Video Session by Paul Smith, Founder, Future Directors Institute

Governance done well, with a focus on purpose, stakeholder impact, ethical decision-making, and a longer-term orientation is NOT a walk in the park. When a board takes the time, effort, and resources to better themselves, it can be hard to maintain high standards of governance performance in the face of constant uncertainty, volatility, and the ambiguity of the impact of their directions. So, how can a board maintain and strengthen its commitment to its purpose and impact? What are the main characteristics of a board that can successfully sustain fidelity to ‘good governance’ practices, especially when the governing group changes over time?

 Paul will navigate us through what it means to be an Atomic Boardroom. Building on previous presentations at the conference, he will help us understand what it means to build and maintain impact, continuously monitor and evaluate your board's effectiveness and make necessary course corrections to ensure that an organization remains true to its core values and objectives.

Live discussion facilitated by:

Karen Fryday-Field, Senior Consultant, Meridian Edge Leadership & Governance Consulting and CEO, GOVERN for IMPACT

How Can Boards Truly Lead in Complex, Turbulent Times? Are Board Really Willing to Lead?

Video Session by:
Karen Fryday-Field, Senior Consultant, Meridian Edge Leadership & Governance Consulting and CEO, GOVERN for IMPACT and Marlene Janzen Le Ber, Distinguished Chair, Brescia University, Centre for Women’s Leadership

Governing Boards are made up of a cast of people. People demonstrate different levels of beliefs and competencies in leadership behaviours which are shaped by people’s leader character.  Learn about how it is possible that a Board with an excellent technical governing system or approach to governance can still not achieve governance excellence and not deliver on the Board’s expected results. Examine the "people factor" related to Board culture and Board leadership behaviours and how they can significantly influence Board success.

Participants will...

• Refresh the basic connection of Board culture (values and leadership) with the major components of Board governance (Board job products, process, structure).
• Learn the components of Leader Character and how these interact- an overview of research in Leader Character.
• Using a group scenario on decision-making, study leader characteristics in action.
• Describe Board Leader Character at the group level to determine what Board behaviours are optimal using the Leader Character framework.
• Evaluate Board Leader Character in action and/or the absence of it while studying short Board of Director cases.
• Summarize critical learning to be applied going forward. 

Critical Conversation on Board Member Skills, Competencies, and Board Leader Character

Live Discussion Facilitated by:
Marlene Janzen Le Ber, Distinguished Chair, Brescia University, Centre for Women’s Leadership

Keynote - Leading Through Generations: The Power of Multigenerational Boards and Teams 

Video Session by:
J. Ryann Peyton, Director, Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program (CAMP) / Legal Entrepreneurs for Justice (LEJ)

Panelists

• Jeremiah Dameron, Director, Affiliate Services, GOVERN for IMPACT
• John Tzountzouris, Registrar & CEO, College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario
• Sherri Jones, Board Director, Florence Unified School District

There are five generations working side-by-side in many organizations today, adding a layer of complexity to how we communicate and collaborate. The cultural, economic, and social variances between generations often makes productive cooperation and decision-making challenging. These “generation gaps” can lead to miscommunication, misunderstanding, and attrition. Generational conflicts can also slow production, reduce enjoyment, and foster distrust. But these generational hurdles can be overcome! An organizational culture that champions the values and viewpoints of each generation starts with an understanding of basic generational differences, biases, and communication styles. Together we will explore how to work successfully alongside colleagues of every generation to discover mutual purpose and create meaningful and engaging working relationships.

 Live Discussion Facilitated by:

Tom Keyse, Conference Program Team Chair and Jeremiah Dameron, Director, Affiliate Services, GOVERN for IMPACT

Key Policy Governance Application Challenges in a Variety of Sectors - Making Effective Governance Real on the Ground from the Front Lines

Video Session by:

Panelists

• Matt Carpenter, CEO Ann Arbor Area Transit
• Ted Humphrey, Board Member, NuVision Credit Union
• Steve Schroeder, Board Chair, Sun Prairie Area School District

 Experienced governance practitioners and experts from the education, municipal agencies, and credit union/banking sectors will share how their Board is managing real governance challenges. Challenges and what is working will be shared related to:

• ownership/broader community linkage/engagement
• building future-focused, relevant, impactful ownership-informed critical outcomes (Ends), and
• Executive Leader (CEO) development and evaluation

 Live Discussion Facilitated by:

Ted Humphrey, Board Member, NuVision Credit Union

Is AI Changing the Way Boards Govern?

Video Session by:
Paul Smith, Founder, Future Directors Institute

Are you curious about how AI can assist your board in making better decisions? Join the Board Futurist Paul Smith for a workshop on AI-assisted board governance. In this interactive session, he'll provide you with an introduction to the exciting world of AI-assisted governance and give you practical tools to start applying AI in your own boardroom.

During the workshop, you'll have the opportunity to participate in an interactive demonstration that will showcase the power of AI-assisted governance in action. You'll see how AI can help you analyze data more effectively, provide valuable insights, write board papers, and increase the operational efficiency of your board as well as increasing the resilience of your decision-making process. You'll also explore the future of AI-assisted governance, the risks, the possibilities and predictions that hark back to Paul’s 2017 conference keynote, "The Future of the Boardroom”.

By attending this workshop, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how AI can transform the way you work as a board member. You'll learn how to leverage AI to make better decisions, streamline your processes, and stay ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the exciting world of AI-assisted governance and take your board to the next level.

Live Discussion and Exercise Facilitated by:
Karen Fryday-Field, Senior Consultant, Meridian Edge Leadership & Governance Consulting and CEO, GOVERN for IMPACT

By invitation only" wrap-up Q&A discussion with Tom Keyse, Conference Program Chair and Governance Consultant and Karen Fryday-Field, Senior Consultant and Managing Partner, Meridian Edge Leadership & Governance Consulting.