Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers about how Governance in Focus works, what a board review involves, and whether we are the right fit for your organisation.

About Governance in Focus

What makes Governance in Focus different from other governance consultancies?

A few things, and I will be direct about them.

Every engagement is led by me personally. There are no junior consultants who conduct the work while I put my name on the report. If you engage Governance in Focus, you work with me throughout.

I do not apply generic frameworks to every client. Governance advice that does not account for your sector, your regulatory environment, your board composition, and your organisation's actual maturity level is not governance advice. It is a template with your logo on it.

I built my own proprietary board review software because the available tools were not fit for purpose. That means the data collection, analysis, and benchmarking process is designed around how governance actually works, not around what was easy to build.

I hold the Chartered Governance Professional designation and have worked across APRA-regulated entities, aged care providers, ASX-listed companies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, not-for-profits, and financial services organisations in Australia and South Africa.

Which sectors does Governance in Focus work with?

Current and recent engagements include ASX-listed companies, APRA-regulated authorised deposit-taking institutions including credit unions and mutual banks, aged care providers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, not-for-profit organisations, and community sector organisations. I work with clients across Australia and South Africa.

Within financial services, I have specific experience supporting organisations navigating APRA's prudential framework, including Prudential Standard CPS 510 and related governance obligations.

Within aged care, my work is informed by the Aged Care Quality Standards and the governance expectations established through the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

What does governance theatre mean?

Governance theatre is what happens when an organisation performs the appearance of good governance without the substance. It looks like a board that meets regularly but rarely makes a consequential decision. Policies that exist on paper but are never enforced or reviewed. Board papers that are 80 pages long and discussed for 20 minutes. A risk register that is updated annually and never looked at in between.

Governance theatre is common, and it is expensive. It consumes the time of directors, executives, and company secretaries, while producing the illusion of accountability rather than the reality of it. My practice is built around helping organisations close that gap.

Board Effectiveness Reviews

What is a board effectiveness review?

A board effectiveness review is a structured assessment of how well a board is performing its governance responsibilities. It examines the composition, dynamics, processes, and decision-making of the board as a whole, as well as individual director contributions and the effectiveness of board committees.

At Governance in Focus, every review is benchmarked against current sector standards and regulatory expectations, and findings are presented in a way that boards can actually use. Reviews can be conducted annually, biannually, or in response to a specific trigger such as a change in leadership, a regulatory concern, or a period of significant organisational change.

How do I know if my board needs a review?

If you are asking this question, there is a reasonable chance the answer is yes. More specifically, a review is worth considering when the board has not been externally reviewed in the past two to three years, director tenure and composition have shifted significantly, there is tension in the boardroom affecting decision-making, the organisation has grown or restructured, a regulator or funder has raised questions about governance standards, or the company secretary or CEO is carrying governance problems that should be a board-level conversation.

How does the board review software work?

Rather than using a generic survey tool, the platform is designed specifically for governance assessments. Directors and relevant stakeholders complete a structured questionnaire calibrated to your sector and the specific review framework we have agreed on. The platform aggregates responses, identifies patterns, and produces analysis that I then interpret and contextualise in the final report.

The software is not available as a standalone product. It is part of the end-to-end review process.

Company Secretarial Support

I am a company secretary. How can Governance in Focus support my work?

I work with company secretaries in several ways. I can provide interim company secretarial support during a vacancy, transition, or period of elevated demand. I can assist with governance frameworks, board paper processes, meeting management, and policy development. I can also support company secretaries in making the case to their board for governance improvements, by providing the independent external perspective that can be difficult to land when it comes from inside the organisation.

Client Review

"The board evaluation process was handled with a high level of professionalism, care, and expertise from start to finish. The structured approach to gathering both quantitative and qualitative feedback provided actionable insights, and the final report not only highlighted the board's strengths but offered recommendations that supported our commitment to governance excellence. As Company Secretary, I greatly appreciated the commitment to confidentiality, transparency, and the practical value of the recommendations." — Kim Hancock, Executive Officer and Company Secretary

Get in touch to discuss your governance needs. Learn more about board reviews.