Theo Kapodistrias

Theo Kapodistrias is one of Australia’s most dynamic in-house counsel and governance voices – a multi-award-winning lawyer, communication expert, keynote speaker, coach and bestselling author. Based in Hobart, Tasmania, Theo sits at the intersection of law, leadership and impact.

He is a Non-Executive Director of the Association of Corporate Counsel Australia and has served as Tasmanian Divisional President of the organisation since 2017. He has been named one of Australia’s Most Influential Lawyers by Australasian Lawyer in both 2022 and 2023. He has also been identified as one of the 3YS Governance Top 100 in 2024 and 2025 and identified as an Outstanding Achiever.  

His governance and legal leadership credentials include general counsel and senior legal roles at global-tech, agritech and energy companies, underscoring a rare blend of commercial smarts and boardroom gravitas. Beyond legal counsel, Theo is an acclaimed speaker and coach through his business, helping professionals craft messages that matter. He is also the Executive Director & Licensee of TEDxHobart and the bestselling author of A Way With Words (available here). 

In short: Theo isn’t just part of the governance conversation – he’s driving it. Let’s hear how he’s using Athena Board to power his board-leadership and oversight of The Story Island Project.

Q&A with Theo

Question: The Story Island Project has a powerful mission. Can you share a little about the work you do and why it matters?

Answer: The Story Island Project is a not-for-profit that nurtures creativity, writing skills and literacy skills of young Tasmanians. We run storytelling workshops where young people are empowered to create their own stories. We generally work in communities that are vulnerable to experiencing poverty and marginalisation. The stories that are created by the young people are then put into books – making those that participate published authors! Our vision is for your people to harness the power of their imaginations so they can grow to be resilient and creative shapers of their own lives. 

Question: What led The Story Island Project to adopt Athena Board?

Answer: In an effort to strengthen our governance practices, we wanted to have one secure, accessible, and intuitive system to manage agendas, board papers, minutes, and other key documents as well as moving things away from email and hard copies. Athena Board was an obvious choice for us given its ease of use, its ability to streamline how we prepare for meetings, and the overall compliance wins for the organisation. It allows everyone to stay connected and has provided us a game-changing means to modernise without being complicated. 

Question: How has using Athena Board supported the governance needs of a volunteer-driven, community-focused organisation like The Story Island Project?

Answer: For a small, passionate board like Story Island Project, Athena Board has become an invaluable tool for our board. As directors we are all volunteers with busy lives and having everything we need in one secure and easy-to-use place has made a huge difference. It has helped us stay organised, connected, and focused on what really matters. 

Question: What stands out about Athena Board?

Answer: Athena Board stands out because it’s built for real people. It’s secure, intuitive and saves our volunteer board time every meeting. It’s helped us lift our governance while staying focused on our purpose. The functionality and ease of use – particularly across a laptop or an iPad make it very accessible and easy to jump in, review and annotate and have available. 

Question: What would you say to other NFPs or schools considering Athena Board?

Answer: For a volunteer-driven organisation like The Story Island Project, Athena Board has made a real difference to how we operate. It’s simple to use, even for busy board members who aren’t tech experts, and it keeps everything we need securely in one place. Our meetings run more smoothly, we’re better prepared, and our governance feels stronger and more transparent. For any not-for-profit or school considering a board portal, I’d highly recommend Athena Board.

Question: As someone deeply involved in governance across multiple organisations, how important is secure, well-structured board communication in today’s environment?

Answer: Secure, well-structured board communication is absolutely critical in today’s environment. Boards are dealing with complex information, heightened cyber risks, and increasing expectations of transparency and accountability. Good governance relies on directors having access to accurate, timely, and confidential information so they can make informed decisions. Without structure and security, even the best boards can lose focus or expose themselves to unnecessary risk. With Athena Board having ISO270001 certification, it provides an extra layer of safety and security that is imperative and critical in today’s volatile online world. 

Question: From a Chair’s perspective, how has Athena Board changed the way you personally prepare for and run board meetings?

Answer: As Chair, Athena Board has completely streamlined how I prepare for meetings. Instead of juggling multiple emails and attachments, I can see the full pack, previous minutes, and action items all in one place. It means I arrive at each meeting far more prepared and can focus on leading a productive discussion rather than chasing down logistics. During meetings, having everything at my fingertips makes it much easier to keep the conversation on track and ensure decisions are clearly captured. Brilliant functionality, ease of use, and an initiative system makes it great for me as chair and director to do what I need to do!

Learn more about Theo

Why Athena Board Matters 
Athena Board helps boards and leadership teams operate with clarity, security and confidence. Our platform is Australian‑hosted, zero‑trust by design, and built for organisations that take governance seriously. From Not‑for‑Profits to schools, financial services and government‑adjacent bodies, Athena Board offers a modern, cost‑effective and highly secure way to manage board operations.