Blog

A senior director once told me, “What you see may not be what it is”. Looking back on 20 years of boardroom experience, two things have stood out: no one has all the answers, and the importance of listening to various perspectives can never be underestimated.

Stephanie Vass, Executive General Manager — Legal, Risk and Safety Chandler Macleod Group Limited.

As someone who has completed and meaningfully benefited from Governance Institute’s Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance, I’m keen to share my experiences and top tips for anyone considering postgraduate study.

In the boardroom and throughout the organisation there is no getting away from strategy, culture and technology. Are these elements embedded in your daily action plan? Or are they simply buzzwords?

I’ve been on all manner of committees. Not just at work but in my social and sporting lives as well. Once people find out you know how to run things or how organised you are — basically, that you are familiar with governance — it’s not long before you’re on the committee.

Corporate culture remains one of the most difficult issues for organisations to get right. Organisational balance sheets and reputations are being severely impacted while regulatory and community scrutiny is intensifying. It has become a topic of national conversation.

Today, leading organisations are being overhauled to better suit the needs of more women in the workforce and greater diversity, however progress is slow. Organisations taking the lead are gaining a competitive advantage.