What No One Tells You about Young Leaders on Boards (Annual Report Released)

When we commenced the Engaging Young Leaders on Aged Care and Community Boards program in 2013 there were a number of assessments about why young leaders couldn’t be directors on Aged Care and Community Boards. These assessments included how they had no experience, how they may be unreliable and why they weren’t interested in aged care and the community sector.

Over the last six years we have been articulating the business case for why young leaders are essential to creating diverse boards. Let me offer you what many won’t tell you. Young leaders offer us the opportunity to develop:

• Diversity of Board membership including experiential (educational, business, functional, market), personal (personality, interested and values) and demographic (gender, ethnicity geography and generation).
• Different perspectives – diversity of membership can help reduce ‘groupthink’. One of the structural faults that can lead to ‘groupthink’ is homogeneity of member’s social background and ideology (Kiel).
• Workforce Planning Strategies: young leaders can offer valuable insights into the development of strategies to attract and retain young talent in organisations.
• Board Succession with 29% of boards in Australia made up of people over the age of 60 years it is a business imperative that we recruit young leaders onto our boards.     
• Service Delivery Models: the grandparent/grandchild relationship is special and through this relationship young leaders offer unique insights into what matters to seniors.
• An Engaged Board: young leaders are presenting as learners and this can help to develop a new type of culture required in modern governance.
• Social Media Stakeholder Engagement Strategies: leverage the organisations business via a new medium. 

2016 – 2017 Annual Report

Six years on and we invite you to read our Engaging Young Leaders on Aged Care and Community Boards 2016 – 2017 Annual Report.

Download it here.

It offers you great insights into ‘What No One Tells You about Young Leaders on Boards’ and how our Community Partners are Difference Makers, leaders who are championing diversity on boards.

Applications Open for 2018 Program

Applications are open until 20th December for the Emerging Leaders in Governance Program for 2018. You can check the prospectus and access the application form here. Please encourage any rising stars in your networks to apply for the program.

Want to be involved?

If you are interested in being part of this collaborative program contact me on 9450 6233 or email me at nicky.h@southcare.org.au