Workshop

3

CPD

Build your governance capability

A practical, interactive workshop exploring the four pillars and best practice governance.

Speaker(s)
Hilary Poole, John Quirk, Mark Darrow, Ross Buckley
Date
4:00pm — 7:00pm, 20 August 2025
Venue
KPMG Auckland
Location
18 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland 1010
Price members
$75.00 incl GST
Price non-members
$129.00 incl GST

Overview

This session is designed to assist the development of emerging directors by an introduction to governance. On completion, participants will have a sound fundamental understanding of governance best practice which should boost confidence to undertake more formal director training such as the Essentials one-day courses for aspiring and new directors.

Drinks and canapes will be served.

Objective
The objective of the session is to build governance awareness in an interactive environment. Experienced directors will guide discussions around the Four Pillars of Governance Best Practice.  

Preparation
A workbook will be emailed two weeks prior and it is expected that each participant will familiarise themselves with the reading and exercises around each of the Pillars (please bring your workbook – either electronic or hardcopy – to the session). Additional online reading will be recommended, and it will be assumed you have read and considered this also.

Book prize
A book prize will be given to the person who best answers the questions around Pillar Four. 

Who should register?
The workshop is ideally suited for mid to senior-level executives and new directors on commercial, not-for-profit (NFP) and Crown-owned boards. It will provide a unique opportunity to learn from a number of New Zealand’s senior director practitioners, share experience and network with other like-minded business people. You should ideally have some governance experience but not have completed any of the IoD governance development courses.

Size
The session is limited to 28 participants, working with four senior directors as facilitators.

Fully Booked
If this event is fully booked on the website, please contact auckland.branch@iod.org.nz to be placed on the waiting list.

Hilary Poole

CFInstD

Hilary is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors, having been a member since 2002. She recently completed the IoD’s Mentoring for Diversity programme and highly values the IoD’s professional development and focus on all aspects of diversity.

She has held governance roles in the finance, food, sport, education, and the not-for-profit sector. This includes her current roles as a director of Hockey New Zealand and as a trustee of the Play It Strange Charitable Trust. Previous appointments include independent director of Sport New Zealand, deputy chair of High Performance Sport New Zealand, independent director of Prolife Foods and Martin Jenkins and chair of Just Life Group, Diocesan School for Girls, and the First Foundation.

Her executive roles include CEO of Hockey New Zealand, CEO of Netball New Zealand, and as a senior executive in strategy, marketing and operations at the Bank of New Zealand.

John Quirk

CMInstD

John has extensive business and governance experience. He has held over 27 directorships of which 12 were as Chair, and has been on both sides of the table having held CEO, GM and senior executive roles.

John has deep experience in high growth/high tech companies and is equally comfortable in a pre-revenue start-up, as Chair of a State-Owned Enterprise or mentoring the CEO of a multi-billion dollar insurance company.

Currently, he is Chair of Portainer.io, Cumulo9, Aeroqual, a director of Harmoney and has recently been appointed to the New Zealand Government's 'Strong Public Media' Establishment Board. Previous roles have included Chair of Kordia Group, Clearpoint Group, SMX Limited, FrameCAD Group, merlot.aero, WhereScape Software, Farm-IQ Systems and Axon Computers.

John is passionate about New Zealand companies and New Zealand citizens being globally competitive having represented New Zealnd in Whitewater Kayaking and Ironman World Championships.

Mark Darrow

CFInstD

Mark Darrow is an experienced independent Board Chair and Director with extensive knowledge across many sectors.

Mark is currently Chair of TSB Bank, Armstrong’s, Invivo & Co, MTF Finance, Eastside Holdings and Riverton Farms.  He is Deputy Chair of Auckland Transport and Chair of Inland Revenue’s Risk & Assurance Committee.

Previous Board roles have included Waka Kotahi (NZTA), Counties Manukau DHB, Primary ITO, The Lines Company, Leighs Construction, Sime Darby NZ, Charlies Group, Trustees Executors, MTA and VTNZ, and he served on Eke Panuku’s Audit and Risk Committee. 

He is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors, a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a Justice of the Peace of New Zealand.

Ross Buckley

CMInstD

Ross is Chair of the IoD Board and sits on  the Auckland Branch Committee. He  has a variety of directorships including ASB Bank, Stride Property, Investore Property and chairs the Board of Service Foods. Ross is also a member of the Massey University Council and before that role spent nine years on the Massey Business School Advisory Board. 

Ross had a 38-year career with KPMG, 27 years as a Partner and has managed the firm’s Audit, Risk and Tax practices in addition to the firms’ People, Performance and Culture function. During his last nine years Ross was the Executive Chair of KPMG New Zealand and a member of KPMG’s Asia Pacific Board and KPMG’s Global Council. 

Ross was brought up in the Wairarapa and attained a Bachelor of Business from Massey University. He joined KPMG in 1983 and has seen the world from many different perspectives having worked in KPMG’s Amsterdam, Toronto, International and Wellington offices before moving to Auckland in 2008. 

Ross is married to Irma and father to 21 year old triplets Zachary, Michaela and Jordan. In his free time, Ross is an active family man and enjoys road cycling, mountain biking and social running. 

Additional information

Covid-19 precautions

By registering for this event you are confirming that you agree to adhere to our Covid-19 health and safety measures. If you are unwell or have any Covid-19 symptoms please do not attend this event.

Additional requirements

Should you have any dietary, mobility, cultural or other requirements, you can let us know on the registration form.

Branch event cancellation policy

Regrettably, registration fees cannot be refunded when cancellations are received within two working days prior to any branch event.

See our standard terms and conditions for more information.

Contact

Becky Hare
Auckland Branch Manager

+64 27 642 1099
+64 9 905 4804
Becky.Hare@iod.org.nz

Our sponsors

The Auckland branch acknowledges the generous support of

A S B

Kordia logo

 


Book this event

  • Auckland

    date
    20 Aug 2025

    Members — $75.00

    Non-members — $129.00