Organisational culture can be a powerful driver of performance, conduct and risk, yet it remains one of the most challenging governance responsibilities facing directors.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr Juliet Bourke, Adjunct Professor at UNSW and Chair of Ovarian Cancer Australia, and Sally Linwood, Corporate Governance Lead at the AICD and lead author of an important new guide, Governing Culture in a Complex World. Drawing on the guide's five principles for governing culture, they explore what effective oversight looks like in practice.

Together, they discuss why culture is a boardroom priority, how directors can develop a deeper understanding of what's happening across their organisation, the indicators boards should be paying attention to, and why human capital expertise deserves a stronger voice in today's boardrooms.

We cover:

• (03:10) Why organisational culture has become one of the board's most important governance priorities.
• (10:00) Why culture is so difficult to measure, and how boards can identify the "say-do gap".
• (11:20) Practical ways directors can gain a more accurate picture of organisational culture through site visits, stakeholder engagement and multiple data sources.
• (14:30) How board behaviour, leadership and "tone from the top" shape culture throughout an organisation.
• (19:30) What boards should do when culture has drifted off course.

Learn more:

• The AICD's guide on Governing Culture in a Complex World - https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/research-and-reports/culture-governance-principles.html

Connect:

• Dr Juliet Bourke on Linkedin - https://au.linkedin.com/in/dr-juliet-bourke-gaicd-44a1824
• Sally Linwood on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/sally-linwood-61457448
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

This year marks 20 years since the introduction of Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs), alongside the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week.

Around 3,500 organisations now have RAPs, but meaningful reconciliation is about more than commitments on paper. It calls for leadership, accountability and sustained oversight from the board.

In this episode, Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine explores the board's role in turning commitment into impact. She discusses what distinguishes effective RAPs from box-ticking exercises, how directors can oversee progress and accountability, and why reconciliation remains a strategic governance issue. Karen also shares lessons from two decades of RAPs and outlines the leadership needed to drive meaningful change.

We cover:

• (05:00) What a Reconciliation Action Plan is, and why organisations choose to develop one.
• (06:10) The board's role in governing a successful RAP.
• (08:50) Practical steps for organisations developing their first RAP.
• (18:00) How directors can distinguish between activity and meaningful outcomes.
• (22:30) How smaller organisations can engage with First Nations people.

Learn more:

• Reconciliation Australia – www.reconciliation.org.au
• AICD guide on creating a great Reconciliation Action Plan - https://www.aicd.com.au/company-policies/reconciliation-action-plan/reconciliation-action-plan.html

Connect:

• Karen Mundine on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/karen-mundine-87412b61
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from experimentation to organisation-wide adoption, creating both significant opportunities and new governance challenges.

As AI becomes embedded across business operations, boards are playing an increasingly important role in overseeing major technology investments, managing emerging risks, and supporting responsible and effective AI use.

In this episode, Professor Nicholas Davis, Co-Director of the UTS Human Technology Institute, shares what effective AI governance looks like in practice.

The conversation explores how boards can align AI initiatives with strategy, assess return on investment, and address the risks of "shadow AI" use by staff. It also examines the rise of agentic systems, the implications for oversight, and the level of AI literacy directors will need to govern with confidence.

We cover:

• (04:30) The core questions directors are now asking about AI
• (08:00) Why measuring the return on investment from AI initiatives is challenging
• (10:30) The level of AI literacy required at the board level
• (13:00) Understanding the hidden risks of shadow AI
• (21:30) How to govern AI agents and systems
• (27:40) The three questions every director should be asking management about AI today

Learn more:

• AICD & HTI's new AI Governance Guide - https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/research-and-reports/a-directors-guide-to-ai-governance

Connect:

• Nicholas Davis on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/nicholasjdavis
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode of Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

We'd like to introduce you to another podcast offering from the AICD - Boards with Purpose.

Every episode features CEOs, founders, executives and non-executive directors in conversation with Phil Butler, the AICD's NFP Sector Lead. They share their purpose-driven governance insights and experiences to guide, inspire, and inform those working within or alongside the NFP sector.

Tune in every month to be inspired, strengthen your governance impact, and stay connected to the leaders shaping Australia's not-for-profit community. You can listen by searching 'Boards with Purpose' in your podcast player or by clicking the below link:

https://www.aicd.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/boards-with-purpose.html

Effective governance relies on more than just technical expertise. The culture within the boardroom itself shapes how directors challenge assumptions, navigate conflict, and make decisions under pressure.

In this episode, global board adviser and author Joy Harcup explores the dynamics that shape board effectiveness. Drawing on her work with chairs, CEOs and directors, she explains how pressure influences behaviour in the boardroom, why constructive conflict is essential for good governance, and what separates high-performing boards from those that avoid having honest conversations.

You'll gain practical insights on how to strengthen board relationships and address unproductive dynamics or tendencies towards excessive harmony around the board table.

We cover:

• (03:30) The common dynamics preventing board effectiveness

• (09:30) Why challenge can be constructive

• (12:30) How to navigate complex and unproductive dynamics

• (18:30) The risks of complacency and excessive harmony

Learn more:

• AICD's new-principles-based guide on culture: Governing Culture in a Complex World - https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/research-and-reports/culture-governance-principles.html

• Joy's book 'The Art & Psychology of Board Relationships' - https://l1nq.com/ml5gc19

Connect:

• Joy Harcup on LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/joy-harcup-9392352

• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/

• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/

• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

Most organisations will face a crisis at some point. The question isn't whether it will happen, but whether you're prepared when it does.

In this episode, crisis management expert and SKMG co-founder Neil Shoebridge shares lessons from decades advising organisations through cyber-attacks, operational failures, reputational challenges and workforce restructures.

Neil explains what separates organisations that emerge stronger from those that struggle to recover. He highlights the importance of building reputational capital before a crisis occurs, responding quickly when issues arise, and communicating effectively under pressure.

For directors, the conversation offers practical guidance on the board's role before, during and after a crisis, from testing organisational preparedness and overseeing response plans to supporting management and protecting stakeholder trust when it matters most.

We cover:

• (03:00) Why preparation matters more than crisis response

• (10:00) What boards should and shouldn't do when a crisis hits

• (12:30) The critical role of CEOs, chairs and directors during high-pressure events

• (16:00) How organisations can protect trust and reputation in an era of misinformation

• (17:30) Why workforce restructures and layoffs can quickly become reputational crises

Learn more:

• AICD resource on creating a crisis management plan - https://www.aicd.com.au/company-policies/crisis-management.html

• AICD resource on Governing Through a Cyber Crisis - https://www.aicd.com.au/risk-management/framework/cyber-security/governing-through-a-cyber-crisis-cyber-incident-response-and-recovery-for-australian-directors.html

Connect:

• Neil Shoebridge on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-shoebridge-5518334/

• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/

• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/

• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

AI promises greater productivity and efficiency, but could it also be weakening critical thinking, memory and decision-making?

In this episode, NeuroLeadership Institute co-founder and CEO Dr David Rock shares the neuroscience behind AI adoption and explains why boards need to look beyond the technology itself. Drawing on emerging research, David explores the cognitive risks of over-reliance on AI, the importance of AI fluency, and why many organisations are approaching implementation the wrong way.

For directors navigating rapid technological change, this conversation offers practical insights into leadership, governance and human performance in the age of AI.

We cover:

• (04:30) What boards misunderstand about organisation-wide AI rollouts

• (08:15) Why AI fluency is becoming a critical capability for directors

• (15:30) The mindset shift boards must understand about AI

• (17:40) Why AI is one of the most significant change management challenges of our time

Learn more:

• AICD resource on how directors and boards are using AI: https://www.aicd.com.au/innovative-technology/digital-business/artificial-intelligence/ai-use-by-directors-and-boards.html

• AICD and HIT Directors' Guide to AI Governance: https://www.aicd.com.au/innovative-technology/digital-business/artificial-intelligence/governance-of-ai.html

Connect:

• David Rock on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-david-rock/

• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/

• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/

• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on the traditional lands of the Gadigal and Wurundjeri peoples. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

Australia's mandatory climate reporting regime has now completed its first cycle, marking one of the most significant changes to corporate reporting in a generation.

For boards, the first wave of reports has provided valuable insights into the practical realities of implementation. Although still in its early stages, the regime is designed to improve the consistency and comparability of climate-related disclosures for investors and other stakeholders. Many entities have encountered challenges around data, governance, capability and cost, highlighting the scale of effort involved in meeting the new requirements.

Joining us to discuss the lessons emerging from year one are Tim Bednall, Partner and Head of the Governance practice at Mallesons, and Dr Eileen Doyle, a non-executive director with several organisations, including Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure, one of the entities captured in the first group of reporters.

This conversation explores what boards can learn from the first group of reporters, where many underestimated the scale and complexity of the task, and what those experiences reveal for the organisations that will come within the regime in the years ahead.

We cover:

• (02:00) Has mandatory climate reporting lived up to expectations?

• (02:50) What stood out from the first wave of climate disclosures

• (03:40) Why some boards underestimated the scale of the reporting task

• (05:30) Has mandatory reporting helped improve decision-making?

• (15:00) The key areas of uncertainty still causing confusion for directors

• (18:00) Practical advice for Group 2 and Group 3 organisations

Learn more:

• AICD insights into the early lessons from the first wave of reporters: https://www.aicd.com.au/news-media/research-and-reports/board-insights-australias-first-mandatory-climate-disclosures.html

• Practical guidance for directors overseeing their organisations' disclosures under Australia's mandatory climate reporting laws, by AICD, Deloitte and MinterEllison: https://www.aicd.com.au/risk-management/framework/climate/a-directors-guide-to-mandatory-climate-reporting.html

Join us at the Climate Governance Forum 2026 to explore sustainability reporting and other emerging climate governance issues in greater depth.

Connect:

• Dr Eileen Doyle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileen-doyle-9389841a/

• Tim Bednall on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-bednall-b458181b/

• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/

• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/

• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on Gadigal land. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

AI is reshaping the cyber threat landscape, enabling cyber attacks to be launched at unprecedented speed and scale.

Regulators are issuing urgent warnings, and boards are being told to strengthen resilience before vulnerabilities are exploited. Yet many organisations still don't fully understand their cyber risk exposure, or whether their systems, suppliers and governance processes are prepared for a major incident.

Joining us to discuss the current cyber threat landscape is Rachael Falk. Rachael is one of Australia's leading experts on cybersecurity and regulation. She's a Partner in the Risk Advisory practice at Ashurst and former CEO of the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre. Rachael is also the co-author of the AICD's Cybersecurity Governance Principles.

This conversation explores what boards should be doing right now to strengthen resilience, and why vigilance, preparedness and effective governance matter more than ever.

We cover:

• (01:30) Key threats facing organisations right now

• (03:00) The impact of AI on the cyber threat landscape

• (09:30) The growing risks hidden within supply chains and third-party vendors

• (15:30) Why boards need to run cyber crisis simulations

• (21:00) What boards shouldn't do during a cyber incident

• (24:40) The role of the board during a crisis

Learn more:

• The AICD resource on Cyber Security Governance Principles – https://www.aicd.com.au/risk-management/framework/cyber-security/cyber-security-governance-principles.html

• The AICD resource on Governing Through a Cyber Crisis - https://www.aicd.com.au/content/dam/aicd/pdf/news-media/research/2024/governing-through-a-cyber-crisis-280324.pdf

• The work & services provided by Ashurst - https://www.ashurst.com/

Connect:

• Rachael Falk on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-falk-779069153/

• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/

• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/

• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode Director Download was produced on Gadigal land. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

Most boards think they're prepared for the next crisis; however many are still operating with playbooks built for a fundamentally different time.

Roger Dennis, founder of Dennis & Partners, has spent decades helping boards and leaders navigate volatility and mitigate risk. He believes we've entered a fundamentally different operating environment.

From geopolitical shocks to cascading "polycrisis" events, this conversation explores how to separate signal from noise, and what boards need to do differently to stay ahead and uncover opportunity in an unstable world.

We cover:

• (02:00) Why most boards are unprepared for today's volatility
• (04:30) How today's directors need to think about risk
• (09:30) How can organisations can find opportunities during a volatile time
• (15:00) How to separate signal from noise in an overloaded world
• (22:00) The big trends that all boards need to be watching right now

Learn more:

• Dennis & Partners - https://www.dennis.partners/
• Roger's paper on the preparedness paradox - https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/wharton-how-firms-can-overcome-paradox-preparedness
• The Australian Institute of Company Directors world-class courses - https://www.aicd.com.au/courses-and-programs/all-courses/company-directors-course.html

Connect:

• Roger Dennis on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerdennis/
• AICD on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/school/australianinstituteofcompanydirectors/
• Kulja Coulston on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulja-coulston/
• Bennett Mason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennett-mason-10517336/

This episode of Director Download was produced on Gadigal land. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.