Governance
Good governance drives organizational performance.
We help boards improve clarity, decision-making, and alignment — especially in high-stakes moments.
Governance Matters
Governance doesn’t fail suddenly. It erodes gradually. You'll see signs like:
- meetings that are long but not strategic
- unclear expectations between the board and CEO
- decisions stalling or being revisited
- directors pulling in different directions
- tension, silence, or passive disengagement
Boards want to govern well. But without alignment, progress becomes harder than it should be.
With the right support, boards regain clarity, momentum, and confidence.
Where We Help Most
Boards engage us when they need:
- Clearer roles, decision rights, and boundaries
- A stronger partnership between the board and CEO
- A reset on strategic priorities and expectations
- Support to navigate conflict or political tension
- A more strategic agenda and board rhythm
- Better director onboarding and board operating systems
- A move from “operationally involved” to “strategically focused”
Most boards don’t need a complete overhaul; they just need alignment and structure.
Governance Transition Support
Governance transitions are high-stakes moments that test even strong boards.
Governance transitions include changes to:
- governance model
- governance policies
- board composition or leadership (new chair, multiple new directors)
- mergers, restructuring, or new mandates
These moments create opportunity, but also risk. We help boards navigate them deliberately and confidently.
Our Approach
Every engagement is different, but our approach typically includes:
- Governance assessment
- Roles & decision-rights alignment
- Board operating rhythm (agendas, reporting, dashboards, communication flows)
- Governance coaching for board chair and CEO
- Facilitation of difficult or sensitive board conversations
Progress starts when boards can safely and constructively talk about what’s really happening.
A Practical Tool to Get Started
Improving governance doesn’t always require a major reset. Sometimes the quickest win is simply reducing wasted time and effort in the boardroom.
8 Wastes in the Boardroom — On-Demand Video Course
This is a short, practical course to help boards run more effective meetings by identifying and eliminating the most common sources of meeting waste.
Why Boards Trust Us
Our support is grounded in real governance experience, not just frameworks.
Jane Halford has served as:
- Board Chair
- Board Member
- Board Committee Chair (Audit, HR, Governance)
- CEO reporting to a board
- Governance advisor to boards across Canada
Her experience spans corporate, public sector, nonprofit, and family enterprise boards including Farm Credit Canada, the Rick Hansen Foundation, the International Women's Forum (Canada), Alberta Innovates, the United Way (Edmonton), and more.
Boards trust us because we understand governance from every seat at the table.
Jane's Full Governance Experience
Good Governance Enables Performance
Whether you’re navigating board tension, a governance model reset, or a high-stakes moment, you don’t need to solve it alone.
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