High Performance in the Boardroom is a unique inside-the-boardroom perspective on how leading boards are embracing change to achieve high performance.
A dynamic debate amongst leading board chairs, it spotlights today’s most critical issues, such as emerging technologies, fundamentally different perspectives on ESG, new forms of political polarization and a duty to consult.
Participating chairs were all chosen for their records of achievement, experiences, ideas and opinions. They represent a diverse range of industries, varied in size and region, and their views and priorities reflect that. Individual approaches to foundational areas of governance, essential to board effectiveness, include new insights on board composition, director education, the role of the chair, strategic planning and risk management, talent management and oversight.
The report also challenges the conventional thinking of the director community at large. Authentic, unvarnished, multi-faceted, it captures the obligation of all directors to engage in continuous improvement.
High Performance in the Boardroom is available here for download, browsing and sharing.
Key Collaborators
Tony Gaffney
Author
Tony is a corporate director, experienced CEO and a former member of the Global Executive Committee of Aon Hewitt, responsible for the performance of the company worldwide.
He has had the privilege of working at Board or CEO levels within some of Canada’s most respected organizations, including BCE, Loblaws, Aon, Altus Group, Toronto Regional Board of Trade and the United Way Cabinet. Tony has also served internationally, in executive leadership roles at Accenture, MCI Telecommunications and SHL Systemhouse.
I launched the Board Insights initiative driven by a passion to contribute to the corporate director community and a personal sense of obligation to engage in continuous improvement.
Kathleen (Katie) Taylor
Lead Advisor
Kathleen Taylor is Chair of RBC and the former President and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. In addition to her corporate and not for profit directorships, Ms. Taylor is a Member of the Order of Canada and has been inducted into the WXN Hall of Fame.
She is the recipient of the Governance Professionals of Canada Peter Dey Governance Achievement Award.
It is not often that you have the chance to work with a group of extraordinary board chairs who have come together to generously share their wide and varied experiences. I enthusiastically provided my support to this initiative given its focus on ensuring continuous improvement in the boardroom, particularly in a period of accelerating change and disruption.
Rahul Bhardwaj
Advisor
As President and CEO of the Institute of Corporate Directors, Rahul Bhardwaj leads a Canadian not-for-profit association of more than 15,000 members committed to improving national outcomes by growing the board leadership and governance capacities within Canadian businesses, agencies and not-for-profits.
His corporate governance vision has made him a sought-after presenter, speaker and media commentator at the national level and internationally.
I am keenly aware that there is an appetite for continuous improvement within Canada’s director community. Initiatives such as Board Insights will augment the ICD’s efforts to provide Canadian directors with tools and resources to help them enhance their effectiveness in the boardroom.
Brian Banks
Journalist & Writer
Brian is an editor and writer with extensive experience in governance and business journalism, environmental issues and technology, and is an advocate for nature and sustainability. He is a former editor of Financial Post Magazine and was a cofounder of Listed, the magazine for Canadian listed companies.
He’s been a non-profit board member and is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
In my career, I’ve tracked the evolution of board practices, board-CEO dynamics and the rise of stakeholder capitalism. I knew the opportunity to capture and present the insights of more than 30 leading chairs and directors as they navigate today’s challenges would be invaluable.
High Performance in the Boardroom
An exclusive report on contemporary best practices of high-performing boards in a time of accelerating change.
There has never been a better time than now for this report.
