The Code recognises that there are some issues that can only be decided by the board. It states that: “there should be a formal schedule of matters specifically reserved for its decision” and that the annual report should include a “high-level statement of which types of decisions are to be taken by the board and which are to be delegated to management”. Guidance on drawing up a schedule of matters reserved for the board is available from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) and from the Institute of Directors' book, The Effective Board. If you want to be the dancing queen (or king) of good governance and avoid a waterloo for your charity, then this book is for you. Now, to coincide with the launch of their debut book All On The Board: Inspiring Quotes from the TFL Underground Duo– a curated edit of their whiteboard posts – the duo have come clean, revealing their identities as Ian Redpath and Jeremy Chopra. ‘We wanted the boards to speak for themselves instead of being about us,’ says Redpath, adding that demasking will hopefully allow them more creative freedom. I haven’t got any work done this morning as I’m gripped by Debra’s book! Chapter 3 especially (working with your CEO) has given me an immense lift. I have to do some proper work now but can’t wait to get home and read more. I’m enthralled!…

Each of these can be broken down into separate elements (as seen in the overview at the end of this factsheet). Furthering the charity’s overall purpose, as set out in its governing document, and setting its direction and strategy. I do not identify within the groups listed (women, trans people, people from ethnic minority groups and disabled people (including those with long term health conditions)) - can I still apply to the programme?Ultimately, however, it is up to the board to decide who ‘qualifies’. The board is expected to consider the above – and, indeed, any other factors that may impair independent judgment – but none of them is to be thought of as grounds for automatic ‘exclusion’. It may be that an individual is judged to have the strength of character and integrity to remain unaffected by circumstances that, in theory, compromise their independence. Within a company, the board of directors is the principal agent of risk taking and enterprise, the principal maker of commercial and other judgements. Discharging these responsibilities means thinking not only about particular tasks but also about ways of working as a board, and ensuring individual directors can be fully equipped to play their part. Again, there are four particular areas worthy of time and energy:

She holds an MBA (distinction) from Bath University, was awarded the MBE for Services to Business and the Public Sector in 2011, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) and was made a Chartered Companion (Chartered CCIPD) in September 2021, recognising outstanding and distinguished service to the people profession. they receive remuneration from the company in addition to director’s fees or they participate in the company’s share option or performance-related pay schemes or they are members of the pension It was when setting up social media accounts for All On The Board, providing a platform for commuters to post selfies taken with the quotes, that they realised just how far their reach was, and in some cases, which famous faces were seeing the posts. The Code does concede that in exceptional cases the rule may be broken. Any board in breach should consult major shareholders in advance and set out its reasons for the appointment, both at the time and in the next annual report. Banks, in particular, have argued that only the incumbent CEO has the knowledge and experience of a large, multinational group’s operations to fulfil the chairman’s role.

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Writing the All On The Board quotes has become a second full-time job for Redpath and Chopra, but they have no plans of stopping any time soon. ‘There’s so much that needs writing about in the world right now. There’s a lot of darkness and people need something to feel better about. The boards help provide that,’ says Redpath. must simultaneously be entrepreneurial and drive the business forward while keeping it under prudent control Where the managing director is also the Chair, it is important that these two distinct roles are properly separated and that sufficient attention is given to carrying out the Chair’s role effectively. The board should not just be an executive team. Since onboard is a single two-syllable word, like before, I predict you will experience only minimal difficulty remembering to use onboard before nouns. Summary