Conference programme
Quality, austerity, accountability
At a time of reduced budgets, fewer resources and uncertain futures, charities are being asked to do more with less, and to be more independent and self-reliant. But what does that mean for their governance? And how can charities deliver quality in an age of austerity?
This year's conference will explore how, through effective leadership and good governance, charities can both deliver successfully against their objectives and ensure their prosperity into the future. Our speakers will explore how, far from being an internal matter for the board, good governance can resonate with the public as being a mark of accountability and trustworthiness. In the morning, we focus upon the importance of board roles and relationships, and consider how behavioural issues can send even the most diligent board awry. In the afternoon, we turn our attention to some of the other manifestations of good governance – from impact reporting to the management of risk and the relationship between governance and insolvency.
This year’s conference chair is Cecile Gillard, Legal Manager, Charity and Voluntary Sector Unit, Burton Sweet.
Date: 17 April 2012
Venue: Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre, 108 Stamford Street, South Bank, London, SE1 9NH
Programme
08.45 Conference opens, registration and tea/coffee
09.30 Opening remarks
09.35 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Sam Younger, Chief Executive, Charity Commission
10.05 Ain’t misbehavin’
What makes a good charity board? What are the roles played by the different people on the board, and what structural and behavioural issues can cause it to go awry? In this session we look at how charity boards can ensure they are operating at maximum effectiveness.
Ruth Lesirge, Visiting Fellow, Centre for Charity Effectiveness, Cass Business School
Ros Oakley, Principal Consultant Centre for Charity Effectiveness, Cass Business School
10.35 Gone native?
Charities often bring new trustees on board in the hope of gaining fresh ideas, fresh perspectives. And yet, too often, trustees find themselves falling into line with a pre-existing mind-set. So how does the good trustee avoid ‘going native’ and maximise his or her value?
Philip Kirkpatrick, Partner and Joint Head of Charity & Social Enterprise Department, Bates, Wells and Braithwaite
11.05 Tea/coffee
11.35 Rules of engagement
Effective challenge in the boardroom is vital for any high performing board – but what happens when healthy challenge turns into a nasty dispute? In this session we examine how effective mediation techniques and boardroom structure can mitigate the risk of corrosive dispute.
Tracey Fox, Consultant, International Dispute Resolution Centre
Fiona Colquhoun, Director, International Dispute Resolution Centre
12.05 Friends in high places
Corporate partnerships can be great way for charities to increase their profile and raise funds. However, with so many charities chasing each tender, competition can be fierce. We look at the current trends in the market, and consider how charities can make the best approach.
12.35 Lunch
13.35 CHOICE OF TWO WORKSHOPS:
WORKSHOP: Measuring impact
Recent months have seen increasing attention paid to the need for charities to demonstrate the impact of their work, and the extent to which they achieve their goals. How, though, can they do that? Drawing on real world examples, our experts offer a few pointers.
Eibhlín Ní Ógáin, Analyst, New Philanthropy Capital
WORKSHOP: Assessing risk
Successful charities realise that an absence of risk equals an absence of opportunity and understanding the risks your organisation faces is more effective than avoiding them. This workshop explores some key issues in assessing and managing risk, setting risk appetite and the role of the trustee in managing risk.
Pesh Framjee, Partner, Head of Non Profits, Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP
14.35 Tea/coffee
15.00 Rescue me
Charities in trouble have been brought back from the brink by undergoing a thorough governance review and restructuring. Such cases are, thankfully, uncommon – but is there anything other charities can learn from the experiences of those involved?
Chris Priestley, Partner, Withers LLP
15.30 Keynote speaker
Richard Leaman, Chief Executive, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
16.00 Final remarks
16.15 Close