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/
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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.
Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Giselle McLachlan about creating the future in the boardroom.
Giselle is on the boards of AbacusBio and Chairs the Audit and Risk Committee of Local Government New Zealand. Grounded founder Giselle is a governance and leadership specialist. Giselle is all about down-to-earth governance and business advice, and thrives on building sustainable businesses alongside healthy leaders and lives.
Giselle loves working with others who love learning, growing, and creating a better future.
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Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Ari Magalhaes about business turnarounds.
Ari is on the boards of Palliative Care Tasmania, serves as Deputy Chair of Women's Health Tasmania, and is part of the Community Advisory Committee of Red Nose Australia. Ari is a global economist, non-executive director, and board advisor with a track record helping ASX private and purpose-led organisations navigate disruption and deliver measurable value.
She's driven over $110 million in outcomes, a five to 10% profit uplift across sectors such as energy, health, government, and aged care. Ari helps boards and senior leadership turn complexity into clarity, whether managing regulatory change, financial pressure, emerging technologies (like AI) or internal misalignments.
She designs decision systems that make tough trade-offs visible, oversight effective, and strategy executable. She'll tell you what's ahead, show you the red pill or the blue pill, and help you choose the best possible next step.
Links and Resources
EVENT: Organisational Turnarounds with Aria
OmniStrategic Impact Framework
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Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Francie Doolan about the Small Giants Academy, Governing for Purpose program.
Francie has been working with boards since her early twenties, wearing many different hats over the last 25 years.
So, having to switch between lots of different mindsets is something she talks more about in our conversation. She has been a consultant from big four professional service firm reporting to listed boards. She's held management roles as CEO and CFO, reported to boards, served as a board director and board chair and acted as a committee member and facilitator.
Francie sits on the board of Impact Funds Management, so it's pretty heavy on the compliance. And then also on the board of many for-purpose boards, including Small Giants Academy. Outside of the Small Giants ecosystem, Francie sits on the board of RIAA, the Responsible Investment Association Australasia, and she's a governor with WWF Australia. So, all of those years of experience and different hats and mindsets are baked into the Governing for Purpose program, which she's excited to tell us more about today
Links and Resources
Small Giants Academy Governing for Purpose program
One Minute Governance with Matt Fullbrook (Canadian governance expert) - I love that it's short, asks provocative questions, and encourages experimenting and trying new things in the board room
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Today, on the Take On Board podcast, I'm speaking with Kim Sullivan about the AICD Company Directors' course.
Kim serves on the board of the Kensington Neighbourhood House and is also the Chief Operating Officer of ORIMA Research, leading the people and culture, IT administration, and other enabling functions of the business.
She's also a social researcher, having worked for over 20 years, conducting research for state and federal government clients. Kim is qualified in law, social science, and psychology, and lives with her family in the inner west of Melbourne.
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Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Ngaire Anderson about the Australian Institute of Company Directors ' Boardroom Mastery program.
Ngaire serves on the board of IPC Health, where she holds the positions of Deputy Chair and Chair of the Clinical Governance and Clinical Risk Committee. She has formally been on the boards of Heathcote Health, Bendigo Community Health, and Remembrance Park Central Victoria.
Following 16 years as a paramedic, Ngaire has held non-executive, executive, and leadership roles, primarily in the health and community sectors. She is a graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course. As we will hear more about today, having recently completed the AICD's Boardroom Mastery program, Ngaire has served in various non-executive director roles across government and not-for-profit sectors.
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Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Jane Davel about director development options in New Zealand.
Jane is on the board of St. Andrews Village Trust and Rowing New Zealand, and she's also a trustee of the New Zealand Rowing Foundation. She's formerly been on the boards of government and for-purpose organizations of varying sizes and sectors, including the social service sector, property and construction investment, and arts and heritage.
Jane has been serving on boards for almost a decade and enjoys the challenges and the variety of the boardroom, which includes different organizations, people, and sectors. The variety of board work keeps her interested and engaged. Before entering governance, Jane held senior executive roles across various service industries, including banking and finance, health, entertainment, and telecommunications.
She's a member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand, the Australian Institute of Company, directors and Women on Boards Australia.
Links and Resources
Episode 128: Jane Davel offers some ideas if board members are causing trouble
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Today on the Take On Board podcast, I'm speaking with Jennifer Duncan, and we'll be talking about the Governance for Social Impact program. This is part of a miniseries that I'm doing about director development.
Jennifer is on the boards of Focus One Health Foundation South Australia, and she's also a member of the South Australia Northern Territory Council for the Governance Institute of Australia.
She has a long list of former boards: South Australian Council of Social Service, the Australian Youth Affairs Council, Justice Reinvestment, the Youth Affairs Council of South Australia, the South Australian Health and Community Service Skills Board, and the Australian Red Cross, South Australian Division.
Jennifer owns and runs a business called Uncommon Good. Uh. This business provides consultancy and ongoing support to philanthropic foundations and not-for-profit organizations, predominantly in South Australia. And she focuses on strategy, design, and implementation. Her work is informed by almost 20 years in leadership roles within the for-purpose sector and her passionate commitment to leaving this world a better place than she found it.
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Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Kiki Paul about the Institute of Community Directors Australia and their professional development course, Diploma of Governance. This is part of the professional development for board directors mini series.
Kiki is on the boards of Go Gentle Australia and is the chair of the Australian Online Giving Foundation. Formally been on the boards of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women's Shelter, PANDSI and a founding member of Cancer Chicks. Kiki is an experienced CEO and non-executive director from 2016 to 2022.
She was the CEO of Go Gentle Australia, a national charity instrumental in the passage of voluntary assisted dying laws in all six states of Australia. She has held various board roles for not-for-profit organisations. She is currently the CEO of the Community Transport Organisation, a peak body for community transport providers in New South Wales.
Links and Resources
Episode 259: Kiki Paul details how to move from CEO to non-executive director
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Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Natasha de Silva about the Respect@Work report, her work on Respect@Work, and the seven standards that need to be complied with.
Natasha is on the boards of Plan International Australia, Impact Pathways, James C Financial Services and Eyeplant. She has formerly been on the boards of Full Stop Australia, and Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College. She is also a member of the Nominations Committee of Basketball Australia, which is where we first crossed paths.
Natasha is the founder of Intersection and is recognised nationally and internationally as an expert in human rights and equality. She's a sought-after advisor on workplace culture, working with leaders across the public and private sectors to create safe, respectful, and inclusive workplaces. The Respect@Work report is the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces, led by Kate Jenkins AO, the former Sex Discrimination Commissioner. In January of this year, she was appointed a sessional commissioner at the Victorian Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Commission for a five-year term.
Links and Resources
Governing for positive duty obligations
Governing for psychosocial hazards and risks
Governing for workplace gender equality
And the in-person Respect@Work Masterclass for Boards hosted by Kate Jenkins and Natasha de Silva
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Today on the Take on Board podcast, Candice DeVille is back to answer all your questions about AI readiness for boards. She shares insights on translating board directives into actionable strategies, understanding the intent behind AI initiatives, and clarifying business problems AI aims to solve. Candice also outlines four key questions to ask when considering AI projects, including intent, specific business problems, measurable success, and delivery timelines. She emphasizes aligning AI initiatives with strategic objectives and introduces a feasibility matrix for prioritizing projects based on impact and achievability.
The discussion also covers critical risk factors in AI implementation, such as data, operational, model, regulatory, and reputational risks, and introduces an AI industry risk pyramid. Candice answers listener questions on recommended AI governance courses, the climate impact of AI, funding opportunities for non-profits in AI, addressing "shadow AI" use in organizations, and convincing management to adopt AI. She stresses the importance of foundational AI understanding, practical experience for management, and clear communication from boards.
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Today on the Take On Board podcast, I'm speaking with Kate Larsen about the ethics of AI.
Kate, although eager ears will know that Kate has already been on the podcast. Kate is an arts, cultural and nonprofit consultant and writer with more than 25 years of experience in Australia, Asia, and the UK. Recently returned to Naarm/Melbourne. Kate has particular expertise in arts, governance, and cultural leadership, workplace culture and wellbeing, and digital and community-engaged practice.
Kate's been on the podcast before, episode 254, on why Palestine is a governance issue that every board should be talking about. And she's currently leading a national conversation about governance reform based on the provocation that 'nearly everything you thought you knew about boards and governance is wrong'. This was the title of her TEDx talk on the subject last year, so we'll put a link to that in the show notes as well.
Links and Resources
Kate's latest article on this subject on ArtsHub
And another thing vlog: AI and governance
And another thing vlog: Meta's grand theft AusLit
Why (nearly) everything you thought you knew about boards and governance is wrong*, TedX Castlemaine
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Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Alice Tang about the use of AI in board meetings and by boards. We also touch on digital and AI strategy and governance.
Alice is on the board of Amplify AI Proprietary Limited and was previously trustee for a listed fund manager managing $10 billion in assets. She's also been treasurer and board member for a disability arts board. Her executive roles include six years as Chief Operating Officer of a Listed Alternatives, assets manager, and 16 years at Macquarie Group.
A fellow of the Chartered Accountants, a NZ. She's on the Committee of a hundred Women in Finance in Australia, the UNSW Alumni Advisory Committee, and is Secretary for Women in Super New South Wales.
Links and Resources
My business partner did a TedX talk on AI and humanity in Sydney last year and it gives you a human perspective. "What if AI is the key to better relationships?"
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Today on the Take On Board podcast, I'm speaking with Dottie Schindlinger about AI and some recent research done by the Diligent Institute. Dottie serves on the boards of the Delaware County Foundation and the Pennsylvania School Safety Institute, also known as Penn SSI.
Dottie is the Executive Director of The Diligent Institute, the think tank and global governance research arm of Diligent Corporation, a leading provider of secure corporate board communication and collaboration software used by over 700,000 directors and executives globally.
In her role, Dottie provides thought leadership on governance, cybersecurity, and technology topics through presentations to boards and executives dozens of times each year at events worldwide. Her work has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and multiple governance and technology publications. She is the co-author of the book "Governance in the Digital Age: A Guide for the Modern Corporate Board Director" (2019, John Wiley & Sons) and co-hosts the fortnightly show, The Corporate Director Podcast.
Links and Resources
Dottie Schindlinger on LInkedIn
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Today on the Take On Board podcast, I'm speaking with Candice Deville about AI and the missing AI conversation in the boardroom.
Candice was formally on the board of Charity Bay and she's the founder of AI Co-pilot and a leading AI strategist with 20 plus years experience in digital transformation, enterprise marketing and emerging tech, she advises boards, government and growth stage companies on responsible AI adoption, blending commercial insight with a sharp human centered lens on the future of work.
Links and Resources
The AI-Ready Playbook: Navigating AI Like A Pro by Candice DeVille
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Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Henna Karna about AI and technology. (Please note, we're playing this episode again. It originally aired in November 2024
Henna is a highly respected global leader with more than 25 years of experience leading innovation across digital/data in high-tech, CPG, risk management, and insurance industries (across P&C, specialty, life, health, retirement, consumer, commercial, brokers, vendors, and independent agents).
She has led businesses and advised Fortune 100 companies on digital innovation and disruption, and has designed and developed patent-pending technology and applications in the field of genetic algorithms, behavioural analytics, deep neural nets and digital data technologies.
She's joined a couple of large industry companies. Most recently, she was at Google and ran the global insurance and risk division for products and solutions on the Google side. Henna has been on a couple of public boards and a couple of private boards, so she's spending most of her time on the portfolio side of things.
Links and Resources
Henna Karna's Website
The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
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Today on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Simone Austin about the transferable skills that have shaped her career journey.
Simone is on the Healthy Life Health Advisory Board and has previously been President of Sport Dietitians Australia and a board member at Dietitians Australia.
Simone has had a dynamic career in the field of dietetics. I had to practice saying that, which fits perfectly with her zesty personality. From fueling some of Australia's most successful sporting teams to authoring her book, Eat Like an Athlete and leading the publication of Healthy Lives Living Healthy Reports.
Links and Resources
Eat Like an Athlete by Simone Austin
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Today on the Take on board podcast, I'm speaking again with Dorrit Kromann about high-performing boards. Now, you may recall that about a year ago, in June 2024, I had a conversation with Dorrit, during which we discussed psychology in the boardroom. We discussed a wide range of topics. Things like how she received some voice training from an opera singer, and she challenged us to do a little check-in when our attention wanders in board meetings. So there were a few tools she gave us around that as well. At the time, Dorrit was writing a book, and now her book is a reality. Today's conversation will touch on high-performing boards and the valuable wisdom she has developed through her book, Building Bridges in Board Dynamics.
Dorrit Kromann is a full-time board professional and investor. After two decades of building a career linking the professional and human aspects of business, she now holds key board positions across different industries including Fintech, IT, education and utility services. In addition to driving performance in her own organizations, Dorrit is dedicated to equipping others with the necessary framework to understand board dynamics, become high-value members and create high-performing organizations.
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This week on the Take On Board podcast, you are hearing from me. I have some reflections from my recent hike, the Jatbula hike up in the Northern Territory.
The podcast was recorded along the trail on Voice Memos. You will find some of it quite noisy because, in the background, there are various waterfalls and the like, so it's probably not the best audio. Uh, however, I couldn't resist doing it along the way, so I hope you find some value in it.
Look, I'll admit some of the links to governance might be a little bit tenuous, but I couldn't miss this opportunity to record to some of my thoughts and reflections from the trip.
Enjoy!
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Today on the Take on Board Podcast, I'm speaking with Julie Toma about her journey to the boardroom and maybe some reflections that come along the way there.
Julie is on the board of Western New South Wales Primary Health Network, RACGP's Australian General Practice Research Foundation, Friendly Pharmacies, Northern Sydney Local Health District Quality Health Care Board Committee, and the Barbara May Foundation.
She's previously been on the Australian Dental Health Foundation, Jannawi Connections, LiveBetter, and Asthma Australia ACT.
Julie, as you can no doubt tell from her boards, is passionate about improving society's health and well-being. She provides deep expertise in business strategy, marketing, customer and employee experience, philanthropy, transformational growth and stakeholder engagement.
Links and Resources
Russell Reynolds Associates - Global Board Culture and Director Behaviors Study
NSW Institute of Applied Technology (for free courses to strengthen understanding of cyber and AI)
The Psychological Safety Index (PSI) from Data Drives Insight
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Today on the Take On Board Podcast, I'm speaking with Mary Goodwin about the advisory board centres and the certified chair course.
Mary chairs the audit risk and improvement committee at Gladstone Regional Council and serves on various audit and risk committees at Redlands City Council, Western Downs Regional Council, and Whitsunday Regional Council. She is also on the advisory boards of a pharmacy and a fabrication company.
Mary co-chairs the peer advisory group for the Queensland Northern Territory chapter of the Advisory Board Centre. With over 25 years of strategic leadership in public, private, and not-for-profit sectors both in Australia and internationally, she has served as chief procurement officer for the Queensland Government and Deputy Director General of a state department. Her international experience includes a significant gold mining project in Canada and India during COVID. She founded her consultancy, One People Proprietary Limited, to help businesses maximize their potential, particularly by applying big business concepts to SMEs in practical ways.
Previous episodes in this series
Louise Broekman outlines the history and importance of advisory boards
Sandra Gamble knows what’s what about the energy and sustainability sector for advisory boards
Cynthia Payne outlines the evolution of advisory boards in aged care
Heather Disher dishes on business sector advisory boards
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