Eyes on the future
The next time you stroll to the shops or head off to work or school, look around: from the petrol station to the supermarket, the local library or gym franchise, to your favourite book retailer, takeaway chain, or even the app you used for that midnight purchase from your favourite online store – all have involved some form of governance or a board who make decisions that lead to positive outcomes.
Governance informs how we feel or relate to particular products or brands, including whether we want to work for one company over another. It can make a difference to workplace culture, embedding meaningful values for an organisation or business. It can help to keep people safe, whether it’s at the local sports club, the dentist, school, or when travelling on public transport.
And when it’s done well, governance can be transformative and expansive, creating the foundation for positive social change, ensuring the world we live in is fair, equitable, and sustainable.
The Institute of Directors (IoD) is Aotearoa’s professional body for boards and directors. With more than 10,000 members, it represents diverse industry sectors, including NZX-listed companies, not-for-profit organisations, community groups, family-owned businesses, school boards of trustees, and more.
As a national body, the IoD supports the governance community by empowering good decision-making. Through access to up-to-date guidance, thought leadership, and a range of courses, events, development programmes, online resources and research material, plus access to board vacancies and board evaluations – the IoD equips directors and organisations to thrive.
Through a broad director network, each year, the IoD releases its annual director sentiment survey – now an essential guide for New Zealand businesses – providing vital insights into the challenges, risks, and opportunities ahead. As a snapshot of what’s to come this year, harnessing AI, cyber security, climate leadership, enabling productivity, future-ready succession, and the need for value-adding boards emerged as top concerns for directors in 2024.
With its aim to foster knowledge and build connections, throughout the year the IoD holds a range of national and regional events – an opportunity to network with like minds and be inspired by leading keynote speakers. The annual leadership conference, most recently held in Christchurch, is the biggest event on the governance and business calendar, featuring not-to-be-missed international and local guest speakers.
Continued education and knowledge building are pivotal to directors staying ahead of the game in a fast-changing and ever-evolving landscape. To support this, five different development programmes are open to IoD members annually. These programmes aim to foster emerging talent and promote diversity of thought and experience at the board table, through access to mentoring and education opportunities.
The IoD has a range of courses on offer from in-person or online sessions to its highly sought-after Company Directors’ Course (CDC). Over an immersive five-and-a-half-days, leading professional directors introduce real-world scenarios through a board simulation exercise to activate critical thinking and robust debate, equipping participants to add value to their governance roles. Conducted in a safe environment, participants build their core governance capability and develop the confidence to take new thinking to the board table.
To-date, more than 7,000 New Zealand directors have attended the course, setting their organisations up for success. Held in locations across the country, the next CDC is available in Ōtautahi Christchurch 11–16 August.
What matters most, and why governance is so important, is that people are at its core, ensuring the future looks bright for whānau and the community for generations to come.
If you’re interested in taking the next step to sit on a board or want to pursue a governance path with confidence, the Institute of Directors has a range of support available to guide you. They also offer a free bi-monthly newsletter if you’re keen to keep on top of governance news, events, and resources