Hold That Thought

The boardroom is no stranger to tension. As directors grapple with the need to make decisions in an increasingly complex environment, and amid heightened stakeholder expectations, disagreement is to be expected. Robust discussion is inevitable and essential to ensuring sound decision-making, avoiding groupthink and providing clarity to executive teams.

In this episode Hayden Wilson, Chair of Dentons in New Zealand and Global Vice Chair, and Mary Jane Daly, Independent Director discuss what it takes to be a high-performing chair. We cover setting the tone and being proactive, managing the Chief Executive relationship and navigating tough conversations. We also cover growing complexity and expectations and how strong board leadership is more critical than ever. This episode offers practical insights for Chairs and Directors looking to lift performance and add real strategic value in the boardroom.

They also discuss:

· How to manage the Chief Executive relationship

· Setting the tone and creating the right environment

· How to be reflective in tense and stressful situations

· Why strong board leadership is critical in this changing landscape.

In this episode, Jenni Rutter, Intellectual Property Partner, is joined by Nicola O'Rourke, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Founders Advisory, to explore how these trends are disrupting the food and beverage space and what businesses need to know as consumers move from eating more to eating smarter.

They also discuss:

· The impact on consumer food demand.

· How the food and beverage industry is responding and where there is room for innovation.

· Potential opportunities for the New Zealand food and beverage industry.

· The rise in demand for functional, nutrient-dense products.

In our latest episode of Hold That Thought, Technology and Privacy Partner, Campbell Featherstone and Account Executive for NEC, Greg Webber explore what facial recognition means for businesses and consumers. Is the promise of smarter operations worth the risk of public backlash and regulatory scrutiny? How should businesses approach this new technology ethically and legally and what do consumers need to know about how businesses use this data when their face is being scanned?

They also discuss:

• Key privacy principles involved.
• Balancing the privacy risks, public backlash and potential reputational damage.
• The difference between informed vs. implied consent.
• What can go wrong and the potential consequences.

In the latest episode of Hold That Thought, Employment and Immigration Partner Renee Butler and former Head of High Performance for Auckland rugby Ben Meyer delve into the concept of resilience and its significance in a personal and professional context, exploring what resilience means, how to cultivate it, and why it is essential in both personal and professional settings. They also discuss:

• How to foster a resilient mindset and how this can transform your team
• Stories of resilience
• How you can navigate the challenges of today's changing economic landscape
• Why you need resilience

In the latest episode of Hold That Thought, Katrina Van Houtte, Dentons Partner specialising in Major Projects and Construction, dives deep into the heart of New Zealand's infrastructure challenges, exploring the hurdles faced in having a secure pipeline, prioritisation, and the timely execution of critical projects. Katrina is joined by Aurecon New Zealand’s Managing Director Tracey Ryan and Fulton Hogan CEO’s Ben Hayward, they discuss:

·        The impact that constant changing of infrastructure policy and priorities have on the sector

·        Opportunities to de-politicise infrastructure development

·        How the current budget addresses infrastructure investments

·        Decarbonising infrastructure delivery and how New Zealand can best respond.

With its rapid global popularity, ChatGPT has sparked both enthusiasm and concern, prompting crucial conversations about its potential applications, and the ethical considerations it raises. Join us as we explore the multifaceted landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI), unravelling its unprecedented capabilities and the practical considerations that come with its use. Dentons Partner Campbell Featherstone talks to Founder and Board Director at AcademyEX Frances Valintine, and Head of Dentons' Data Privacy and Cybersecurity UK Ireland, Middle East Simon Elliott.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How AI has revolutionised productivity in various industries including the legal profession.
• How organisations can go about exploring the market for AI tools that suit their needs.
• The intricate privacy risks and terms of use governing AI technologies.
• Other regulatory concerns, including what we are seeing in Europe with the EU AI Act, and what we may see on a global basis and closer to home in New Zealand as regulators look to regulate AI.
• The role that directors and business leaders play in fostering a culture of responsible AI usage within their organisations.

In collaboration with the Institute of Directors New Zealand, in this episode we talk about the spread of misinformation and disinformation that has affected our ability to improve public health, address climate change, maintain a stable democracy, and more.

Directors are increasingly expected to pay attention and act on foreseeable risks. Without a crystal ball, how do directors and boards do this? When change does come, and it will, how do you respond? Even a well-prepared board will face challenges it did not expect.

Private data protection is a significant focus internationally. We have already seen significant privacy breaches around the world and here in New Zealand. How can business leaders prepare for the inevitable breach of their defences?

In this episode, Dentons Partner Linda Clark asks the question - is ESG really just a bit of corporate fluff to placate the chorus of climate change advocates? Environmental, social, and governance seems to be everywhere but is it, or does it have the potential to be, an agent for change?