Governance

Company Secretary in Australia and New Zealand: Role, Requirements and Options

What does a company secretary do in Australia and NZ? Legal requirements, when to appoint one, and outsourcing options for both jurisdictions.

Introducing Registers: Build Any Board Register in Our Cat Herder

Registers in Our Cat Herder give boards a flexible, secure way to maintain governance records like conflicts of interest, contracts, and more — with customisable columns, role-based access, form submissions, and direct integration into meeting minutes.

What is the Ideal Board Size?

Learn how to determine the ideal board size for your organisation, including strategies for resizing, assessing effectiveness, and balancing skills with efficiency.

How to Choose the Best Company Secretary for Your Company

Discover the best company secretary model for medium-sized organisations to ensure effective governance and boardroom success.

Understanding MAICD vs GAICD: Navigating Australian Institute of Company Director Membership Levels

Explore the differences between MAICD and GAICD membership levels at the AICD. Learn about eligibility, benefits, and how these designations can enhance your directorship career in Australia.

Managing Conflicts of Interest in Non-Profits

Conflicts of interest often crop up on charity & non-profit boards due to connected relationships. Even potential conflicts can damage trust & credibility. Key strategies: develop policies, maintain register, establish culture of disclosure via training, documentation & communication.

Board Members with Ego

Effective Board meetings require self-aware members, clear roles, disciplined focus on priorities, constructive debate, decisive facilitation, and avoidance of tangents, ego, groupthink, and micromanaging.

How to Present to the Board of Directors

Being asked to present to the board of directors of an organisation is both an exciting opportunity and a daunting challenge. The boardroom environment brings unique pressures and protocols that require advance preparation and care in your approach. Follow these tips to make the most of your board presentation opportunity. Why You Might Be Asked to Present The Board of directors are responsible for making major strategic decisions and overseeing the organisation’s performance.

Board Paper Template

A Board paper template outlines key sections & details needed to prepare clear, structured reports for board meetings. Board paper template are useful to guide writers to create focused, logical papers with data to help directors make informed decisions.

Company Secretary Playbook: Which Executives should attend Board Meetings?

Explore best practices on structuring board meetings and executive staff presence to balance transparency and oversight. From limiting attendees to sequencing agenda strategically and setting participation norms to optimise information flow while preserving board independence.