us a text 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. Mark asks how boards can balance their role in strategy with the other parts of the role, such as risk ...
Send us a text 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 future directors will need in this rapidly changing environment. Sport NZ, Nine Steps to Effective Gover...
Send us a text 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. Jamie shares some pitfalls that this situation can create, and how tools can be used to address the...
Send us a text 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, and how boards ensure that individual directors contribute effectively. Mark asks how collective le...
Send us a text 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 about performance reviews, and balancing performance assessment with genuine support for CEO developme...
Send us a text 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 background reading. Mark asks about types of board meetings that are more challenging to prepare for, and t...
Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich interviews governance expert Ian Fitzgerald, as he shares lessons from over 35 years in boardrooms in New Zealand and overseas. Ian breaks down what truly defines a high-performing board. Discover the fundamental elements: trust-based teamwork, clarity of purpose, and diversity of thought. Ian reveals how boards balance short-term pressures with long-term value creation, the role of constructive culture and candour, and the power of regular boar...
