Take on Board

Helga Svendsen
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Oct 28, 2025 • 28min

Giselle McLachlan wants to help prepare your boardroom for the future

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.Links and ResourcesGrounded GovernanceGiselle on LinkedInUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 21, 2025 • 25min

Ari Magalhaes knows business turnarounds and says you can too

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 ResourcesEVENT: Organisational Turnarounds with AriAri Magalhaes on LinkedInOmniStrategic Impact Framework Episode 225: Ari Magalhaes uses her years of experience of analysing risk and employing strategy in the boardroomUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 14, 2025 • 25min

Professional development miniseries: Francie Doolan asks do you have the skills to govern in a changing world?

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 todayLinks and ResourcesFrancie Dolan on LinkedInSmall 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 roomUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Oct 7, 2025 • 22min

Professional development mini series: Kim Sullivan's fresh perspective on the AICD Company Directors' course

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. Links and ResourcesKim Sullivan on LinkedInAICD Company Directors CourseUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 30, 2025 • 37min

Professional development miniseries: Ngaire Anderson experienced the AICD Boardroom Mastery program

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.Links and ResourcesAICD Boardroom MasteryUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 23, 2025 • 21min

Professional development miniseries: Jane Davel has options for New Zealand board members

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 ResourcesEpisode 128: Jane Davel offers some ideas if board members are causing troubleUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 16, 2025 • 26min

Professional development miniseries: Jennifer Duncan on the virtues of the Governance for Social Impact program

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.Links and ResourcesJennifer Duncan on LinkedInUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 9, 2025 • 24min

Professional development miniseries: Professional Development in Governance with Kiki Paul

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 ResourcesKiki Paul on LinkedInEpisode 259: Kiki Paul details how to move from CEO to non-executive directorUpcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 2, 2025 • 31min

Respect at Work law - compliance and accurate reporting tips with Natasha de Silva

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 ResourcesGoverning for positive duty obligationsGoverning for psychosocial hazards and risksGoverning for workplace gender equalityAnd the in-person Respect@Work Masterclass for Boards hosted by Kate Jenkins and Natasha de Silva Upcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aug 26, 2025 • 57min

AI Mini Series: Candice DeVille answers some of the best questions ever - her words

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.Upcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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