Board Advisory
At Devereaux Consulting, our board advisory practice is grounded in original research in the emerging field of behavioural governance, the study of how boards function as a group, including the dynamics, conversations, and decisions that shape their effectiveness. Our Managing Partner, Dr Jackie Besley, holds a PhD in Psychology, and her research included the direct observation of boards in session. This is an unusual approach in a field that relies heavily on self-report. Her research examined how board diversity and composition shape governance effectiveness. It looked beyond familiar attributes such as gender, age, culture, and education to the way professional expertise, tenure, and connection to mission also shape how a board functions as a group. This understanding directly informs how we work with boards and councils to support their recruitment, dynamics, and overall performance.
Board recruitment and development
Effective board recruitment requires more than filling a skills matrix. The composition of a board shapes how directors interact, how knowledge is shared, and ultimately how well the board functions as a collective in support of the organisation's mission and goals.
Our approach to board recruitment and development works across three phases. We begin with a composition review. Before defining what is needed, we map the board's current membership across the attributes that most influence how the board actually functions, including professional expertise, tenure, connection to mission, and diversity. This gives us a clear picture of not just which skills are present, but how a new appointment will sit alongside the existing board or council as a group.
From there, we move to candidate identification and assessment, developing a field of candidates against agreed criteria and evaluating them through confidential research and direct conversation. We then support the board or council through shortlisting and appointment, including the design of interview questions informed by our research findings on what genuinely supports effective board member contribution.
We also work with boards and councils to think about their composition over time. With thoughtful succession planning, we help boards and nominations committees anticipate the attributes and experience that will be needed to sustain a high-functioning board into the future.
Governance effectiveness
Good governance is about more than compliance. We work with boards and councils to reflect on how they function as a group, including the culture, the conversations, and the practices that shape how decisions get made and how well the board fulfils its responsibilities.
Drawing on original research into how effective boards work, we help boards and councils look beyond structures and processes to the dynamics that shape their performance, often the things that are hardest to see from within. Our role is to give boards a practical and evidence-based basis for that reflection.
The role of the Chair
The chair sits at the intersection of the board and the chief executive. The effectiveness of that relationship has a direct bearing on how well the organisation is ultimately governed. We work with chairs to strengthen the practices and relationships that support a high-functioning board and a productive partnership with the executive.
Workshops and coaching
We offer workshops for boards and councils, exploring their dynamics and ways of working together more effectively. Drawing on original research that included direct observation of boards in session, these workshops give boards, councils, and their chairs a practical and evidence-based framework for reflection and discussion. They can be tailored to suit a range of formats, including board meetings, strategy days, and board and council development sessions.
Confidential coaching is also available for chairs and board members looking to strengthen their contribution and the overall effectiveness of their board or council.