A Warning To All Aspiring Directors & Students of Governance...

Accountabilities & Expectations of NZ Board Directors are Expanding Exponentially. The failure of so many NZ Companies is irrefutable proof that NZ Directors lack Internationally comparable Knowledge and Skill standards, to Lead with Competence, Judgement and Ethical Standards...

Before Committing to a Governance Course, test the ‘Value and if it is ‘Fit-for-Purpose’... 

Warning: - Be Very Cautious, don't Risk Your Time, Effort or Money...

NZ Governance Leaders have been profoundly forthright, urging urgency for improved NZ Governance Education.

Recommended Actions for Students of Governance seeking to become “Board-Ready-Directors”.

The bottom-line is that in today’s complex NZ Governance world International Exam-based governance certification qualification does not exist - sadly NZIoD and GNZ included. These Governance Institutes claim courses of programmed learning are 'Excellent' implying International Standards 'next practises' compliance. Further, claims “Directors having knowledge, skills, and capabilities needed to serve competently on boards”! Nothing is further from the Truth...

NZ Governance Courses ARE NOT comparable with USA National Association of Chartered Directors (NACD) nor UKIoD. These Governance professional bodies are recognised authorities on “Next-Best, boardroom practices. Their international Governance Qualifications stand the rigour and credibility that NZ offerings despite claims to the contrary, do not. Their Curricular is constantly leveraged by a group of highly experienced diverse & highly successful US corporate directors and corporate governance practitioners. 

For Example: - The NACD has more than 20,000 USA board members, many of International standing. 2,000 corporate directors representing diverse backgrounds and experiences combine as the sum of the whole to define knowledge, skills, and abilities upon which NACD certification is based, closely monitored and regularly improved. Their Educational Standards and advocacy showcase global leadership to Board Chairs, Directors investors and other multi-stakeholders.

The intent behind the all out, educational assault, is rapid paced expansion of producing 'Board-Ready-Directors' equipped with significant practical performance driven knowledge and perspective to add Board strategic value.

Course credibility exists because there is irrefutable formal evidence of knowledge and capability. Evidence that is seriously lacking in NZ Governance Courses...

Governance certification accreditation must be exam based - created by independent 'real' directors for Directors. Not back office or small Membership Institute wannabes!!!

NZ Governance Institutions have been prodded to make transformational educational change. Silence ...no CEO or Board response.

Collaborating meaningfully with US, UK bodies for alignment, of curriculum, based on in-depth regular review, and researched input from the likes of, Harvard, McKinsey, Forbes, and Henley, sadly continues to be ignored.

Global Leaders identify and influence take up of next best Governance Practises and Standards of Exemplary Governance!!!

Note. While regulatory, legal compliance aspects differ from NZ; principles and processes of International Governance are common.

Here’s the Point: - NZIoD, GNZ, course and website promotion in the main is subjective puffery that fails to detail specific curriculum hot issues, proven success processes, credible source references, digital interaction between lecture room and real Boards, real issues, anticipated trends, what worked what didn’t, stakeholder engagement  results of current and long term expectations of the Board, views of governance codes versus guidelines, pecuniary penalty for breaches of Duty of Care, proper disclosure, case studies based on real life critical governance issues, Student solution versus Board Director comparison and learning debate.

There is weak reference to specific course deliverables. There is no validation of regularly updated prioritised global professional learning needs based on research, surveys, Governance leaders focus groups, and moderated exam result comparison.

No testimonial validation by NZ Regulators, local and international Leader support!

No reference to presenters’ qualifications, their specialisation, experience, practical successes, training, contributions to the professional body of knowledge. Worst of all. No examination formal evidence of capability-based Board-readiness. No validation that certain course units may qualify for US NACD foundational cross credits units of learning.

Recommended Action Steps - prior to Committing Money and Time: -

• Take time to research, actual real, compelling value.
• Seek validation of relevancy, outcomes that match your learning need expectations, take-away-apply - Board - readiness.
• Seek compelling evidence course standard is consistent with current international professional learning needs - survey and higher learning provision.
• How does the provider’s reputation measure up with other international providers? 
• Request tutor CV credentials. 
• Request prior course students comment review & tutor assessments.
• What recognition does the course have, in NZ in Australia, US and UK.
• Is there a pathway for advanced learning, international charter member qualification? 
• What support educational, mentoring, networking does the provider offer?
• Does the course have accreditation and international recognition? 
• Important to compare alternate provider options i.e. US, NACD, UK, Henley, College, UKIoD, AUD, AICG, AIoCD, course programmes. 
• Make certain course covers modules that are suitable for you – browse through course outline so you know what outcomes to expect, what time commitment is required, what additional costs might be incurred.
• What real and perceived Competitive benefit added to your CV. 
• Apply the governance principle Trust but validate. Seek advice from targeted Board Chairs. Their opinion of course quality. Obtain persuasive proof of Board-Ready- Director status?
• Apply cost risk versus derived value. 
• Ask questions. challenge claims made by asking “how do you know this? Who do you recommend I approach to support statement?
• Seek believable answers Talk to Governance leaders.

All that is Required is to Follow the Process.

Good Luck... a cliché not in the Governance vocabulary.

I’m Doug Marsh. JP, Life Fellow NZIM, (Rtd) Fellow Inst. Directors, Wellington based Professional Chairman & Director, Inaugural President Business NZ and Hon.Consul. Governance standards for the Board advisor author, speaker and certified mentor.

MY VISION: To see NZ Boards heralded internationally, as leaders of exemplary Governance next practices. Encouragement catalyst for student learning that form strong foundations for successful future businesses - as absolutes...It would be an honour to confidentially mentor you....Let’s Talk Email Me @: 

[email protected]