It's a Battle on the Board: Good Governance Matters - Online conference on Thursday 23 October

Welcome to It’s a Battle on the Board: Good Governance Matters

Join DSC for our THIRD year of Good Governance Matters. Our 2025 conference dives into the heart of governance excellence with a special focus on governance for the future, streamlined paperwork and effective information management, regular governance reviews, traits of top trustees, and proactive risk management.

Good Governance has such a positive effect on the success and impact your charity has. It is a challenge though – not without the odd Battle on the Board. How can you help your board to be a bit less battle and bit more beacon:- a leading light, highlighting areas for attention and improvement.

Packed with inspiring speakers, actionable insights, and engaging workshops, this conference is your ultimate guide to tackling today’s challenges and preparing for the future. Be a trustee who not only keeps the wheels turning but drives your charity forward.

Who should attend?

This conference is critical for anyone involved in or affected by charity governance such as:

• Trustees of any size of charity
• CEOs, Company Secretaries, Senior Management and Staff who deal with the board or governance matters
• Finance Directors
• Governance Professionals and advisors
• Donors and Philanthropists

What’s included in the price?

• Attendance to the online conference, keynote session, session talks
• Access to all presentations and resources
• Digital copy of It’s a Battle on the Board

Agenda

Event Chair: William Butler, Chair of Trustees, DSC

09:45 – Welcome
Join us for introductions and housekeeping rules.
William Butler, Chair of Trustees, DSC

09:55 – Keynote: The Human Face of Governance
We are honoured to have Tesse Akpeki open the conference. Tesse is a long-serving champion of good governance in our sector and promotes the need to have values, systems, supports, frameworks and compassion to get the best results and transformation for organisations and networks. Tesse will tell us all about compassionate accountability. Ears peeled!!

Speaker:Tesse Akpeki FCG (Fellow Chartered Governance), Leadership and Governance Strategist

10:30 – Communication and Information: Working with the Executive
Trustees must have the right information to help them govern responsibly. However, this is often made difficult by lengthy and complex reports from the Executive Team. In this session Debra will share best practice examples for board information and communications, focusing on the things the board really needs to know and how they can encourage this from their CEO and Senior Leaders.

Speaker: Debra Allcock Tyler, CEO, DSC

11:15 – Coffee break

11:30 – How to be a Top Trustee
Being a top trustee requires a blend of strategic thinking, collaboration, and a deep commitment to the charity’s mission. How are you doing?
To be fair it is a challenge – vested interests, ‘difficult’ behaviours’ and mis-matched expectations can all make life difficult. In this session we’ll look at 6 P’s to help you be effective and promote a positive climate on the board. We’ll also do a little self-reflection on whether we are being Ace the Awesome or Dash the Dreadful – or a bit of both sometimes.

Speaker:  Cathy Shimmin, Senior Training Consultant and Performance Coach, Directory of Social Change

12:15 – Lunch

13:15 – Updates from the Experts
In this one hour session we will hear from 3 panellists on these topics:

• SORP update and what it means for Trustees
• How to make the diversity culture shift
• Recruiting for sustainability

There will be time for questions, so do bring them along.
Speakers to be announced.

14:15 – The Governance App and thinking about the Annual Board Review
Part One: We will present an update on findings from our analysis of over 400 users of the Governance App, what it means for the sector and how that helps you.

Part Two: Let’s start thinking about getting the Annual Board Review underway, and it becoming part and parcel of good governance in all charities.
Speakers to be announced.

14:45 – Coffee break

15:00 – Red Flags and Rescue Plans: A Trustee’s Guide to Risk-Proofing
What should Trustees be looking out for when it comes to identifying, assessing and mitigating risk? This session will explore the critical role trustees play in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks. From spotting the early warning signs of potential pitfalls, to crafting robust strategies that safeguard your charity, this session will give you proactive steps to help you stay ahead of the challenges.

Speaker: Uday Thakkar, DSC Associate Trainer

15:45 – Closing Plenary: Governance for 2025 and Beyond

Speaker to be announced.

16:15 – Event ends

Speakers

Speaker biographies coming soon.

Early bird: deadline 31 August 2025

• Band A: £133
• Band B: £143
• Band C: £163

Regular price bands from 1 September 2025

• Band A – £143
• Band B – £153
• Band C – £173