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Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Leading the leaders; changing times for directors
How times have changed. When Kirsten (KP) Patterson was appointed chief executive of the Institute of Directors (IoD) eight years ago, one of the very first issues she encountered was a conversation around whether climate change was a governance issue. Now the IoD-hosted initiative Chapter Zero NZ — which is part of a global climate governance initiative that spans 50 countries and is focused on supporting directors to take action on climate change at a board level — has nearly 3000 members. Ms Patterson was in Dunedin this week to speak about ethics at an IoD Otago-Southland branch event, and to attend its annual chartered member and fellows dinner where — alongside Ranfurly-based director Dawn Sangster — she spoke about governance and leadership. Both women were made Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year's New Year's Honours for their services to governance and women. The level of change happening in the world — which was impacting all organisations, whether not-for-profits or listed companies — was so broad, and boards had to be across that complexity and breadth of issues, Ms Patterson said. As chairwoman of the Global Network of Directors Institutes, she had the opportunity to see the global trends via the more than 20 countries represented in that organisation. Not surprisingly, the big issues at present included geopolitics, trade and globalisation, but the approaches to those challenges from different countries and industry groups was quite different. Cybersecurity was the number one issue keeping directors awake at night but, in New Zealand, where IoD members were surveyed each year, that was not in the top three. The big issue coming through very clearly here was economic conditions, then there was also climate change and culture. New Zealand was the first country in the world to introduce laws around climate-related financial reporting and a lot of focus and attention had been put into the issue. While cybersecurity was not hitting that top three of major issues — although it would be for some boards and industries — she would like to see more focus from boards on it. Boards also needed to lean into the conversation around ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) and the IoD had developed nine principles to help boards to ethically adopt and effectively use AI. Ms Patterson is chairwoman of the Brian Picot Ethical Leadership advisory board at Victoria University. There was specific research in ethics, particularly in the business space, and it was great to have snapshots of what was happening, she said. While there were lots of conversations about purpose and values, there were still not enough organisations having conversations about ethics, she believed. Governance was critical, whether it was for sports clubs or corporates, involving people being relied on to come together and make judgements and choices. The space had changed. For things that were known and certain, for which there were answers, then management would take care of that. Boards were left with the "tricky stuff". Governance provided intellectual stimulation. It required curiosity and a lot of different skills to bring diversity of thought. That was what she loved about IoD communities which were diverse — much more than what people might think — and there were some great people coming through the governance pipeline, she said. "I genuinely believe the difference between whether you're building yourself a job as business owner or building something you could sell is about governance. The business needs to be able to live after you and continue after you," she said. Workload for directors was surveyed by the IoD, and that had peaked around the Covid-19 pandemic. There had been an increase in the hours involved which included work outside board meetings, whether that was the likes of site visits and engaging with staff, or engaging with stakeholders. Boards were much more visible now and, because of the complexity of issues, the amount of learning and thinking and preparation required was greater. It was not about just reading the board papers on the plane on the way to a meeting, she said. Using a sporting analogy, Ms Patterson said boards were a team sport. Directors like Dunedin's Trish Oakley, recently elected national president of IoD, were individual high performing athletes who were training at home. Then those athletes came together to perform as a team. It was an exciting time to be involved in with governance. While directors needed to be comfortable with risk and responsibility, there was an opportunity to see inside so many different organisations and help shape their strategy, culture and framework — "and New Zealand's better off for it", she said.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Waka's pace-setting fullback
Conner Hamlin. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER Give the ball to 'Vegas'. Wakatipu Premiers' speedy fullback Conner 'Vegas' Hamlin has been the rugby side's not-so-secret weapon this season, so far dotting down for seven tries after scoring nine in his first season with the team last year. The Dunedin-born 32-year-old, who moved to Queenstown early last year to be a PE teacher at Wakatipu High, would be one of the Central Otago comp's quickest players. But he also works well in tandem with Wakatipu's other pacy outside backs including Jamie Natapu and newcomer Jack Caunter. "It's good to be a part of like a back three where we can all rely on each other and we know where we're going to be and read the game really well," he says. At 78kg, Hamlin's also on the small side but doesn't lack for courage on defence. "I would say I would probably be on the lower side of most collisions I run into. The fact I've split my head open twice already this season is probably a good sign of that." The latest happened playing for Central Otago during the first half of their thrilling Topp Cup win over South Otago during King's Birthday Weekend, so he sat out Wakatipu's game against Matakanui Combined last weekend. Hamlin's played senior rugby for 12 years including about 85 games for Canterbury's Springston club, rep games for Ellesmere and Otago Country and even some games in the United States — his nickname springs from a 'court' session with Wakatipu team-mates when telling a story from his time in Las Vegas. Playing for Waka, he declares, "has probably been the most enjoyable footy I think I've played in my senior career, just because everyone gets along with everyone else". "And you enjoy turning up to Tuesday, Thursday trainings, no matter what the conditions are." He was on the field for the team's amazing come-from-behind win over Alexandra last month, but says his favourite was their White Horse Cup win over Upper Clutha last year. Handing it back this year was disappointing, Hamlin says. "[Veteran Bradley Cross] said, 'I think we were playing not to lose, rather than playing to win' — that's what you've got to. "If we could go and take it off Upper Clutha in the last round this year, that would be very handy." Hamlin, who'll be fit to take on Maniototo this Saturday, says it's healthy for the team and the club's future that five players who took the field last Saturday left Wakatipu High only two years ago. Out to square the ledger Having suffered a first-round away loss to Maniototo, 22-19, one of only two this season, Wakatipu will be out for revenge when they host the Ranfurly-based team at the Queenstown Recreation Ground this Saturday at 2.30pm. Wakatipu "warmed up" with a hard-fought 23-7 win over bottom-placed Matakanui Combined in freezing conditions last weekend — Waka's flying lock Josh Aperahama-Paenganui is pictured securing the ball during the game at the Rec Ground. Wakatipu's flying lock Josh Aperahama-Paenganui's pictured securing the ball during his team's game against Matakanui Combined at the Queenstown Rec Ground last Saturday. Co-captain and second-five Rube Peina starred by scoring all his team's points including two tries. Arrowtown, whose only win came in their season-opener against Matak, travel to play Cromwell this Saturday, seeking to go one better after drawing 26-all with them at home in the first round. Arrowtown lost 41-14 away to Alexandra last weekend.
