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Not-for-Profit (NFP) boards can face unique challenges in establishing highly effective relationships with their CEOs. A wider range of director tenure and experience can exist within volunteer NFP boards versus their commercial counterparts. This can lead to dysfunctional director behaviours such as crossing the line between governance and management, an imbalance in director participation in the boardroom and gaps in the board skills matrix. Some NFP boards also fall prey to an over-focus on fundraising or other charitable missions, at the expense of an equal focus across all of the organization’s strategic priorities. 
  • How do these dynamics influence the relationship between these NFP boards and their CEOs?
  • How can director behaviours affect the culture of the organization and the performance of the CEO?
  • What are some effective techniques for both NFP directors, and their CEOs, to diagnose and address potential dysfunctions?
This session will examine the NFP board-CEO relationship from both perspectives and provide attendees with practical techniques for identifying and addressing unhealthy attitudes and behaviours. The session will be facilitated by Matt Fullbrook, a board effectiveness researcher, educator and consultant.  Matt's panel includes experienced NFP directors and a seasoned CEO who will share their experiences in achieving effective and productive board-CEO relationships.

Facilitator

Matt Fullbrook Headshot

Matt Fullbrook

Co-Academic Director of the Board Dynamics for Executives Program
Rotman and the Institute of Corporate Directors
 

Matt Fullbrook

Co-Academic Director of the Board Dynamics for Executives Program
Rotman and the Institute of Corporate Directors
 
Matt Fullbrook is a board effectiveness researcher, educator, and consultant.  For 20 years, Matt led the Rotman School of Management’s governance research as the Manager of the Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation, and the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness.  Under his direction, the Rotman School evolved into the central hub of governance research in Canada. Matt oversaw the development and execution the Globe & Mail's Board Games governance ratings, various Pay/Performance studies, credit union board research, and an ongoing study of the governance of family firms. As an independent consultant, Matt has worked in over 200 boardrooms helping organizations to maximize their effectiveness through the development and implementation of valuable governance processes, policies and structures.

In 2020, Matt launched his podcast One Minute Governance, where he explores complex governance issues one minute at a time.

Matt is the Co-Academic Director of the Board Dynamics for Executives Program offered by Rotman and the Institute of Corporate Directors, and the Academic Director of the High Performing Boards series offered by the Credit Union Executives Society.
Matt is also a professional musician and is the bass player for KC Roberts & the Live Revolution, an original touring 7-piece funk band based in Toronto.  The band’s 7th studio LP, Grit, will be available in spring 2022.
Matt Fullbrook Headshot

Panelists

Avanthi (Singh) Goddard Headshot

Avanthi (Singh) Goddard

ICD.D

Board Director

Avanthi (Singh) Goddard

ICD.D

Board Director
In her Board career, Avanthi has served on over 10 Boards since 1991, 3 as Chair of the Board.  She has also chaired Committees including Governance Committees, Strategic Planning Committees and the Audit and Risk Committee of the Board. As a Board Chair she steered the recruitment process for new CEOs in 3 of the Boards served. 

Presently Avanthi serves on the Boards of Southlake Regional Health Centre, the Blue Mountain Village Association and Wilfrid Laurier University Audit and Risk Committee. At Southlake Regional Health Centre she is also a member of the Audit Committee and the Board Quality Committee. Avanthi is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors GTA Chapter Executive.

In her work career, Avanthi worked in the health care sector in the areas of financial, quality and risk management. For 24 years of her work experience she owned and operated a consulting practice specializing in improving organizational effectiveness to produce strategic outcomes. She has also served as an advisor to Board Chairs on how to work with the Board and CEO, and as a consultant to CEO’s on how to work with their Boards effectively. She was appointed as a surveyor by 2 international Accreditation bodies for health care (Accreditation Canada and CARF International)

Avanthi retired from her work career in 2020 to focus on serving on Boards. She is passionate about the social responsibility of organizations to their communities and their employees. She earned her ICD.D designation in 2016.
Avanthi (Singh) Goddard Headshot
Neil Heatherington Headshot

Neil Heatherington

Chief Executive Officer at Daily Bread Food Bank
 

Neil Heatherington

Chief Executive Officer at Daily Bread Food Bank
 
Neil Hetherington joined Daily Bread Food Bank as CEO in January 2018. Daily Bread Food Bank supplies fresh and shelf-stable food to more than 130 member agencies across Toronto, supports 175 food programs, and is a national leader in research that examines the causes and impacts of food insecurity.
Neil began his career in project management at Tridel Construction, Canada's largest condominium developer. In September 2000, he made a career change by joining Habitat for Humanity Toronto, at the time as the youngest CEO of a Habitat affiliate in the world.

Neil’s non-profit experience includes 16 years as CEO of Habitat for Humanity in Toronto, and then New York City, and two years as CEO of Dixon Hall, a multi-service agency serving thousands of people in Toronto through its social programs, shelters, seniors programs, youth initiatives and community revitalization efforts.
Neil is the Chair of the Board of Directors of House of Compassion, a Board member of Feed Ontario, Vice-Commodore at the National Yacht Club, and a volunteer at Out of the Cold.

He holds degrees or certificates from the University of Western Ontario - Huron College, Seneca College, Harvard Business School and the University of Virginia - Darden Business School. He obtained his MBA from the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey Business School in 2013.
Neil Heatherington Headshot
Catherine Potechin Headshot

Catherine Potechin

 Board Chair/Director/Committee Chair // Global Leadership Executive

Catherine Potechin

 Board Chair/Director/Committee Chair // Global Leadership Executive
Catherine Potechin transitioned from a Global General Management Executive to Board Director; Chair/President when she repatriated to Canada in 2013 bringing her forte in decisive, analytical, and strategic leadership to the NFP community in Ontario. As NFP organizations became increasingly sophisticated and akin to corporate business, she has been able to leverage her diverse expertise in marketing, sales, and coaching to Boardroom governance.

Her Board positions have spanned various sectors including public sector facilities; local/regional nonprofit organizations; top tier national health charity; for profit Social Enterprise; special interest private club and publicly traded for profit companies. She currently serves on the Board of Jamieson Wellness Inc. and is the Former Board Chair of Diabetes Canada and Former Board Chair of Food for Life Canada.

She has firsthand experience and appreciation for the Board: Management dynamic, trust and interdependencies and in particular to the Chair-CEO interactions and critical relationship.
Catherine Potechin Headshot
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