Organisation Governance Consultancy · New Zealand
Helping business build boards into leading organisations
Our focus is on governance culture and confidence – we bring an independent perspective, foresight, clarity, strengthening oversight and enabling better decisions, especially where the stakes are high.
Bringing Clarity
Through active listening and empathy,
we help boards define clear roles, responsibilities and governance structures, creating alignment where governance has become unclear and maintaining focus on achieving what’s best for the organisation to thrive
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Enabling Better Decisions
We promote deeper thinking that supports boards in maintaining strong oversight of risk, performance and accountability, ensuring strong governance holds under pressure,
or adapts if necessary.
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Strengthening Oversight
We strengthen how boards approach decision-making, using our experience to remove barriers to progress, improve how decisions are made, to grow, thrive and prosper
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Trained
Experience
The Challenges
Where tough problems meet thoughtful solutions
We work alongside leadership teams and boards in complex, high-stakes environments to clarify vision, strategy, strengthen governance and improve execution.
Our approach is broad, deep and specialised, centred on governance, board performance and leadership at the top of the organisation.
Board Misalignment
When directors are not aligned on a vision, priorities or direction, governance becomes fragmented. Decisions stall, accountability weakens and progress slows.
Governance Under Scrutiny
In regulated or high-profile environments, expectations increase and oversight must be stronger. Boards need to focus on the real issues, operate with clarity, discipline and confidence under pressure.
Leadership & Succession
Board succession is a governance imperative. Changes in leadership or board composition create risk or can result in missed opportunity if not managed well. Without strong focus, continuity and direction can be lost.
Risk & Opportunity Blind Spots
Not all opportunities and risks are visible at board level. Gaps in information, oversight or management challenge can leave critical matters unaddressed.
Board Underperformance
A board not functioning at the level the organisation requires will limit outcomes. Lack of expertise, experience, structure or independence reduces effectiveness.
Competing Stakeholder Priorities
Multiple stakeholders bring competing expectations and pressures. Without understanding and alignment, governance becomes slower, more complex and harder to navigate.
Operational Interference
Stepping into operational matters disrupts progress and creates non-productive tension within management. Understanding the boundaries for governance decisions is essential.
Keeping It Simple
Governance can be simple and very effective. Achieving this balance however, takes strong leadership at a group and individual level. Asking appropriate questions, having the right tools, processes and behaviours support leaders and achieving that balance.
What sets us apart
We go beyond surface-level governance. Our thinking is particularly valuable where problems are not always clear, stakeholders are layered and decisions create conflict. Our role is to identify the essence of a governance matter and help plan going forwards with clarity and structure.
Our Framework
FICKS™ — how boards create, preserve and sustain value
ISO 37000 defines what success in good governance looks like. Our proven proprietary FICKS™ Governance Framework defines how boards should spend their time to achieve success, adding a practical discipline that goes well beyond benchmarking to the real work of governance in practice.
Future Focus & Strategy
Purpose · Value Generation · Strategy · Positioning
Issues, Risk & Opportunity
Understanding your environment, spotting trends, identifying and monitoring opportunities and risks, and communicating effectively with owners and other stakeholders.
Compliance & Solvency
Ensuring you adhere to law, regulations and best practices, and keeping the organisation solvent and able to meet its obligations.
KPI Monitoring & Accountability
Analysing trends and forecasts against budgets, tracking current performance, and holding management accountable — while avoiding repetitive discussions that consume board time without generating insight.
Succession, Skills, Structure, Leadership & Culture
Making sure at all times that you have the right people in the right roles — at the board table, on committees and in top management. Including board composition, CEO succession, chair leadership, governance structures and the culture and behaviours that determine how the board actually functions.
Common Questions
If you're considering whether Westlake Governance could help your board, these are a good place to start.
What does a Westlake governance consultant actually do?
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Do we have clear governance structures and accountabilities?
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Does the board operate like a high performing team?
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How mature is our governance risk management framework?
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Is our strategy well governed, aligned and tracked?
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Ready to strengthen your
board’s effectiveness?
Book a confidential consultation to discuss what you and/or your board are facing. We’ll direct you into the right hands to get the solution you need.
SERVICES
Board Advisory
Director Development
Chair & CEO Support
Governance Framework
FICKS Framework
COMPANY
About us
What we do
Insight | Case studies
Contact us
Our services
CONTACT
Book a Consultation
hello@westlakegovernance.com
000 0000 000
