In today’s episode of Heart to Smart, Jen Johannesen is joined by Carol Tran, Co CEO of Accounting for Good for a discussion on practical financial responsibilities of directors serving on boards of charities. Carol describes the financial statements as telling the story of the organisation through numbers. We explore the responsibilities under the ACNC Governance Standard 5, engaging with financial reports around end of financial year time, onboarding and training and effective policies and delegations.

As AGM and AIS time nears for most charities, brush up on your duties as directors and gain an understanding of what to look out for with this informative podcast. Watch out for a follow up podcast where we’ll chat with Carol about risk and insolvency.

Heart to Smart is produced by Hannah Rose and Jennifer Johannesen of For Purpose Advisory.

www.forpurposeadvisory.com.au

On today’s episode of Heart to Smart, we deep dive into the recent Star case handed down in March. The judgement was 500 pages long, we’ve read it and dissected it, so you don’t have to. Although the case relates to a private, high risk, company, there are key takeaways for charities and not-for-profits which can strengthen governance and the workings of the Board. This episode explores the role and responsibilities of Directors, including specifically of charitable organisations; the importance of having the right size and content in Board papers; the use of AI by Boards and Secretaries; and the significance of having minutes that appropriately reflect Board discussions.

Heart to Smart is produced by Hannah Rose and Jennifer Johannesen of For Purpose Advisory.

www.forpurposeadvisory.com.au

In this episode of Heart to Smart, we are joined by Our Watch’s Chair, Moo Baulch and Director, Desmond Campbell as they discuss integrating First Nations perspectives into charity governance frameworks. Our Watch is the national leader in the prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia. Sadly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience disproportionally high rates of violence, and are 31 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family violence–related assaults. Anecdotal evidence suggests that non-Indigenous men make up a significant proportion of perpetrators.*

Moving beyond Reconciliation Action Plans and ESG employment targets, Moo and Desmond discuss creating a culturally safe workplace that advances First Nations people, and ultimately results in more effective work for the benefit of the community. We learn how Our Watch’s principled approach in embedding First Nations perspectives into their governance framework has resulted in the establishment of a First Nations working group and them seeking the support of their Government members for incorporating the requirement for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representation in Board leadership roles and an Indigenous Voice in their Constitution.

*Refer to the Our Watch website for resource references.

Please note that this episode was recorded in two parts and that some references to “last year” may relate to 2024.

On this episode of Heart to Smart, we are joined by former Meals on Wheels CEO, Les MacDonald to discuss membership models including the benefits and potential pitfalls. Les has a wealth of experience dealing with members after leading Meals on Wheels for over two decades. We explore and discuss complex structures, members rights, processes and primary advantages. This is an insightful episode for people who work within a membership driven charity structure.

https://nswmealsonwheels.org.au

“You don’t become a Founder to gain balance in your life”

In our fourth episode of Heart to Smart, we are joined by Sebastian Robertson, founder and former CEO, Director and Chair of batyr and Samantha Payne, the first CEO and co-founder of The Pink Elephants Support Network. Seb and Sam established their organisations as a result of their own lived experience and the need to help fix the gaps in their respective systems. In this episode, we hear the honest perspectives of these two founders on the challenges they’ve faced, including the continual battle experienced when the founder’s identity is tied in with the organisation. Seb and Sam also take us through what they have been able to achieve, their long lasting impact on people in society while in the job and what to do when you decide to leave the organisation you created.

Check out this episode on: Spotify: https://bit.ly/3MhkvWG Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gzeu94N2 Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3YVzMUu

This episode contains sensitive topics, including miscarriage, loss of a child and mental health struggles. Please proceed with caution and prioritise your wellbeing. If you need support, please visit batyr or The Pink Elephants Support Network for more resources. If someone you know has attempted, or is at immediate risk of attempting to harm themselves or someone else, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Executing a merger while maintaining culture can be one of the hardest things to do. In our third episode of Heart to Smart, we meet Raj Nair, who joined 3Bridges as CEO six years following the merger of the three community organisations which created 3Bridges, Keystone, Pole Depot and Menai Community Services. Raj takes us through his agile approach, focussing on listening and learning from staff, the responsibility of the executive team and Board, and how he managed the growth of the organisation. Raj also explains the importance of merging passion driven organisations without changing their legacy. Learn how 3Bridges was able to create a sustainable and successful cultural transformation, and how you may apply some of these techniques to your own organisations.

Heart to Smart is produced by Hannah Rose and Jennifer Johannesen of For Purpose Advisory.

www.forpurposeadvisory.com.au

Experts say it’s not if a cyber breach will happen to your organisation, but when - so how is your organisation handling the expectations of its donors, and how are your third-party suppliers protecting and handling your donor and other data?

Pareto Phone was a Brisbane-based telemarketer, which Australian charities used to support them with their fundraising activities. In April last year, Pareto Phone experienced a cyber incident where unauthorised access was gained to its systems and this resulted in the personal information of donors being disclosed on the dark web. This impacted many Australian charities, including Australia for UNHCR.

In our second episode of Heart to Smart, we speak with Catherine Harding, Chief Operating Officer of Australia for UNHCR and Steve Dawson, CEO of ONGC about cyber security, expectations on third party suppliers and using AI ethically and responsibly.

https://www.unrefugees.org.au

https://ongc.com.au

Heart to Smart is produced by Hannah Rose and Jennifer Johannesen of For Purpose Advisory.

www.forpurposeadvisory.com.au

Welcome to the Heart to Smart podcast, your go-to resource for all things related to the for-purpose sector.

Join hosts Hannah Rose, founder of For Purpose Advisory, and Jen Johannesen, Group Principal at FPA, as they delve into the challenges, successes, and inspiring stories of those making a tangible difference in their communities.

Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast platform!