Supporting Board Secretaries – A Lionheart Knowledge Sharing Module

Board Secretaries are the linchpins of effective governance—but who supports them?

In this insightful module, Supporting Board Secretaries, we explore how consultants and governance professionals can better empower, guide, and collaborate with Board Secretaries to strengthen board performance and decision-making.

Discover how to:
✅ Clarify roles and responsibilities in evolving governance contexts
✅ Provide strategic and operational support to board secretaries
✅ Foster collaboration between consultants, executives, and board teams

Perfect for consultants and advisors working with boards, this session offers practical strategies to elevate the impact of governance professionals at the heart of every organisation.

Watch now and learn how to support the people who keep governance running smoothly.
HERE

#LionheartLearning #BoardSecretaries #GovernanceExcellence #IMCA #BoardSupport #ConsultingInsights #ProfessionalDevelopment

Now Available:

Mastering LinkedIn – Reconnect & Build Powerful Relationships

Explore our latest Lionheart Learning Series module, hosted by IMCA CEO Patrick Downes and featuring LinkedIn expert Samantha Kelly.

Learn how to elevate your LinkedIn presence, reconnect with your audience, and build meaningful professional relationships that drive results.

🎥 Watch the full session on YouTube
HERE

Ideal for consultants, business leaders, and professionals ready to stand out online.

Lionheart Insight’s Featured in BoardEffect EMEA Guide

We’re delighted to share that Patrick Downes, Managing Partner at Lionheart Corporate Governance, has been featured in BoardEffect’s latest guide: "A Charity Board Secretary’s Guide to Stronger Board Alignment".

In a landscape defined by complexity and constant change, Patrick underscores the critical role of board administrators in fostering cohesion, clarity, and continuity. His commentary highlights the necessity for structured communication, well-managed board packs, and the use of emerging tech — such as AI — to streamline decision-making and ensure no director is left in the dark.

“Board administrators set the foundational blocks for the effective collaboration a board needs to survive.” — Patrick Downes

From governance to culture, Patrick’s insights serve as both a timely reminder and a call to action for boards striving to operate with integrity and impact.

📘 Read the full guide via BoardEffect (A Diligent Brand): Best Practices for Working Better Together

#BoardAlignment #PatrickDownes #LionheartThinking #CorporateGovernance #NonprofitLeadership #BoardEffectiveness #GovernanceMatters #StrategicLeadership

Lionheart in the Press

From accountability gaps to ESG pressures, Patrick shares candid insight into what’s next for governance in Ireland and beyond

.👉 Read the full interview here.

“Boards mustn’t just be competent — they must be courageous.” — Patrick Downes

Lionheart Client Update:

Elevating Board Effectiveness for Registered Charities in Ireland

Effective governance is vital for registered charities in Ireland to fulfil their missions, comply with regulations, and maintain public trust. By aligning board practices with the Charities Governance Code and incorporating best governance principles, charities can significantly enhance their operational and strategic impact. Below is a consolidated guide combining key recommendations for improving board effectiveness.

Lionheart Client Update:

The Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024

The New AI Act

National Cyber Security Bill 2024

Good Governance

If you are looking for a way to improve your Board's performance, consider engaging Lionheart Corporate Governance to conduct your Board evaluation. Lionheart can help you identify areas where the board is excelling and areas where it can improve. Lionheart can also help you develop a plan to address any potential problems.

Feel free to contact us at admin@lionheart.ie or fiona@lionheart.ie

In today's rapidly evolving society, it seems to us that the principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are not just moral imperatives but strategic necessities. At Lionheart Corporate Governance, we believe that embedding these values into the core of regulated Irish charities can crystallise profound societal change, ensuring that every individual and our community thrives.

Happy Easter 2024

Happy Easter to all our clients, colleagues and partners and to their respective families.

Navigating the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations into corporate governance frameworks is pivotal for boards seeking to align their strategies with sustainability objectives. This Lionheart Corporate Governance set of questions is designed to guide directors through the critical aspects of embedding ESG principles into governance practices, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge to make informed decisions that reflect the organisation's commitment to sustainability.

Lionheart Triumphs at the Irish Enterprise Awards 2024

Dublin, Ireland – Lionheart is proud to announce its prestigious victory at the Irish Enterprise Awards 2024, hosted by EU Business News Magazine. This recognition places Lionheart Website among an elite group of businesses celebrated for their groundbreaking contributions and innovative solutions across various sectors in Ireland.

Happy St Patricks Day

Happy St Patricks day to all our clients, colleagues and partners and to their respective families.

We hope you have a great day

As corporate governance professionals the team at Lionheart Corporate Governance, are regularly engaging with Boards on the critical importance of cybersecurity. The recent surge in high-profile cyberattacks has highlighted the significant business risks posed by these threats, from financial loss and reputational damage to system downtime and customer attrition.

The Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023, emerging from extensive consultations within the charity sector, introduces several critical updates to the regulatory framework governing charities. These changes, aimed at enhancing clarity, accountability, and governance within the sector, also bring with them a varying degree of administrative implications for charities. We have set out our perspective on some the amendments as follows, focusing on their potential administrative burden and importance for streamlining compliance.

In our practice here at Lionheart Corporate Governance where we deal in the realm of modern governance, #ESG discussions reign supreme, significantly impacting investor relations and regulatory landscapes.

What we are seeing with Irish Board Directors seeking continuous professional development (CPD) or Effective Board Evaluations, is that they are honing in on the "S" in ESG—which represents the Social aspect—clearly at this point its become a strategic priority.

As we look ahead to 2024, it's clear that the corporate governance landscape is rapidly evolving. The trends that have shaped the past few years - from increased standards for sustainability reporting to rising gender diversity on corporate boards - are expected to continue, but with new challenges and opportunities on the horizon.

Cyber Security September Event 

From December 17, 2023, The Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 expands its reach to organisations with 50 to 249 employees.

This landmark legislation, enacted in January 2023, transposes the EU Whistleblowing Directive and mandates robust reporting channels for workers to safely disclose concerns about wrongdoing.

Previously, the Act's obligations applied exclusively to private sector organisations with 250 or more employees, along with public bodies and entities governed by specific EU regulations.

With the upcoming expansion, employers with 50 to 249 employees must now establish formal reporting procedures to safeguard whistleblowers.

The Act emphasises the confidentiality of whistleblower identities, ensuring that reporting individuals are not subjected to retaliation or dismissal.

It also broadens the scope of protected disclosures to include a wider range of wrongdoing, encompassing areas like environmental breaches and public health concerns.

Lionheart Corporate Governance is advising its clients whose obligations may come under the Act to thoroughly review their existing whistleblower policies to ensure compliance and alignment with the Act's requirements.

At a recent Lionheart Corporate Governance Non Executive Director CPD Module we were discussing the challenges of trying to benchmark culture and to illustrate the challenge we asked the participants to imagine a large, traditional Irish company, such as Ryanair, acquiring a smaller, more agile start-up, such as Aer Arann.

We frequently get asked to explain the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to Boards of Directors.

The CSRD is a new EU law that will require large companies and listed SMEs to report on their sustainability performance. It is the biggest change in sustainability reporting regulation in over a decade, and it will come into force on a phased basis from January 2024.

In observance of Charity Trustees' Week, Lionheart Corporate Governance offers vital insights into the roles and responsibilities of charity trustees.

This snapshot underscores the significance of compliance and effective governance in the charity sector. It outlines key focus areas, including policy development, conflict management, and risk assessment. By leveraging Lionheart's extensive experience in charity governance, the piece provides actionable guidance for trustees. The article concludes with an offer for professional consultation from Lionheart, positioning it as a valuable resource for trustees seeking to enhance their organisations governance and legal adherence.

In our practice here at Lionheart Corporate Governance where we deal in the realm of modern governance, #ESG discussions reign supreme, significantly impacting investor relations and regulatory landscapes.

What we are seeing with Irish Board Directors seeking continuous professional development (CPD) or Effective Board Evaluations, is that they are honing in on the "S" in ESG—which represents the Social aspect—clearly at this point its become a strategic priority.

At a recent Lionheart Corporate Governance Non Executive Director CPD Module we were discussing the challenges of trying to benchmark culture and to illustrate the challenge we asked the participants to imagine a large, traditional Irish company, such as Ryanair, acquiring a smaller, more agile start-up, such as Aer Arann.