Good Boardroom Practice
The Forum Briefing (6 June) on the operation of boards included four presentations and a discussion of the compliance and performance challenges facing boards. The issues highlighted included the key roles of the chairperson and company secretary, the effective management of committees, the different roles of management and board members and reporting arrangements. The event as chaired by Mary O’Rafferty, Director Leadership and management, IPA.
- Kevin Prendergast, Corporate Compliance Manager, Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement gave a presentation, “The Responsibilities of the Company Secretary under company law”. He referred to the importance of ‘an adept company secretary’ to the successful running of a company. While the Companies Acts do not apply to the majority of state bodies, the developments in this area have a large influence on the expectations for all areas. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies states that public bodies should operate "in accordance with the highest standards applicable in the business world"
- Aideen Gahan, Company Secretary, Irish Aviation Authority in her presentation, “The Secretary’s Perspective”, gave an overview on the role of the board secretary. While organisations vary enormously, boards tend to encounter many of the same issues which effect board effectiveness. Board processes should be used to help the board to focus on key issues. If the board has no time for strategy "then you need to make time".
- Geraldine Finucane, Secretary of the Board, CIE, in her presentation “The Secretary’s Perspective- a Concrete Example”, explained how many of the issues are addressed in the CIE Holding Company and the three operating subsidiaries. The complexity of the organisation highlights the importance of having clarity on what and where items are discussed and decided. A proposed annual timetable for board and committee meetings is agreed around November of the preceding year.
- Michael Kelly, Chairman of the Higher Education Authority, gave a presentation on the Role of the Chair, from his perspective as Chair of a State Body and his experience as a member of other public service bodies. It is the role of the chair to ensure delivery of the mission, to oversee the effective operation of the board and to maintain key relationships. There are challenges in the management of board time, balancing contributions, managing the profile, maintaining the good will of the key stakeholders.