When the board isn’t working,
everything stalls
Board performance reviews and strategic governance advisory for chairs, CEOs and company secretaries navigating misalignment, governance gaps and complexity.
Board dysfunction doesn’t start with a crisis. It starts with small fractures that compound over time.
Chairs, CEOs and company secretaries see it first — misalignment on strategic direction, governance gaps that become vulnerabilities, directors who underperform or overreach. Left unaddressed, these dynamics degrade decision-making and block the organisation from moving forward decisively.
Boards are not aligned on direction
Competing views on strategy create friction and dysfunction at the highest level.
Governance structures are unclear
Roles and accountabilities blur, and decisions are made without proper oversight.
A review has been requested
A funding body or investor requires it, but there’s no clear process or adviser.
Two ways to strengthen board performance
Board Performance Review
A structured, confidential review of board effectiveness, combining an AICD-aligned framework with surveys, observation and interviews. The result is a clear report and action plan, with confidential individual feedback for directors and a fixed price scoped upfront.
Strategic Governance Advisory
Tailored advisory for organisations asking whether they’re clear on strategic direction, whether their governance structures enable growth, and whether they have the capability to execute on what they’ve committed to. Open-ended and responsive to the organisation’s specific situation.
A structured process, tailored to your board
Scoping & Framework
Determine the scope, choose the review framework, and agree on the level of granularity appropriate for your board.
Assessment & Analysis
Participant surveys, direct observation of board meetings, and confidential interviews to capture the full picture.
Report Back & Action
Board presentation, facilitated workshop to prioritise next steps, and individual confidential feedback where needed.
The outcomes speak for themselves
What chairs and CEOs ask before engaging
How disruptive will a board review be?
Surveys and interviews are scheduled around availability, observation is minimal, and the workshop is typically a half-day. Most boards find the process far less disruptive than expected — and more valuable.
What happens to confidential feedback?
Individual director feedback is shared privately and confidentially — never included in the board-level report unless permission is given.
How much does a board performance review cost?
Typically $8,000 to $15,000 + GST for a small to medium board, depending on size and complexity. A fixed-price proposal follows an initial scoping conversation.
What if the board doesn’t agree on the need for a review?
Once the purpose, process and confidentiality assurances are explained, most boards engage constructively. Where resistance is strong, a lighter-touch governance advisory session is an effective starting point.
How is this different from an AICD-facilitated review?
Denise is an AICD-accredited facilitator, so frameworks align with AICD best practice — but the engagement is tailored and informed by three decades of board-level and executive experience across multiple sectors.
An effective board is a strategic asset.
An underperforming one is a liability.
Book a confidential conversation to explore whether a board review or governance advisory engagement is the right step for your organisation.