Best Governancebites Podcasts (2026)

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Governance Bites #130: Power cliques on boards, with Dr John Peebles 20:58

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27d ago20:58

20:58

Send us a text Uncover the hidden dynamics of corporate boards with Dr John Peebles, an expert with a PhD in governance and extensive experience as a director and executive search specialist. In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks with Dr Peebles about ""Power Cliques on Boards,"" revealing how informal groups control decision-making outside the bo…

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Governance Bites #129: succession in family businesses, with Sandy Kimpton 17:02

1M ago17:02

17:02

Send us a text In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich sits down with family governance expert Sandy Kimpton to discuss a crucial topic: what is true intergenerational success? Discover why family governance is about more than just wealth management; it's about developing human capital and preserving your family’s legacy and values. Sa…

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Governance Bites #128: Strategic thinking on the board, with Tony Dench 17:30

1M ago17:30

17:30

Send us a text In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich speaks with Tony Dench about what it really means for boards to think strategically — not just plan strategically. X123 shares practical insights on how directors can lift their thinking beyond operations, keep strategic discussions alive between board meetings, and create energy a…

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Governance Bites #127: What makes a high performing board? with Ian Fitzgerald 18:12

2M ago18:12

18:12

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich interviews governance expert Ian Fitzgerald, as he shares lessons from over 35 years in boardrooms in New Zealand and overseas. Ian breaks down what truly defines a high-performing board. Discover the fundamental elements: trust-based teamwork, clarity of purpose, and diversity of thought. Ian reveals…

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Governance Bites #126: Why most change initiatives fail, with Dr Richard Carson 25:04

2M ago25:04

25:04

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich speaks with Dr Richard Carson about why most change initiatives fail — and what boards can do differently. They explore the common traps leaders fall into, the importance of people-centred strategies, and how governance structures can support rather than hinder transformation. With real-world examples…

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Governance Bites #125: family office or family council, with Sandy Kimpton 22:33

2M ago22:33

22:33

Send us a text In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich sits down with family governance expert Sandy Kimpton to discuss a crucial topic: what is true intergenerational success? Discover why family governance is about more than just wealth management; it's about developing human capital and preserving your family’s legacy and values. Sa…

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Governance Bites #124: Transitioning to full time director, with Tony Dench 21:26

2M ago21:26

21:26

Send us a text In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich talks with Tony Dench about making the leap from executive leadership to a full-time governance career. Tony shares the realities of the transition — from losing the security of a salary to learning to run a small business, build a board portfolio, and shift from operational decisi…

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Governance Bites #123: Parsley on Fish, with Dr John Peebles 15:19

3M ago15:19

15:19

Send us a text Unlock the essentials of effective governance with Dr John Peebles, author of the insightful and intentionally non-serious book, 'Parsley on Fish'. In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevcih talks with Dr Peebles about simplifying corporate governance principles, drawing on 30 years of experience. Learn why boards can't be …

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Governance Bites #122: family governance and operating with intentionality, with Sandy Kimpton 21:34

3M ago21:34

21:34

Send us a text In this episode of Governance Bites, Mark Banicevich sits down with family governance expert Sandy Kimpton to discuss a crucial topic: what is true intergenerational success? Discover why family governance is about more than just wealth management; it's about developing human capital and preserving your family’s legacy and values. Sa…

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Governance Bites #121: The “3 Es” of sustainable change, with Dr Richard Carson 29:33

3M ago29:33

29:33

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich interviews Dr Richard Carson on the “3 Es” of sustainable change—Performance Efficient, Cost-Effective, and Culturally Empowered. They explore how boards of directors can apply this model to drive meaningful transformation, overcome common organisational challenges, and achieve long-term success. With…

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Governance Bites #120: Board evaluations in sport, with Julie Hood 30:15

3M ago30:15

30:15

Send us a text Even great teams need to assess their performance, and the same goes for a board. In this episode, I talk to Julie Hood about the crucial practice of board evaluations within sports organisations. We cover how to conduct a meaningful evaluation, whether through self-assessment or external review, even with limited resources. Learn wh…

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Governance Bites #119: Navigating Shifting Winds, with Katie Beith 19:55

3M ago19:55

19:55

Send us a text In this insightful conversation, Mark Banicevich speaks with Katie Beith about fresh research on governance in New Zealand listed companies. The study, Governing New Zealand Listed Companies: Navigating Shifting Winds, analysed five poorly performing firms to uncover how traditional governance metrics stack up against new measures of…

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Governance Bites #118: Holding the CEO to account, with Julie Hood 29:21

4M ago29:21

29:21

Send us a text Holding a CEO accountable is a critical yet challenging duty for any board. In this episode, I talk to governance expert Julie Hood to dissect the nuances of this vital relationship within a sports organisation. They explore how boards can establish clear expectations, monitor performance, and navigate common pitfalls like micromanag…

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Governance Bites #117: The board’s role in strategy, with Julie Hood 24:45

4M ago24:45

24:45

Send us a text Boards are often misunderstood, but they are crucial for an organisation's success. In this episode, I talk to Julie Hood about the board's complex role in strategic planning for sports organisations. We discuss how boards can go beyond oversight to actively shape strategy, avoid common pitfalls, and align plans with organisational v…

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Governance Bites #116: corporate governance metrics for investment analysis, with Katie Beith 22:31

4M ago22:31

22:31

Send us a text Discover how investors really measure governance quality in this thought-provoking conversation between Mark Banicevich and Katie Beith. From the most common governance metrics and where analysts source the data, to the red flags that warn of poor performance, Katie shares expert insights that link boardroom practices with financial …

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Governance Bites #115: environmental, social and governance in investing, with Katie Beith 23:19

4M ago23:19

23:19

Send us a text In this engaging interview, Mark Banicevich sits down with Katie Beith to unpack the fast-evolving world of ESG—environmental, social, and governance. From how analysts measure ESG quality to the governance weaknesses that undermine credibility, Katie explains how ESG factors shape investment decisions and influence company performan…

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Governance Bites #114: differences between Crown Entity and private sector boards, with Rob Everett 31:48

5M ago31:48

31:48

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Rob Everett about the difference between Crown Entity and private sector boards. They discuss how accountabilities to shareholders differ to accountabilities to public sector boards and Ministers, and the challenges balancing political direction with independent governance. Mark asks about th…

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Governance Bites #113: sports boards in strategy, with Professor Lesley Ferkins 36:16

5M ago36:16

36:16

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Professor Lesley Ferkins about the involvement of sports boards in strategy. He asks how the board's role interacts with management, and what the most effective process is to develop a strategic plan. They discuss the importance of horizon scanning, and how to ensure the strategy aligns with …

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Governance Bites #112: technology, artificial intelligence and governance, with Jon Davies 21:41

5M ago21:41

21:41

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks with Jon Davies about technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and governance. He asks how boards should be thinking about AI, and what directors need to ask (even if they are not technical). They discuss the human size of innovation, and potential impacts, and where lived experience can add the…

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Governance Bites #111: directors managing multiple boards, with Jamie Green 22:01

5M ago22:01

22:01

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Jamie Green about challenges faced by directors who sit on multiple boards. Mark asks about how directors grapple with the volume of information, and effective methods Jamie has encountered for dealing with it. He asks about the root cause of the challenge, and how realistic it is for directors t…

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Governance Bites #110: leadership in sports governance, with Professor Lesley Ferkins 26:18

6M ago26:18

26:18

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Professor Lesley Ferkins about leadership in sport governance. Lesley starts by talking about how Professor Keith Grint (Emeritus Professor at Warwick University) talks about leadership. They discuss healthy board dynamics, and collaborative decision making, they key characteristics of an eff…

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Governance Bites #109: how boards can make their CEOs successful with Rob Everett 23:56

6M ago23:56

23:56

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Rob Everett about how boards can make their CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) successful. He asks what makes a board-CEO relationship work, and the role the board plays in the CEO’s success. They discuss CEO onboarding plans, the role of governance processes, and the tension between oversight a…

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Governance Bites #108: challenges preparing for board meetings, with Jamie Green 15:53

6M ago15:53

15:53

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Jamie Green about the challenges directors have preparing for board meetings. He asks about the signs of directors being overwhelmed, and the characteristics of board packs that make preparing for meetings challenging. They discuss how directors digest information both within board packs, and acr…

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Governance Bites #107: director liability, with Steven Moe 31:38

6M ago31:38

31:38

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Steven Moe about the liability of directors. They discuss penalties for breaching the core duties in the Companies Act 1993, and also list several other Acts of Parliament that enact director liability. They discuss potential penalties and defences, and whether there may be liability under common…

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Governance Bites #106: startup CEO reporting to the board, with Jon Davies 14:20

6M ago14:20

14:20

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks with Jon Davies about startup CEOs reporting to their boards. He asks about the relationship between the startup CEO and the board, and managing accountabiity. They discuss board packs, key performance indicators, and meeting frequency. They also discuss the CEO disagreeing with the board, and h…

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Governance Bites #105: collaborative governance in sport, with Professor Lesley Ferkins 27:31

7M ago27:31

27:31

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Professor Lesley Ferkins about collaborative governance in sport. Lesley outlines what she means by "collaborative governance", and how it relates to federated sports structures (e.g., with national bodies, regional bodies, and local clubs). She talks about critical success factors for it to …

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Governance Bites #104: maximising your chance of a good board, with Martin Snedden 49:00

7M ago49:00

49:00

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks with Martin Snedden about maximising your chance of a good board. Martin recently studied the board selection process of 9 top Australasian sports, and shares his findings. They discuss the optimum size of a board, elected and appointed board members, and a process for attaining the right mix of…

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Governance Bites #103: safe spaces in the boardroom, with Steven Moe 18:15

7M ago18:15

18:15

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Steven Moe about safe spaces in the boardroom. Steven opens by explaining the context, and who safe spaces are for. They discuss whey safe spaces may be necessary, how they are implemented, and what sort of behaviour results in needing safe spaces. They discuss the importance of safe spaces, and …

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Governance Bites #102: startup governance and advisory boards, with Jon Davies 20:59

7M ago20:59

20:59

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks with Jon Davies about governance in startups and advisory boards. He asks about the journey that startups take towards governance: their value, common mistakes, what founders should seek, and the ideal size of an advisory board. They also discuss the best way to remunerate directors, keeping the…

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Governance Bites #101: recruiting directors for not-for-profits, with Stephen Upton 34:24

8M ago34:24

34:24

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Stephen Upton about how not-for-profit organisations can recruit directors. Stephen outlines the key skills and competencies required for a not-for-profit board. They discuss the process of identifying skills on the board, and skill gaps, and the role of diversity in board composition. They d…

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Governance Bites #100: developing governance in sport, with Martin Snedden 30:07

8M ago30:07

30:07

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks with Martin Snedden about the Sport and Active Place Sector Governance Project that he runs for Sport New Zealand. Martin outlines the project, its inception, some of the sports that are involved, and what the programme entails. Martin shares feedback he's received, his biggest learnings, and th…

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Governance Bites #99: future directors, with Heather Roy 18:43

8M ago18:43

18:43

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Heather Roy about future directors. Heather defines the topic, outlines the purpose of future director programmes, and shares her experience with future directors. They discuss the target audience for future directors, recruitment, training and mentoring. Mark asks about their legal position …

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Governance Bites #98: purpose and governance, with Steven Moe 20:23

8M ago20:23

20:23

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Steven Moe about purpose and governance. He asks what we mean by "purpose", the role of governance in an organisation, and why purpose is at the heart of governance. They discuss how purpose influences governance and board meanings practically, other tools a board can use to understand and implem…

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Governance Bites #97: Robert's Rules of Order, with Susan Leahy 32:26

9M ago32:26

32:26

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Susan Leahy about Robert's Rules of Order. He asks what they are and how they evolved, the benefits of using Robert's Rules, and common misconceptions about them. Susan outlines the seven key types of motion, and how they work. They discussed when they might be adjusted for specific settings,…

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Governance Bites #96: conflicts of interest, with Heather Roy 26:02

9M ago26:02

26:02

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Heather Roy about conflicts of interest. Heather outlines conflicts of interest, and why it is important to address them. They discuss types of conflicts, and a conflicts of interest process. Heather talks about identifying, disclosing and dealing with conflicts of interest, and they discuss …

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Governance Bites #95: developing not-for-profit directors, with Stephen Upton 21:05

9M ago21:05

21:05

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Stephen Upton about developing directors in not-for-profit organisations (who are usually on tight budgets). Stephen outlines the key skills and competencies required for a not-for-profit board. They discuss how elected, passionate organisation advocates can be trained in governance, and cont…

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Governance Bites #94: chairs and board members, with Steven Moe 27:21

9M ago27:21

27:21

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks with Steven Moe about chairs and boards. Mark asks Steven to outline the typical board member job description, and then how the role of the chair differs. They discuss the amount of extra work involved in being a chair, additional relationships, and whether additional liability exists. They disc…

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Governance Bites #93: healthy board meeting dynamics, with Susan Leahy 21:09

10M ago21:09

21:09

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Susan Leahy about healthy board meeting dynamics. Mark asks about establishing and maintaining healthy meeting dynamics, and Susan shares some great tips. They discuss the roles of directors and other members in board culture, and strategies for handling disagreements. Mark asks about gaining…

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Governance Bites #92: board evaluations, with Heather Roy 19:59

10M ago19:59

19:59

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Heather Roy about board evaluations. Heather outlines what they are, why they should be done, and how they can be performed. They discuss stakerholder involvement, common challenges, and addressing underperformance. Heather also shares the best governance advice she has received. Heather Roy …

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Governance Bites #91: moving and seconding motions, with Steven Moe 19:13

10M ago19:13

19:13

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Steven Moe about moving and seconding motions in meetings. They discuss the history behind this practice, and introduce Robert's Rules of Order. They talk about the role of seconding, and what happens if a motion is not seconded. They also discuss alternatives to moving and seconding motions. Fin…

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Governance Bites #90: incorporated society constitutions, with Stephen Upton 27:31

10M ago27:31

27:31

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to Stephen Upton about incorporated society (not-for-profit) constitutions. They start by discussing the organisation's purpose, how this can proliferate, and keeping it concise. They talk about the components of a constitution, changes required by New Zealand's Incorporated Societies Act 2022, …

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Governance Bites #89, directors and officers insurance part 2, with David Burroughs 25:24

10M ago25:24

25:24

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to David Burroughs further about directors and officers (D&O) insurance. Mark asks who provides D&O insurance in NZ, policy limits and excesses, and optional features and common fishhooks of which directors should be aware. They also discuss how policies work for businesses operating internation…

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Governance Bites #88, directors and officers insurance part 1, with David Burroughs 23:11

11M ago23:11

23:11

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to David Burroughs about directors and officers insurance. He outlines what it is, who it covers, and what kinds of events it covers. Mark asks about the types of costs it covers, common exclusions, and how the cover period works (claims made). David outlines run-off cover, and then shares advic…

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Governance Bites #87: succession planning for business owners, with Josh Comrie 24:10

11M ago24:10

24:10

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks with Josh Comrie about succession planning for business owners. Josh talks about considerations for family-owned businesses, and closely held companies. They discuss maintaining corporate culture and values while transitioning to new leadership, common challenges in transitioning ownership, and …

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Governance Bites #86: data to knowledge to insight, with Paul Brown 15:29

11M ago15:29

15:29

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Paul Brown about board reporting – specifically about converting data, to knowledge, to wisdom and insight. Paul describes key features of an effective board report, and how data can be summarised into clear and concise insights for board members. Mark asks about the types of questions board memb…

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Governance Bites #85: Company secretary in a listed company, with David Callanan. 18:14

11M ago18:14

18:14

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to David Callanan about being a company secretary in a listed company. He asks about what the role of company secretary involves, and how it differs for listed companies and private companies. They also discuss closely held and widely dispersed ownership in private companies. David outlines the …

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Governance Bites #84: managing tension in the boardroom, with Josh Comrie 16:36

12M ago16:36

16:36

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich speaks with recovering entrepreneur Josh Comrie about managing tension and conflict in the boardroom. He asks how you identify early signs of tension, and how you address them before they escalate. Josh outlines strategies he has found effective for resolving conflicts and maintaining productivity in …

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Governance Bites #83: learning boards, with Paul Brown 11:40

12M ago11:40

11:40

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Paul Brown about learning boards. They discuss the role of continuous education in board effectiveness, and how it influences strategic decision-making. Mark asks how a board can foster a culture of continuous learning, common pitfalls to avoid, and strategies a board can employ to ensure directo…

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Governance Bites #82: KiwiSaver and managed fund supervision, with David Callanan. 30:17

12M ago30:17

30:17

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich talks to David Callanan about supervising KiwiSaver schemes and managed funds, which is like a separate layer of governance to the board of directors. David outlines supervision and custody, and how the supervisor interacts with the fund manager's board of directors. They discuss the key issues facing…

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Governance Bites #81: CEO working with the chair, with Rhiannon McKinnon 15:18

1y ago15:18

15:18

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Banicevich asks Rhiannon McKinnon about the CEO working with the board chair. He asks about this special relationship, and how this differs from executives reporting to the CEO. They discuss the remoteness of the relationship, and the types of decisions and information that are delegated entirely, or reported. R…