Governance Bytes Workshop Series 2025

Transform Your Board: Join Our Not-for-Profit Governance Bytes Workshop Series 2025 

Are you ready to unlock the potential of your not-for-profit board? Join LEAD's Governance Bytes Workshop Series, where you'll gain essential skills, tools, and insights to strengthen your organisation's leadership and governance.

Whether you're an experienced board member or just stepping into the role, this workshop series is designed to take your governance skills to the next level. Choose individual ‘Bytes’ or sign up for the entire series to supercharge your impact.

Gain tools and processes to build your board’s governance effectiveness and explore ways to address current issues facing boards such as sustainability, diversity, and monitoring and evaluation 

Why You Can’t Miss This Training:

• Think Strategically: Equip yourself with actionable strategies and tools to streamline meetings, events, and decision-making.
• Confidence and clarity: Understand what effective governance looks like and learn how to implement it. Build Clearer Connections: Strengthen relationships between your board, staff, and volunteers for smoother collaboration.
• Legal know-how: Stay up to date on your legal responsibilities—both personal and collective.
• Strategic skills: Master the art of strategic thinking to drive impactful decisions.
• Practical tips: Access tools and techniques to streamline meetings, events, and processes.
• Valuable connections: Network with other board members across Aotearoa and share challenges and solutions that work.

How It Works:

Join live, interactive virtual sessions led by LEAD’s not-for-profit governance experts. These sessions are designed for real-world application, giving you the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and develop solutions tailored to your organisation.

What Makes Our Workshops Special:

• Interactive & Live: Learn from LEAD’s expert facilitators and collaborate with peers in real time.
• Actionable Knowledge: Experienced not-for-profit leaders facilitating conversations about the real world, not what the e
• Certification: Complete at least six sessions to receive an official certificate acknowledging your commitment to effective governance.

Flexible and Affordable:

• Join a single session for just $79 + GST or register for the full series & receive a 20% discount
• Scholarships available—contact us if finances are a barrier.
• Can’t attend? Substitute another member of your organisation—just let us know!

2025 Workshops

Board as Employers: Supporting, Developing and Appraising the Manager

Date: 6:15pm-7:45pm, Wednesday February 12, 2025
Facilitator: Aly McNicoll
You will learn about:

• The Leadership equation - the Board-Manager relationship
• Being a good employer - managing the manager

• Performance reviews  and accountability conversations.       

Dealing with Board Dynamics: Managing Difficult Personalities

Date: 6:15pm-7:45pm, Wednesday March 5 2025
Facilitator: Aly McNicoll
You will learn about: 

• Civility respect and regard the three non-negotiables
• Types of board personalities
• Recognising and  managing difficult behaviours
• How to exit a problem board member

Real-World Strategy: Guiding Your Organisation Through Change

Date: April 2 @6:15 - 7:45pm
Facilitator: Garth
Are you ready to steer your organisation confidently through change, and to create change in your community? This workshop is your guide to strategic success, exploring the difference between strategy and planning while developing the tools for strategic thinking. Learn how to focus on what truly matters and craft powerful strategic questions to enable your board to lead with purpose. Make strategy work for you—register now to transform your approach to governance.

Governance for a Changing World: Climate and Sustainability Leadership

Optional Koha Fee

Date: May 7 @6:15 - 7:45pm
Facilitator: Sandy
Climate change and sustainability are reshaping communities and reshaping the not-for-profit landscape. Dive into the social, economic, cultural, and environmental dimensions of sustainability and discover the role of a board in sustainability governance, and how your board can lead the way. With practical tools and processes for building resilience, this workshop connects the dots between climate action and thriving communities. Join us to build a sustainable future for your organisation and those you serve.

Strengthening Board Performance: Tools for Growth and Accountability

Date: June 4 @6:15 - 7:45pm
Facilitator: Garth
Take your board’s performance to the next level. Explore the latest updates from the Charities Commission, learn to design tailored tools for accountability, and discover how to build a board that thrives on learning. Don’t miss this opportunity to future-proof your board’s impact.

Inclusive Governance: Elevating Engagement and Allyship

Optional Koha Fee

Date: July 2 @6:15 - 7:45pm
Facilitator: Sandy
This session unpacks the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in governance, ensuring your organisation reflects the communities it serves. This workshop delves into governance practices that embrace multiple worldviews, create inclusive spaces and build meaningful community engagement. Learn how boards can become effective allies to marginalised groups while setting the tone for equity and belonging in your organisation. Join us to create a culture of inclusion that drives real change. 

The Governance Toolkit: Foundations for Effective Boards

Date: August 6 @6:15 - 7:45pm
Facilitator: Garth
Is your board set up for success? This foundational workshop will explore what good governance looks like in action, how boards truly add value, and how to clarify roles and responsibilities for board members and for staff. Packed with practical advice, this session will also help you foster deeper engagement from your board members—beyond just filling seats. Equip your team with the tools to thrive.

Policy Matters: Crafting Effective Governance Policies

Date: September 3 @6:15 - 7:45pm 
Facilitator: Garth

Policies are the backbone of effective governance, but are yours working as they should? Discover why policies are essential, what they should contain, and how to develop them collaboratively. Gain clarity on the distinctions between policies, procedures, and plans while building a toolkit for crafting policies that guide your organisation’s success. Take the guesswork out of governance—join us for this essential workshop.

Navigating Board Dynamics: Building Stronger Relationships and Decisions

Date: October 1 @6:15 - 7:45pm
Facilitator: Aly

Healthy board dynamics are the key to making better decisions. Explore how to cultivate civility, respect, and regard—non-negotiables for any successful board. Learn to recognise and manage challenging personalities and behaviours while building strong relationships. We’ll also tackle the tough topic of gracefully exiting problematic board members. Elevate your board culture with tools that empower collaboration and respect.

From Data to Decisions: Making Impact Reports Work for You

Date: November 5 @6:15 - 7:45pm
Facilitator: Garth
Are your impact reports telling the story of your organisation’s success? This workshop will help you understand the government’s new reporting direction while equipping your board with the tools for effective monitoring and evaluation. Discover simple yet powerful techniques to measure what truly matters and learn to communicate your organisation’s impact compellingly. Turn data into decisions that drive your mission forward.