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 22 July 2024, 9:30am-4:30pm
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 23 July 2024, 9:30am-4:30pm
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
Matthew Le Maitre | Advisory Partners
Matthew is the Managing Partner at Advisory Partners. Previously a partner at a top 5 Australian accounting firm, he has all the experience and expertise required to develop medium to large corporates while still possessing the passion to take small businesses to the next level.
One of the hallmarks of Matthew's approach is his enthusiasm. It's the first thing people notice and when it's coupled with his strong commercial acumen and ability to understand business owners quickly, he is able to offer sound advice very early in the relationship.
Specifically, Matthew focuses on: Restructuring businesses to achieve improved outcomes for tax and asset protection; working with clients to enhance their businesses at many levels including: the Boardroom, developing and implementing strategic plans, acting as a sounding board for ideas/concerns; tax minimisation strategies, helping small and medium businesses grow and improve, establishing corporate governance structures, change management, preparing businesses for sale and always looking on the bright side and having fun along the way!
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.
Early bird rates close on 10 June 2025.
Click here to view the terms and conditions.
Please contact the office on 1800 249 357 or education@familybusiness.org.au if you have any questions or need assistance registering for this event.
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