This episode kicks off a three-part series designed to help aspiring Board Members navigate the world of Board service. This first instalment tackles the most critical question: What does a Board Member actually do?

We'll go beyond the Boardroom to shine a light on the full scope of the role, including the risks, commitments, and rewards.

This episode addresses:

• The Core Responsibilities: the fundamental legal duties of an Australian Board Member/Company Director. We also break down the crucial difference between governance and management.
• Beyond the Boardroom: Discover the commitments that go beyond attending meetings. We cover committee work, stakeholder engagement, and the time required for meeting preparation and follow-up, which can be significant.
• The Board's Dynamic: We delve into the importance of a healthy Board culture, emphasising trust, constructive debate, and the need for a unified front. The vital role of the Board Chair is also highlighted, as this person significantly influences the Board's effectiveness and your experience as a Board Member.

This episode is your first step to a full awareness of what it truly means to be a Board Member.

Key Takeaways:

• Board service is a serious commitment with legal duties, but it can also be highly rewarding.
• The key duties for an Australian Company Director include acting with care and diligence, not improperly using your position, and preventing the company from trading while insolvent.
• The line between governance and management is often fluid, and it's essential for the Board and executive team to agree on their dynamic.
• Board work extends beyond meetings. Be prepared for commitments like committee work, stakeholder engagement, and extensive preparation time.

A Board's culture and the influence of the Chair are critical to your success and enjoyment in the role.

Stay Tuned:

• Episode 2 of this series will be released in November 2025, focusing on Do I have the right skills and experience for a Board?
• Episode 3 will follow, with a roadmap on How do I find and get on a Board?

Submit Your Question
If you have a question or that you would like me to answer in a future episode, please fill out my short online survey.

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If you found this episode valuable, please subscribe and leave a review. For more information and resources, visit our website at getonboardaustralia.com.au.

How can Board Members navigate the rapid evolution of AI without succumbing to fear or hype?

As a "Geriatric Millennial," I'm sharing how I’m navigating this rapidly evolving technology without falling into the trap of hype or fear. While GenAI presents risks, it also offers significant opportunities that Boards must understand and govern effectively.

Key Takeaways for (Human) Board Members

• Human-in-the-Loop Approach: The most effective use of GenAI requires human interaction to correct for biases, hallucinations, and misinformation. Using it as a "colleague" rather than a replacement for human work results in a higher quality outcome.
• A Governance-Centric View: GenAI should be viewed through the lens of risk management and compliance. Boards have a legal duty to address issues like data privacy, confidentiality, and intellectual property. Check out this straightforward, structured approach to assessing AI risk, outlined by Helen van Orten and Alexie O’Brien, and other BoardPro webinars and resources.
• Integrating AI into Board Work:
  • Caution with Confidential Information: Consider the risks of uploading confidential Board materials like Board packs.
  • Strategic Use for Research: Use AI to analyse publicly available information to generate insightful questions for Boardroom discussions.
  • Enhancing, Not Replacing, Preparation: If using AI for Board meeting preparation, use it as a supplement to, not a replacement for, personal reading, analysis, and reflection.
• Lean on Colleagues and Experts: It is impossible to be an expert in everything. Ask questions, share resources, and lean on your Board colleagues and internal team members to build a shared understanding of AI's impacts and opportunities.
• Stay Engaged and Balanced: While AI is a hot topic, it’s important to not neglect the foundational aspects of governance, such as strategy, risk, and financial oversight. Staying informed about AI’s evolution from a variety of neutral sources is key to making sound decisions.
  • Learn how to use AI tools with Tim Martin from Net 101

If you have a question or a topic that you’d like covered in a future episode, please fill out our short online survey.

Watermark Search International – an executive and Board search firm – recently released their (somewhat) annual Board Diversity Index. This index reviewed the 2,100 Board Seats across the ASX300 Boards and evaluated those seats on a range of diversity attributes.

As I read through this report, a few things jumped out at me that are worth diving a little deeper into, particularly for aspiring Board Members. In this episode, I discuss Formal Governance Credentials and Board Member Qualifications (do you need one to join a Board?), Director Location (competition for Board roles is international), and Age diversity (when is the best time to pursue a listed company Board role?).

To dive deeper into the topics covered today, here are some links to explore:

• Watermark Search International 2025 Board Diversity Index
• Break into the Boardroom (online course)
• Episode 103: Understanding Your Board Value Proposition
• Episode 113: Telling Your Board Story through Your Board Resume

Thank you to Watermark Search International for providing additional survey data beyond the published index.

If you have a question or a topic that you’d like covered in a future episode, please fill out this short online survey.