Chairing with Confidence - Edinburgh

Chairing with Confidence

Good governance is crucial for the success and sustainability of an organisation. It ensures effective decision-making, fosters trust and accountability, and promotes sustainability and impact.

This development session will be led by Dr Meg Wright and is for Chairs/Vice Chairs and those considering the role.

The aim is to allow trustees to refresh or gain knowledge of the role of trustee and the interface between governance and management. The workshop will particularly focus on the art of chairing and the development of highly effective boards.

The session will also focus on the Board meeting and making them productive and inclusive. The Board meeting is the cornerstone of trustee interaction and decision making and the workshop will spend time considering what good looks like.

The day will be highly interactive and allow trustees from organisations working in the same field to learn and reflect together. The session will enable constructive conversation and use learning tools and techniques to encourage learning.

There is space for one trustee per DES funded organisation to attend. If more than one trustee from your board would like to attend, let us know and we will offer more spaces if we can.

Learning Outcomes

• Gained or refreshed knowledge of the essentials of governance
• Gained or refreshed understanding of the role of the Chair
• Considered how to create a high functioning board
• Understood what makes an effective board meeting

The day will include short presentations, small and whole group discussion and case study analysis. There will be time to network and learn from each other.

Arrival is from 9.30am for a 10.00am start. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Dr Meg Wright is a consultant who has worked in the voluntary sector for almost 25 years, seven of those as an independent consultant. Meg has worked with a wide range of organisations providing consultancy with a particular focus on reviewing governance and supporting boards; recruiting trustees; facilitating strategic reviews and developing plans; facilitating learning sessions; strategic reviews; change management.

As part of her work, Meg creates and facilitates learning sessions that are engaging, creative and fun. She strives to incorporate ‘getting to know you’ as part of learning sessions which helps boards to work as a team and enhances board performance.

Meg holds a professional doctorate; her research explored the recruitment and role understanding of charity trustees. As a researcher, she developed the tools and techniques to critically analyse material and use a thematic approach to analysis. She has a clear understanding of confidentiality and is sensitive in her approach to conversations with everyone she meets.