This course will enable you to understand Family, Business and Shareholder governance, your duties as a director, and how to implement appropriate structures to meet your family’s needs.
This is the only Governance and Directors course specifically designed for family businesses in Australia.
Governance refers to the structures, systems and processes concerned with ensuring an organisation’s overall direction, effectiveness, supervision (control) and accountability.
Having systems in place for both business and family governance are some of the best ways to ensure the sustainable management and long term success of your family business. This is because formal governance structures assist open communication between family members, reduce internal conflicts, nurture the next generation of leaders, and develop a shared family vision for the future.
In addition, as a member of a family business with a material impact on the direction and strategy of the business, it is important you know your role and meet your legal responsibilities, as you may be as liable as any director on the board.
The Family Business Governance and Directorship Course establishes the value that a board brings to the business. It will also go over your duties, responsibilities and how to structure a board that is appropriate for the needs of your family business.
Key learning
- Understand the unique challenges family business directors face in relation to Family, Business and Shareholding.
- Understand the moral, financial and legal responsibilities of directors.
- The critical role communication plays for directors in meeting Family, Business and Shareholder needs.
- Explore and understand the options for structuring boards and councils to meet your family’s needs.
Who should attend
- Executive and non-executive Directors of family businesses
- CEOs and senior managers of family businesses
- Family and non-family members who are new to a director’s role
- Emerging Generations contemplating or preparing to take on a director’s position.
- All members involved in strategically guiding the family business
Course Structure
Day 1 - Tuesday 19 June 2025, 9:00am-5:00pm
Orientation
- Get to know your facilitator and fellow participants.
- A detailed overview of the course.
- Share your current family and business governance challenges and what you want to learn throughout the course. This gives the facilitator the opportunity to ensure that your particular concerns are addressed through the course.
Module 1 – Family and Governance Structures and duties
- Understanding family and business governance structures.
- Balancing the interests of the owners and the business.
- The current structures in your family business.
- An overview of directors duties.
Module 2 – Financial Analysis
- Your questions from the last session.
- Understanding the financial health of your family business.
- How to measure profitability, liquidity and financial stability.
Day 2 - Wednesday 20 June 2024, 9:00am-5:00pm
Module 3 – Legal, Shareholders Agreements, Family Governance Councils/Charters
- Your questions from the last session.
- Legal aspects of being a Director or Officer of a family business.
- Key sections of the Corporations Act, and related penalties for breaches.
- Family Charters – their form and purpose.
Module 4 – Structures, Family Communication
- Your questions from the last session.
- Family structures and effective family communication to help your family businesses thrive over generations.
- How to integrate family and business governance to best effect.
- Getting started/next steps.
Facilitators
Principal Facilitator
Peter Ivett | Vivente Australia
Peter Ivett is a an FBA Forum Group facilitator and holds advisory and board positions in several family companies and is himself a family business owner.
Peter brings 35 years’ experience in sales, marketing and advertising, and organisational development to the table. Peter specialises in facilitation of family forums and succession planning, business and leadership coaching and defining and shaping company culture.
Legal Facilitator / AU
Fotini Kypraios | Prisma Legal
Fotini is the Founder and Principal Lawyer of Prisma Legal, a boutique commercial law firm. She is also an FBA Specialist Accredited Advisor and a member of the VIC FBA Advisor Committee.
Fotini has over 18 years’ experience advising clients in range of legal areas, including litigation, management, international investment tax consulting, succession, sales and transition of businesses and general commercial issues. Fotini’s broad local and international experience has enabled her to develop expertise in commercial and corporate issues in a diverse range of contexts. Having grown up in a family business, Fotini is passionate about working with business owners and families in business.
Financial Facilitator / AU
Rachel Witte | KPMG
Rachel is a trusted adviser with more than 20 years' experience, who provides tax, accounting and advisory services to private clients, including private businesses, startups, high net worth individuals, family offices and inbound multinationals.
Rachel works closely with business owners and families to provide an integrated and commercial approach to all aspects of their group, including considerations of group structures, investments, outsourced CFO solutions, corporate and family governance, and succession planning.
Rachel has experience in a range of industry sectors, including property development, hospitality, consumer products and professional services.
Click here to view the terms and conditions.
Please contact Sarah Herft on 03 9087 8389 or sherft@familybusiness.org.au to register for this event.
