Governance Bites

Mark Banicevich
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Mark Banicevich interviews a series of experts about governance, including company directors, lawyers, executive managers, and governance consultants. Each interview is on a different topic related to governance, tied to the guest's expertise. He also asks interviews for the best governance advice they've received, or they would give to new directors. 

  1. 6D AGO

    Governance Bites #147: governance and leadership in national scale crises, with Sir William Birch

    Send us Fan Mail Sir William (Bill) Birch brings decades of high-level public leadership and governance experience to the conversation. A senior figure in New Zealand politics for more than two decades, he held several key ministerial portfolios, including Finance, National Development and Energy. During his time in government he was closely involved in major economic reforms and policy decisions that shaped modern New Zealand’s public sector governance. Since leaving Parliament, Sir Bill has remained active in the governance community, serving on a range of corporate and public sector boards. His experience spans government decision-making, board oversight, and strategic leadership, giving him a rare perspective on how governance works across both the public and private sectors. In this episode, Mark Banicevich interviews Sir Bill Birch on governance and leadership during national-scale crises. Drawing on experience at the highest levels, Sir Bill explores how leaders make sound decisions amid uncertainty, balance speed with discipline, and maintain public trust under pressure. The discussion reveals parallels between government cabinets and corporate boards, practical steps for crisis readiness, and the enduring qualities that define effective leadership. A must-listen for directors and executives preparing for the unexpected. Book: ""Bill Birch: Minister of Everything"" by Brad Tattersfield, https://natlib.govt.nz/records/42822277 #governance, #leadership, #crisismanagement, #boardofdirectors, #corporategovernance, #riskmanagement, #decisionmaking, #leadershipdevelopment, #publicsector, #executiveleadership, #trust, #strategy, #businesscontinuity, #resilience, #directors, #governanceinsights

    23 min

  2. APR 22

    Governance Bites #146: Conflicts of interest, and how to handle them, with Steven Bowman

    Send us Fan Mail Are conflicts of interest a negative? Governance expert Steven Bowman, who has worked with boards for over 40 years, argues they are necessary — if you never have them, you likely have the wrong board. In this insightful conversation, interviewer Mark Banicevich explores how boards must shift from requiring a declaration of conflict of interest to a declaration of interest, allowing the board to collectively determine if a conflict exists. Steven outlines the three primary strategies boards use to manage real, potential, or perceived conflicts, and warns of the personal liability risks directors face if interests are not appropriately managed. Tune in for mature governance practices!  Steven Bowman is founder of Conscious Governance, a global, independent advisory service specialising in strategic planning, board governance, leadership, and risk management consulting for Boards, CEOs, and directors. The firm provides resources and guidance to organisations across virtually all sectors, including health, education, government, faith, disability, and housing. The governance model promoted by Conscious Governance is defined as running an organisation with conscious awareness. This approach moves beyond 19th-century systems focused on policy and conformance, prioritising conscious leadership to steer the organisation toward a defined vision and align day-to-day management with organisational strategies. Conscious Board leadership is vital for improving both financial and social results. Core services include Board governance evaluations, risk management strategies, and leadership development, such as CEO performance management. Conscious Governance has reported completing over 500 successful strategic plan facilitations and serving more than 4200 clients. #Governance, #ConflictsofInterest, #BoardofDirectors, #CorporateGovernance, #DirectorLiability, #RegisterofInterests, #Boardroom, #BestPractice, #ConsciousGovernance, #GovernanceBites

    29 min

  3. APR 15

    Governance Bites #145: Governance for value creation, with Laurence Kubiak

    Send us Fan Mail Laurence Kubiak brings a rare combination of executive leadership and boardroom governance experience across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. He is Chief Executive Officer of Nautech Electronics Ltd, New Zealand’s largest independent contract electronics manufacturer, and serves as a director of Northpower Ltd. Laurence previously chaired Trustees Executors Limited and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, bringing deep insight into governance across regulated, commercial and cultural organisations. Earlier, he was CEO of New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, advising decision-makers on economic policy and strategy. With an international career spanning energy, telecommunications and infrastructure, Laurence offers a global perspective on governance, regulation and strategic oversight. In this episode, Mark Banicevich sits down with Laurence Kubiak to explore the shift from oversight to insight. They dive into how boards can reframe their mandate to focus on long-term strategic value, capital allocation, and constructive management challenge. From defining "governance for value creation" to identifying the specific capabilities directors need today, Laurence shares actionable practices to move beyond quarterly metrics. Watch now to learn the one governance change that could transform your board’s impact and unlock sustainable organizational growth. #Governance, #ValueCreation, #BoardLeadership, #StrategicGovernance, #DirectorInsights, #CorporateGovernance, #BoardEffectiveness, #ExecutiveLeadership, #BusinessGrowth, #BoardOfDirectors, #StrategicPlanning, #LeadershipDevelopment, #ComplianceToValue, #ESG, #CorporateStrategy

    24 min

  4. APR 8

    Governance Bites #144: a brief personal history, with Rt Hon Sir William Birch

    Send us Fan Mail Sir William (Bill) Birch brings decades of high-level public leadership and governance experience to the conversation. A senior figure in New Zealand politics for more than two decades, he held several key ministerial portfolios, including Finance, National Development and Energy. During his time in government he was closely involved in major economic reforms and policy decisions that shaped modern New Zealand’s public sector governance. Since leaving Parliament, Sir Bill has remained active in the governance community, serving on a range of corporate and public sector boards. His experience spans government decision-making, board oversight, and strategic leadership, giving him a rare perspective on how governance works across both the public and private sectors. In this episode, Sir Bill talks briefly through his history - life, politics and governance. It is a fascinating conversation, from a man who was a Member of Parliament through both the Sir Robert Muldoon era, and the Jim Bolger era.  Books:  "Bill Birch: Minister of Everything" by Brad Tattersfield, https://natlib.govt.nz/records/42822277 "Power Surge: How Think Big and Rogernomics Transformed New Zealand", John Boshier, https://upstartpress.co.nz/product/power-surge-how-think-big-and-rogernomics-transformed-new-zealand/ #leadership, #corporategovernance, #boardcraft, #decisionmaking, #makingadifference, #ceo, #Governance, #GovernanceBites, #NZPolitics, #NewZealand, #SirWilliamBirch, #Leadership, #BoardOfDirectors, #MinisterOfFinance, #ThinkBig, #EnergyPolicy, #MauiGas, #ClydeDam, #MinisterOfEverything, #PublicSpeaking, #StrategicPlanning, #Freightways, #Surveying, #PoliticalHistory

    27 min

  5. APR 1

    Governance Bites #143: Content of a good board meeting, with Steven Bowman

    Send us Fan Mail Veteran governance expert Steven Bowman, who has spent over 40 years in the board and CEO space, reveals the key to Mastering the Effective Board Meeting in this insightful interview with Mark Banicevich. Steven insists the role of any board is not to monitor compliance or produce busy reports, but to create the future. Discover critical strategies like structuring your agenda with ""big ticket"" items up front, using a consent agenda for noting papers, and embedding your organisation’s vision into the meeting content. Learn how to transform risk from a compliance burden into a strategic opportunity and why healthy debate requires staff to provide three fundamentally different options for board choices. Steven Bowman is founder of Conscious Governance, a global, independent advisory service specialising in strategic planning, board governance, leadership, and risk management consulting for Boards, CEOs, and directors. The firm provides resources and guidance to organisations across virtually all sectors, including health, education, government, faith, disability, and housing. The governance model promoted by Conscious Governance is defined as running an organisation with conscious awareness. This approach moves beyond 19th-century systems focused on policy and conformance, prioritising conscious leadership to steer the organisation toward a defined vision and align day-to-day management with organisational strategies. Conscious Board leadership is vital for improving both financial and social results. Core services include Board governance evaluations, risk management strategies, and leadership development, such as CEO performance management. Conscious Governance has reported completing over 500 successful strategic plan facilitations and serving more than 4200 clients. #Governance, #BoardOfDirectors, #EffectiveBoardMeetings, #Strategy, #StrategicRisk, #CreateTheFuture, #BoardAgenda, #ConsentAgenda, #BoardProductivity, #Leadership, #CorporateGovernance, #BoardMembers, #DecisionMaking, #MakingChoices, #GovernanceConsultancy, #ConsciousGovernance, #GovernanceBites

    34 min

  6. MAR 25

    Governance Bites #142: governance and employee well-being, with Tracey Cross

    Send us Fan Mail Is employee financial stress impacting your company’s bottom line? In this essential Governance Bites episode, host Mark Banicevich speaks with legal advisor and independent director Tracey Cross about why boards must prioritize employee financial well-being. Tracey explains that unresolved financial issues drive underperformance and stress, noting 79% of non-relation stress is financial. Discover the economic and social case for action, and learn how stepping up to lead makes the workplace an ""island of civility"" that improves attraction and retention. Boards must ask curious questions to measure productivity gains and ensure this vital topic is addressed at the governance level. Tracey Cross is a highly respected legal and corporate governance expert, bringing over 25 years of experience in financial services regulatory compliance and strategy. As a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, Tracey holds key Independent Director roles, currently serving on the Boards of AIA New Zealand and Mint Asset Management. Her board responsibilities include strategy, risk management, and chairing committees like Audit & Risk and ESG. Tracey is passionate about governance with purpose, driving the belief that good conduct and culture are fundamental to competitive and sustainable business. Currently practicing on her own account and working as a governance adviser at Grounded Governance Ltd, she specializes in providing pragmatic, commercially driven solutions, strategy development, and tailored legal and governance training for Boards and businesses. Her focus is on strong leadership and advocating change that results in the best customer outcomes. #Governance, #EmployeeFinancialWellbeing, #CorporateGovernance, #WorkplaceWellness, #Productivity, #FinancialLiteracy, #BoardOfDirectors, #HR, #Retention, #IslandOfCivility, #GovernanceBites

    19 min

  7. MAR 18

    Governance Bites #141: cracking the nut of visual learning for directors, with John Mason

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, John Mason joins Mark Banicevich to unpack the fast-changing world of visual learning — and what it means for today’s directors. With attention spans shrinking and Gen Z and Gen Alpha now dominating many workforces, John explains why short, authentic, phone-shot videos are transforming how organisations share knowledge. They discuss why corporate-style training is dying, how peer-to-peer clips can solve problems overnight, and why boards should rethink how they communicate and learn. From AI-ready content libraries to practical tips for building thousands of bite-sized videos, this conversation shows how modern learning can lift performance at every level of the organisation. John Mason is the Founder & Learning Activist for Sideways. He is a specialist in systemic organisational development, leveraging technology to enhance organisational effectiveness. He advocates for a fundamental shift in corporate systems, moving away from outdated, top-down approaches. The core philosophy is that knowledge needs to be liberated, not managed, a vital concept for modern governance. John’s work, which includes founding Vidleos (2013-2022) and Sideways (since 2022), focuses on making workplace learning spontaneous and continuous. By championing a Knowledge Sharing Platform, Sideways acts like an organisation’s brain, democratising access to all the "smarts" in one place. This approach plugs knowledge gaps, improves productivity, and simultaneously enhances organisational consistency. This commitment to peer-to-peer visual learning fosters businesses to become true learning organisations.  #VisualLearning, #DigitalLearning, #MicroLearning, #ShortFormVideo, #LearningInnovation, #DirectorEducation, #BoardDevelopment, #GovernanceBites, #FutureOfLearning, #GenZLearning, #WorkplaceLearning, #LMS, #LearningCulture, #KnowledgeSharing, #PeerToPeerLearning, #AIInLearning, #ContentStrategy, #VideoFirst, #CorporateLearning, #LeadershipDevelopment

    22 min

  8. MAR 11

    Governance Bites #140: the chair's role in appointing a CEO, with Joseph Catanzariti AM

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Banicevich sits down with governance expert Joseph Catanzariti AM to explore the critical role of the chair in recruiting a CEO. The conversation ranges from what truly makes an effective director, to how chairs should navigate CEO succession, manage subcommittees, work with external advisers, and ensure a transparent, rigorous process. Joe also shares insights on preparation, crisis situations, director responsibilities, and common pitfalls boards face during CEO recruitment. A practical, candid discussion for directors, chairs, and anyone involved in governance. Joseph Catanzariti AM is a highly regarded governance expert, Strategic Adviser, Mediator, Arbitrator, and Investigator. He draws on over 40 years of practical legal experience and possesses extensive Board level experience across Australia and internationally. In 2016, Mr Catanzariti was awarded a Member in the Order of Australia AM for significant service to the law, to legal education, to labour and employment relations, and to professional legal bodies. Mr. Catanzariti currently serves as the Chairman of The College of Law Australia (since 2008), a role accompanied by Board Member positions for institutions in the UK and New Zealand. During his tenure as a Director for the Law Council of Australia, his governance oversight included service as a Member of the Corporate Governance Committee and as a Member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. Furthermore, he advises Boards and Companies on crucial matters such as risk management and psychosocial hazards. Before transitioning to advisory roles, he completed an 11-year term as Vice President of the Fair Work Commission. #Governance, #BoardLeadership, #ESG, #SocialImpact, #CorporateResponsibility, #RiskManagement, #StakeholderEngagement, #SustainableBusiness, #LeadershipDevelopment, #BoardEffectiveness, #EthicalLeadership, #DirectorEducation, #GovernanceInsights, #NonprofitGovernance, #CorporateCulture

    33 min
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About

Mark Banicevich interviews a series of experts about governance, including company directors, lawyers, executive managers, and governance consultants. Each interview is on a different topic related to governance, tied to the guest's expertise. He also asks interviews for the best governance advice they've received, or they would give to new directors. 

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Banicevich
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    147
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Governance Bites
  • Show Website
    Governance Bites

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