The AICD’s reputation in Canberra continues to be strong, which is a product of the strength of our member base — thank you.
As part of our ongoing policy leadership agenda, the AICD recently hosted 12 senior directors in the nation’s capital. The annual delegation to Canberra during a sitting week for Parliament has become an important fixture in our government relations program and we’ve built on this with the 2024 delegation.
Representing a variety of sectors and organisations, the group of directors attended a series of high-level meetings and discussions with parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, senior public servants, policy decision-makers and the press gallery.
I can happily report that the AICD’s reputation in Canberra continues to be strong, which is a product of the strength of our member base — thank you.
The AICD’s world-leading Company Directors Course came in for special mention from many of the guests who met with the delegation. While the AICD is responsible for maintaining the high quality of the CDC, this feedback is a reflection on the thousands of directors who participate in the course every year. It’s your commitment to good governance that influences the view of these parliamentarians and others, that our director community is engaged and informed.
The AICD’s role in governance policy also received strong endorsement, with our work in the NFP sector, on continuous disclosure, gender diversity, uplifting national cyber capability and AI, acknowledged by our guests.
We have contributed 27 policy submissions over the past 12 months and have had considerable input to policy formulation on important pieces of legislation. On mandatory climate reporting, for example, the AICD has been commended for its role in the process and for developing resources and guidance to assist boards and directors to meet the challenges of the task ahead. Our mission — to be the independent and trusted voice of governance — guides these activities.
AICD Canberra delegation 2024
- Naomi Edwards FAICD
- Virginia Bourke FAICD
- Candice Charles GAICD
- Guy Cowan MAICD
- Rob Cole MAICD
- Craig Drummond
- Susan Forrester AM FAICD
- Sally-Anne Layman MAICD
- Marie McDonald GAICD
- John Poynton AO FAICD
- Tim Sarah FAICD
- Michael Ullmer AO FAICD
- Michael Wilkins AO FAICD
A key objective in hosting these delegations is to cement the AICD’s position as a bridge between government, business and the for-purpose sector on important national issues. During the three days, we discussed issues across three key themes:
Reviving economic reform — how taxation reform, tackling the skills shortage and revamping housing policy could help in addressing the productivity slump.
Contemporary governance issues — hot topics at the forefront of board discussions, including cybersecurity, climate governance and AI.
The impact of overregulation on board performance — the need for government to drive a deregulation agenda to support Australian organisations to be more productive and innovative.
Independent of the AICD policy agenda, directors were able to bring the real-life circumstances affecting their organisations to the discussion and to raise their priorities with policymakers directly. Major policy issues discussed during our sessions included the billions of dollars of new spending both major parties have announced for ambitious “nation-building” projects.
Whether it’s the government’s $22.7b budget allocation for its Future Made in Australia program, or the Coalition’s plan for nuclear power, which would see the Australian government own these assets, it could be argued that the era of “big government” is back. It will be interesting to follow these debates to see if they include a focus on the governance settings around public spending and project delivery.
I’d like to thank the director delegates, not least for keeping up the cracking pace of meetings and events, but more importantly, for their commitment in bringing their insights, experiences and expertise to the table in a genuine two-way exchange with the country’s political leadership. This is engagement in action and our policy leadership activities wouldn’t be nearly as meaningful without the generous contribution of the many members who share their time and effort.
This article first appeared under the headline 'Setting the agenda and a cracking pace in Canberra’ in the August 2024 issue of Company Director magazine.
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