Ange Ferguson

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An excellent article on the increasingly complex role of directors and three key takeaways for directors to take into account new year. #boards #directors #governance

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If an all-male panel is called a 'Manel', what do you call an all-female panel? KIND OF AMAZING? It was such a dynamic panel session discussing 'Building a Skilled, Inclusive Workforce for the Transition and Beyond' at yesterday's Day 1 of the Power + Utilities Australia Leadership Summit. The conversation ranged from... the need to promote the energy industry as an industry of choice; the need to promote trade skills as a preferred post-high school career; the need to make sure organisations' culture both supports diversity through targets/collaboration/initiatives, but also just by having people in diversity represented across an organisation ('you can be it if you can see it'), the need to 'share the care' across families; the need to support/invest in/fund your employees to be part of training throughout their careers. It was great to get questions from the audience about how to familiarise students with the energy sector from high school (Cert II Career Starts!) and whether we can transition people into the sector (microcredentials for everyone!). There's a lot to be done, but as someone passionate about my industry, about teaching (I didn't lecture for a decade for nothing!) and about life-long learning, I think we've got this! Thanks so much to Anthea Middleton from Powering Skills Organisation, Ruth Groom from Hydro Tasmania, Stephanie Somerville from The Australian Power Institute, and our wonderful moderator Bronwyn See for an amazing session. #energyjobs #powerandutilities #energyisajobforlife

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How do you ‘upskill in AI’? What does this even mean? 🤔 I’ve noticed a lot of different people and organisations raising this in very general terms, but the specifics are often not there. Microsoft have recently launched their AI academy in Australia and New Zealand to help organisations improve their AI capability and accelerate AI adoption. 🚀 What do they mean by this? From a general point of view - it’s about teaching people what AI is, some strengths and weaknesses, responsible use of AI, basic prompting, and then how to use co-pilot effectively. There also looks like you can learn to build natural language processing solutions with Azure AI. Would you find this helpful? 🤷‍♂️ I really like Ethan Mollick’s approach of learning by doing. He plays and stretches a lot of different AI tools, and then shares the outcomes. It’s a great way of seeing AI in practice, but may or may not fit your personal use context. How do you like to learn? What would you find helpful to upskill in AI and get the most out of it for you? https://lnkd.in/giX6NwhU

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We Need Your Help! Each year, Association Executive Services publishes a comprehensive report on the latest trends in technology shaping Australian Associations and Not-for-Profits. For the past four years, this report has become a vital resource, offering valuable insights that we proudly share with the entire NFP community. This year, we're taking it a step further by focusing on one of the most transformative topics: Artificial Intelligence (AI). We’ve crafted key questions to explore how Associations are embracing AI in their daily operations and strategic planning. If you’re an employee or volunteer board member of a Not-for-Profit organisation, we would greatly appreciate just 8 minutes of your time to complete our survey. Your input will help us uncover meaningful trends and provide actionable insights for the sector. As a thank you, all participants will receive a complimentary copy of the report. Together, let’s shape the future of technology in the NFP sector. Here is the link to our survey https://lnkd.in/gfH2psmq

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Great insights from the AI by Design Community Roadshow in Melbourne! 🚀 The evolving role of prompt engineering, AI's impact on design, and the idea of designing for mistakes really stood out. It’s fascinating to see how AI is reshaping both strategy and execution, requiring more agile and collaborative approaches. Definitely worth a read for anyone interested in AI’s impact on design and tech. 👏✨ What are your thoughts on designing AI systems to provoke user review rather than just offering quick solutions?

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Thanks to Kirsten (KP) Patterson, David Downs and Anna Campbell from the Institute of Directors in New Zealand on their reflections and lessons for #governance #directors from the Spark AI* Mini-MBA. Here is my favorite thought on how we should use #generative AI: Treat #AI like a 'high performing graduate'. It has a good base level of knowlege, needs adult supervision in the office, needs to be fact checked, needs good context and requests, your communication will determine it's responses and it will not always perform consistently. Let me know your thoughts on this take. Here are some more of my main takeaways: We have previously talked about an extending digital divide, and we may be seeing an AI class of leaders developing, with some being left behind. As Generative AI is new to a lot of people, many feel they are 'lurkers' - interested but not engaging or not knowing how to engage. You have permission to engage with AI, there is no one that is going to give you an endorsement or permission to explore and learn. Most directors and management are learning about AI together, at the same time. There is room to be an interested learner. Being a learner is key cornerstone of ongoing good governance. There is value in using AI as a "strategy companion", moving past the gimmicky uses of AI that most people engage with. For example in the images there is a clear divide in the depth of use of AI. Understanding the protection of sensitive and private information, AI should be looked at as a significant productivity tool for organizations. David shared a matrix of different uses: - Low risk / Low effort: Email drafting and responses Basic note taking Simple task management Information retrieval - Low effort / High risk: Basic sentiment analysis on public opinion Automated document reviews - Low risk / High effort: Personalised learning and development Advanced meeting summaries Automated report generation Smart scheduling assistance - High effort / High risk: Strategic planning ideas Comprehensive personal knowledge management Enhanced decision support Intelligent virtual assistance AI can help creativity, stimulating and prompting ideas. It can also help with more mundane decisions, allowing space for more intentional thought of complex issues. AI is often thought of as a technological tool, but this can be a limiter on how we can use it, personally as leaders and professionally as organizations. You can start prompts with a caveat, 'I want facts, validate and quote the source of information, and no generated or hallucinated information'. You can also also add these sorts of directions into ChatGPT settings, have a look in the cog icon. This can be a brilliant tool for neuro diverse people, as it can take a large amount of verbal information, and summarize this. There are some things that AI will be an expert on, such as getting AI to write a draft policy on AI use. *I have used AI in this post to refer to Generative AI.

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When it comes to board tenure, the intersection of accountability and identity can create a complex dynamic for directors. A recent paper by Natalie Elms from QUT's Faculty of Business & Law delves into this intriguing topic. The study, based on interviews with Australian directors, reveals that Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) highly cherish their director identity and the associated recognition that comes with it. The research uncovers a fascinating paradox where some directors are hesitant to leave a board, as it would mean relinquishing their vital director identity. This dilemma can lead directors to overlook term limit guidelines if preserving their director status outweighs conforming to the expectations of the role. Moreover, the paper highlights instances of unspoken agreements among certain directors to back each other's prolonged board presence. This practice may involve manipulating skills matrix tables in Annual Reports or maintaining an 'independent' status even after 25 years on the board. Such actions pose significant challenges for board rejuvenation and hinder the acquisition of diverse skills necessary for a technology-driven future. Explore more on how director identity influences board tenure in the thought-provoking study here: https://lnkd.in/gT8RYQ8f

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Thanks to Dan Te Whenua Walker (Microsoft Global Partner Solutions), 🎙Hilary (Hils) Walton (Microsoft Technology Strategist) and Anthony McMahon (Technology Strategist, Target State) for supporting Community Governance Aotearoa's Board Talks. Thanks Rose, another good one! One of the most interesting takeaways for me was the resources that Hilary referenced, including the following: https://lnkd.in/gGEe-QFG Generative AI use has nearly doubled in the last six months, with 75% of global knowledge workers now using it. 46% of users started using AI less than six months ago. Employees grappling with the pace and volume of work, are even bringing their own AI tools to work. This is creating shadow infrastructure which organizations and leaders need to be aware of and prepare for. Essentially if your policy (if you even have a policy) limits staff from inputting company data or having AI tools on work computers, this is not stopping them using AI on other devices. While this keeps some material secure, it isn't stopping the use of AI, and has the impact of it being effectively invisible to leaders. And here's the challenge - while leaders agree AI is essential, many organizations lack a clear plan to move from individual impact to driving the bottom line with AI. This report looks at: Immediate ROI pressure - Leaders are hesitant, despite AI inevitability, due to the pressure to show immediate return on investment. Business Transformation - Just like the internet or the PC, business transformation requires broad adoption. Organizations that apply AI strategically will pull ahead. Talent Shortage - Despite fears of job loss, leaders report a talent shortage for key AI roles. Career Impact - For employees, AI raises the bar but can also break the career ceiling. You can find the full report details here: https://lnkd.in/gGEe-QFG The webinar recording, resources and other Board Talks can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gY7GEQUq #governance #boards #directors #AI

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The hybrid work debate continues as more companies increase their office days. This AFR article asks a crucial question: “Why do executives and research disagree about hybrid work?”—but stops short of fully answering it. I’ve reflected on why leaders generally prefer having their teams in the office, while staff generally favour working from home (beyond the obvious financial benefits). In my experience, it boils down to how work gets done. Leaders often rely on face-to-face interaction to give direction, where non-verbal cues play a huge role. So much of communication is non-verbal—body language, tone, energy—and that can be lost through screens. Leaders can more easily “read the room” and provide direction in person. On the flip side, staff executing tasks often find remote work more conducive to deep focus and productivity. This is where the tension arises: leaders thrive in person for clarity and control, while employees thrive remotely for productivity and focus. And because leaders are the ones making the decisions, we’re seeing the pendulum swing back to the office. Here’s my take: As a leader, I enjoy working with my team in person—it brings an energy and dynamic that is difficult to replicate remotely. But earlier in my career as a consultant, remote work was the norm and I loved having this flexibility. We delivered results across borders and time zones without ever meeting face-to-face. For global teams, this remains the reality. Here’s the big question: What about leadership effectiveness? Most of the research focuses on employee productivity in hybrid work, but how do we assess leadership’s ability to lead remotely? If anyone has seen research on this, please share! In the meantime, finding a middle ground that works for both leadership and staff seems essential. After all, wasn’t hybrid work supposed to be that middle ground? #HybridWork #Leadership #Productivity #RemoteWork #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipEffectiveness #EmployeeEngagement #FutureOfWork #WorkFromHome #Management #GlobalTeams #Teamwork #OfficeCulture #WorkLifeBalance

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A great agenda is a great starting point if you want to improve your board meeting process in 2025. Grab boardcycle's board agenda template for free! Link below 👇

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Thanks to the AJCAI 2024 conference and the AI at Melbourne Colloquium for hosting a cracking conversation about inclusive and responsible AI today. My key takeaways... - addressing harmful biases is not just a data and math problem, we it is one that needs attention across the lifecycle of the initiative - we all have biases. Some are useful and some are harmful. When designing and running AI systems we need to be aware of our biases and eliminate the harmful ones - but who determines what is harmful? - more than 50% of AI efforts fail to go past pilots, mainly because trust is lost. Without trust CSAT drops, employee churn goes up, brand reputation diminishes and the organisation may incur penalties from regulators - knowledge, skills and literacies are critical capabilities for inclusive AI. And so much more that can't fit in a linkedin post. Thanks to the fantastic speakers for sharing their wisdom: Jeannie Marie Paterson Anthony McCosker Rahil Garnavi, PhD. Rita Arrigo Geoff Webb #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #AtomEthics #ResponsibleAI

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🚀 At Telstra, we are on a mission to become an AI-fueled organisation. We’ve been relentlessly demonstrating how AI enhances our business, optimises our network, and elevates both employee and customer experiences. Yet, our pursuit of AI excellence is guided by a crucial principle: just because we can, doesn’t mean we should. Our commitment to the responsible development and deployment of AI is central to this journey. 🤖✨ In recent years, we’ve partnered closely with GSMA and industry leaders on the AI for Impact program. This collaboration has been instrumental, from co-authoring GSMA’s AI Ethics Playbook and Self-Assessment Questionnaire to creating guidelines for global policymakers and regulators. Today, we’re excited to announce the launch of the first industry-wide Responsible AI Maturity Roadmap, a significant milestone in our partnership with GSMA. This roadmap will empower mobile operators with the tools to evaluate and monitor their AI practices, guided by principles such as fairness, human agency, privacy, safety, transparency, accountability, and environmental impact. We are proud to have played a key role in shaping this roadmap and how the industry is responsibly leveraging this powerful technology. We will be using this roadmap to align with global standards and enhance our governance toolkit. This has been a labour of love for many, thank you to all of our team that have worked tirelessly on this. 👏 We are not alone, this work has been championed by 19 mobile network operators (MNOs) including Axiata, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and more. That's 19 MNOs already committed to using the roadmap as a way of tracking, maintaining and improving the responsible use of AI. 🙌 The potential of AI as a force for good is enormous, but it must be pursued with integrity and accountability. We’re committed to advancing responsible AI practices that benefit both our organisation and the broader community. 🌟 You can learn more via the link below, supporting documents, videos, organisational assessment tools and more. https://lnkd.in/gk_p8TQh Kim Krogh Andersen Vicki Brady Lyndall Stoyles Sandy Cameron Lisa Green Chris Dolman Chris Rolland #AI #ResponsibleAI #AIFueled #AIEthics

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A recent analysis of two major transformations showed just how critical it is to have the right enablers in play for a successful outcome. Tony Boyd’s article in the AFR (https://ow.ly/ppZb50RqjTH) about two such projects illustrates just how critical leadership, planning, and the right level of engagement with third parties is for the outcome of transformation initiatives. Visionary leadership, strategic planning, meaningful engagement with external experts, and a keen focus on outcomes form the backbone of successful digital transformations. For leaders embarking on high-risk projects goes beyond oversight; it's about integrating change into the very fabric of the organisation, ensuring alignment with the overarching vision. Third-party consultants play their role best as enablers, not as the driving force, supporting internal capabilities with their expertise. Remember, accountability for the transformation's success rests firmly with the executive leaders. When leadership remains hands-on, the trajectory of core projects aligns closely with success. For more insights: https://ow.ly/B0F450RqjTG Follow the Bulletin: https://ow.ly/96aH50RqjZ #DigitalTransformation #Leadership #ProjectManagement #ITGovernance #CorePlatforms #StrategicPlanning #AccountabilityInLeadership

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Empowering Communities Through Renewable Energy 🌿 Renewable energy projects are more than just environmentally friendly solutions; they are transformative tools that empower communities in significant ways. Let's look at the success story of the Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia: Hornsdale Power Reserve, South Australia Job Creation and Economic Growth The Hornsdale Power Reserve project, which includes the world’s largest lithium-ion battery, has significantly boosted the local economy. The construction and maintenance of the facility have created numerous jobs in engineering, construction, and ongoing operations. Additionally, the project has attracted further investment in renewable energy infrastructure in the region, spurring economic growth. Energy Independence and Security: By storing energy generated from the nearby Hornsdale Wind Farm, the Power Reserve provides a reliable and stable energy supply, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and imported energy. This has enhanced energy security for South Australia, providing stability against energy price volatility and ensuring a steady supply of electricity even during peak demand. Improved Quality of Life The stability and reliability of energy provided by the Hornsdale Power Reserve have had a profound impact on the community. It has reduced electricity costs for consumers and businesses, allowing for reinvestment in local services and infrastructure. The project has also contributed to reducing carbon emissions, promoting a healthier environment, and improving the overall quality of life for residents. Renewable energy is not just about sustainability; it's about creating a brighter future for all. Let's continue to support these projects and make a positive impact on our communities.

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