Today on the Take On Board Podcast, I'm speaking with Tracy Bongiorno about the Wild for STEM program. We also might touch on her journey to the first boardroom. Tracy is the CTO at Mentor Loop. She has extensive experience scaling SAS businesses and fostering high-performing teams. She is passionate about people-centric cultures, collaboration, governance and building software that empowers people. Tracy also organizes Tech-Leading Ladies, a community that supports women in tech leadership. She...
Mar 11, 2025•24 min•Ep 294•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board podcast, Sara Harrup is back to answer all your questions. We had Sara on the podcast at the end of January. She opened up about her experiences with being an ADHD-er and having autistic traits. So, because she’s a rockstar and wants to educate people to be more sensitive and open to neurodiversity, she agreed to return to answer questions you may be too nervous, afraid or embarrassed to ask. Sara’s an open book, and we had a lively chat. And I know I learned so much f...
Mar 04, 2025•51 min•Ep 294•Transcript available on Metacast Today, on the Take On Board Podcast, I'm speaking with Bernadette Northeast about board evaluations. Bernadette has a long list of boards, and I may not have captured them all. She is on the boards of the Victorian Fisheries Authority, Victorian State Emergency Services, and Loved and Shared, Incorporated, and she's the managing director of North East Stockdale and Leggo Real Estate in Warrnambool. She was the former chair of Southwest Healthcare and the Women and Southwest Family Violence...
Feb 25, 2025•30 min•Ep 293•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take On Board Podcast, I'm speaking with Carmel Mulhern about board agendas. This is part of the board composition and effectiveness, a five-part mini-series. So first up, you heard me talking about appointing board members. Then you heard Katie Constantinou providing some excellent food for thought about inducting board members. Last week, it was Leesa Chesser and me exploring all things board skills matrices. Carmel is on the PwC governance board, the Australian Cancer Resea...
Feb 18, 2025•32 min•Ep 292•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board Podcast, I'm speaking with Leesa Chesser about board skills matrices. This is part of the board composition and effectiveness, a five-part mini-series. Leesa is on the boards of Neami National, the Australian Physiotherapy Association, the Adelaide Festival Board, and the West Beach Parks Board. She also chairs the nominations and remuneration committee at Neami. She was formerly on the boards of Community Options, Australia, Hen House Cooperative, and Southern Domesti...
Feb 11, 2025•33 min•Ep 291•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take On Board Podcast, I'm speaking with Katie Constantinou about onboarding new directors. Katie is on the board of Harbison, an aged care organisation. She also sits on several committees: the New South Wales Justices Association Southern Highlands branch and the BDCU Grads Committee. She's formerly been on the boards of Wingecarribee Adult Day Centres, a not-for-profit service that provides social opportunities within a group setting for older people and people living with dement...
Feb 04, 2025•35 min•Ep 290•Transcript available on Metacast Hello Take on Board community, We interrupt your regular listening flow to share the exciting news that Helga was on the Australia Day 2025 honours list – appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. Take on Board Community member and referee for the OAM application. Hannah Browne reads the 'why' section of Helga's application, and I think we can all agree that Helga is so deserving of this honour! Congratulations, Helga! If you want to wish Helga a big congratulations, please Click here or hea...
Jan 28, 2025•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today, this is the first episode in our first Take on Board miniseries of 2025! It's all about board composition and effectiveness. We've got a great lineup in the coming weeks, and today, you'll hear from me as I walk you through the steps to recruit a board member. This is one of the things I get asked all the time, where do I start? What do I need to do? What are the steps? So, I've made a checklist for you. And I thought I would take you through it. Come along, it'll be fun. Of course, the s...
Jan 28, 2025•27 min•Ep 289•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take On Board Podcast, I'm speaking with Sara Harrup about CEOs and executives who are neurodivergent and what boards need to know to manage these relationships effectively. Sara is Deputy Chair of the Australian Charities and not-for-profit commission, Chair of Jabiru Community Services and a board member of healthcare insurance. She's formerly been on a range of boards, including doctors for nutrition, family, daycare Association, Queensland, exercise and Sports Science, Australia...
Jan 21, 2025•31 min•Ep 288•Transcript available on Metacast Today, on the Take On Board Podcast, I'm speaking with Beth Ellen Holimon about feminist governance. Beth Ellen is on the boards of the Feminist Leadership Hub, a community advisory board, and the Collateral Repair Project Board. As founder and CEO of the hive collective, Beth Ellen leads a consortium of thought leaders dedicated to advancing connective and inclusive leadership, participative planning and values-based Board Governance. She believes that organizations reach their highest aspirati...
Jan 14, 2025•27 min•Ep 287•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to the first Take on Board Summer Series. I've pulled together some of our most-requested episodes, so you have something to keep you company over the next few weeks while I take a bit of a summer holiday! I have spoken with Dominique on two separate occasions. First, we covered preparing an application for a board role. Then, we tackled the interview process and how to present yourself confidently. Well, Dominique has returned to give us an update—how did the interview go and did she la...
Jan 07, 2025•18 min•Ep 286•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to the first Take on Board Summer Series. I've pulled together some of our most-requested episodes, so you have something to keep you company over the next few weeks while I take a bit of a summer holiday! Today, on the Take on Board podcast, Dr Dominique Hes is back for another on-air coaching session. Remember a few weeks ago when Dominique was preparing an application for a board role? Well, she landed an interview. So, I’m having another chat with her to run through some interview pr...
Dec 31, 2024•35 min•Ep 285•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to the first Take on Board Summer Series. I've pulled together some of our most-requested episodes, so you have something to keep you company over the next few weeks while I take a bit of a summer holiday! Today, we're doing something different on the Take on Board podcast. I’m having a chat with the fabulous Dr Dominique Hes. Dominique needs help with an application she is making for a board role. One of my passions is coaching women and gender-diverse people to help them achieve their ...
Dec 24, 2024•42 min•Ep 284•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to the final episode of Take on Board for 2024. And what a year it’s been. In this episode, I'm going to take you through my ‘RSVP’ process – an invitation to reflect on the year and set intentions for 2025. Think travel, working with ease and building and creating connections. We do this in the final session of Board Accelerator – my program for women and gender-diverse board members. So, at the end of this episode, you’ll hear some of the reflections from the group. So, what’s the RSVP...
Dec 17, 2024•31 min•Ep 283•Transcript available on Metacast Today, on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Helen Hu about how the skills she learned at Toastmasters have helped her build her board portfolio career. Now, let me tell you about Helen. Helen is an emerging company director pursuing a board portfolio career. Twenty years ago, with $1,000 in her pocket, she arrived at Sydney Airport with a small suitcase and a big dream. She spent the first 10 years in Australia getting her master's degree in accounting, became a chartered accountant, ...
Dec 10, 2024•32 min•Ep 282•Transcript available on Metacast Today, on the Take on Board podcast, I'm speaking with Jane Britt about accessibility and inclusion in the boardroom. Jane is on the boards of Holy Cross Services and Social Futures and previously served on the board of Queenslanders with Disabilities Network. She is a highly experienced NDIS and disability policy professional director, public speaker and writer who blends her professional expertise with her lived experience of deafblindness. In addition to her background in disability policy, w...
Dec 03, 2024•30 min•Ep 281•Transcript available on Metacast Today, on the Take on Board podcast, I’m speaking with Heather Disher about gender equality on sports boards. Heather is on the boards of Chair of Pony Club Australia, GAWS (Geelong Animal Welfare Society) & Alchemy Outsourcing. She has previously been on the boards of more than a dozen SME private company boards locally and internationally. A passionate entrepreneur, Heather leads two businesses: Alchemy Outsourcing, which specialises in virtual assistant services and Dish...
Nov 26, 2024•30 min•Ep 280•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the take on board podcast, I'm speaking with Henna Karna about AI and technology. Henna is a highly respected global leader with more than 25 years of experience leading innovation across digital/data in high-tech, CPG, risk management, and insurance industries (across P&C, specialty, life, health, retirement, consumer, commercial, brokers, vendors, and independent agents). She has led businesses and advised Fortune 100 companies on digital innovation and disruption and has designed...
Nov 19, 2024•28 min•Ep 279•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Erin Turner about the building a diverse team in the boardroom. Erin is on the boards of Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) and ARC Justice. She has previously been on the board – and Chair – of Financial Rights Legal Centre. Erin Turner is a consumer advocate that works with governments and regulators to make markets fairer for Australians. She is the CEO of the Consumer Policy Research Centre, a th...
Nov 12, 2024•26 min•Ep 278•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Jo Plummer about the relationship between the board and CEO. This is one of the ‘roles and responsibilities’ episodes – a mini-series into the roles and responsibilities of board directors covering board charters, delegations, board reports, policies, and the relationships between the board and CEO. Jo is the Chair of Barwon Water and the Country Fire Authority and a Non Executive Director Barwon Asset Solutions&...
Nov 05, 2024•31 min•Ep 277•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Ellen Webb about board and committee charters. This is one of the ‘roles and responsibilities’ episodes – a mini-series into the roles and responsibilities of board directors covering board charters, delegations, board reports, policies, and the relationships between the board and CEO. Ellen is on the boards of Gender Equity Victoria and Robert Connor Dawes Foundation and she is the Company Secretary for Cancer in Kids at...
Oct 29, 2024•27 min•Ep 276•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Yien Hong about board policies. This is one of the ‘roles and responsibilities’ episodes – a mini-series into the roles and responsibilities of board directors covering board charters, delegations, board reports, policies, and the relationships between the board and CEO. Yien in on the boards of Australian Arts Orchestra, AFCA and has previously been on the boards of …YWCA Victoria, YWCA Housing Yien is the C...
Oct 22, 2024•26 min•Ep 275•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Amanda Cornwall about policies. This is one of the ‘roles and responsibilities’ episodes – a mini-series into the roles and responsibilities of board directors covering board charters, delegations, board reports, policies, and the relationships between the board and CEO. Amanda is on the boards of …Circus Nexus, Merri-bek Affordable Housing ltd, Greenfleet Australia And has previously been on ...
Oct 15, 2024•23 min•Ep 274•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Robyn Weatherley about effective delegations. This is one of the ‘roles and responsibilities’ episodes – a mini-series into the roles and responsibilities of board directors covering board charters, delegations, board reports, policies, and the relationships between the board and CEO. Robyn is a Board and Company Secretary, published author, governance advisor, teacher and mentor. In practice for 18 years across of ran...
Oct 08, 2024•32 min•Ep 273•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Julie Garland McLellan about what makes a great board report, and how to get them! Oh and we're launching another mini-series - I'm hooked! I'm continuing to work through the not for profit governance principles released by the Australian Institute of Company Directors in April 2024. So our next mini series is about roles and responsibilities. Julie is on the boards of Dam safety, New South Wales Lupitz, which is a tech startup, and ...
Oct 01, 2024•32 min•Ep 272•Transcript available on Metacast This week on the Take on Board podcast, I sharing my recap from the Climate Governance Forum in August 2024. It’s sponsored by AICD and these events are always fantastic for learning and networking. This year was no different. Some of the major moments for me are when speakers emphasized the importance of climate governance as a critical transformation since the Industrial Revolution. So we need to pay attention. There were takeaways that are important for boards: including the recent pass...
Sep 24, 2024•31 min•Ep 271•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Dominique Hes about how an organisation that has never had a long term strategy got started. This is a ‘bonus episode’ in the Take on Board deep dive into strategy. Dominique reached out to me with a good story to tell, so we’re here to share it! Dominique is on the board and Chair of Greenfleet. She has formerly been on the boards of Living Futures Institute of Australia and Trust for Nature. &n...
Sep 17, 2024•30 min•Ep 270•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Jamie Brunson about how her board guided the organization through the pandemic. Jamie is on the boards of Greater Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Avenue of the Arts, ArtPhilly, Stories to Grow By, and First Person Arts. And has previously been on the boards of … Philadelphia Cultural Fund (Mayoral Appointee), Avenue of the Arts Board, City of Philadelphia Dept. of Behavioral Health Exec Committee, Mental Health Assoc, Theatre Alliance...
Sep 10, 2024•29 min•Ep 269•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Andrea Fernandes about communicating strategy. Andrea is on the board – and Acting President- of YWCA Hunter, an organisation that exists to connect, empower and support women and families. Andrea has been involved in the for-purpose sector for nearly twenty years and continues to love the work. Besides serving on the board, Andrea is the Strategy & Planning Manager at YSAS, a large youth specific community organisation th...
Sep 03, 2024•31 min•Ep 268•Transcript available on Metacast Today on the Take on Board podcast I’m speaking with Su Jella on reporting against strategy. Su Jella helps to drive data and AI revolutions and opportunities. A visionary in Data, Analytics, and AI, Su doesn't merely confront the question, "What do we do with all this data?", she transforms this challenge into an enlightening journey of discovery, deriving actionable insights that fuel smarter business decisions. Su's expertise is anchored in a groundbreaking approach -...
Aug 27, 2024•29 min•Ep 267•Transcript available on Metacast 
