Blog posts

For growing not-for-profit organisations, the need for robust governance often clashes with the reality of tight budgets. Maintaining transparency, ensuring compliance, and fostering effective board engagement can feel like a juggling act with limited resources. Reliance on email chains, printed board materials, and manual tracking becomes increasingly cumbersome, hindering efficiency and potentially exposing governance risks…

The next generation of board members, often digitally native and data-driven, expects their board portal to be more than just a place to store documents. They want an intuitive, strategic tool that enhances their ability to govern effectively. Athena Board, for example, is designed to meet these evolving expectations by moving beyond basic document storage…

A board paper is arguably one of the most important documents an executive or manager can write. It’s the primary tool for briefing the board, facilitating discussion, and securing critical decisions that shape the future of the organisation. But for a busy director, a poorly written paper is a source of frustration, leading to wasted…

In August 2025, Google revealed that the ShinyHunters hacker group had accessed its Salesforce database after deceiving a staffer via a phone-based impersonation scheme, exposing contact information for approximately 2.5 billion Gmail accounts. Though passwords weren’t stolen, the breach has sparked an onslaught of phishing attempts, voice scams, and malicious messaging targeting affected users. This incident…

For non-profit organisations (NFPs) and Schools the mission always comes first. Every dollar raised and every hour volunteered is dedicated to serving the community or students and achieving crucial objectives. However, the critical importance of robust governance can sometimes feel like a costly overhead, diverting precious resources away from frontline services. The traditional image of…

Choosing a board portal is one of the most critical decisions an organisation can make for its governance. It’s a digital home for your company’s most sensitive information—strategic plans, financial reports, and confidential discussions. So, when evaluating a provider, security must be the top priority. And that’s where ISO 27001 certification becomes an absolute non-negotiable. This international…

In today’s fast-paced business environment, effective board meetings are crucial for sound governance and strategic decision-making. At the heart of a productive meeting lies the board pack: a comprehensive document that equips directors with the necessary information to contribute meaningfully. A well-crafted board pack saves time, encourages informed discussion, and ultimately leads to better outcomes. This…

Across boardrooms, there’s a common refrain when conversations turn to cybersecurity, IT infrastructure or digital transformation: “We’re not the tech experts.” It sounds reasonable. After all, directors aren’t expected to write code or configure networks. But using that line to disengage from critical technology decisions is no longer acceptable. If you don’t understand the tools…

In the dynamic world of corporate governance, relying on an outdated or underperforming board portal isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s a significant risk. For boards, the tools you use to manage sensitive information and facilitate strategic discussions are as critical as the discussions themselves. If your current board portal provider is causing more headaches…

In the complex and rapidly evolving world of corporate governance, merely understanding the numbers or overseeing compliance is no longer enough for a company director. Today, especially in the dynamic market, a director’s true superpower lies in their ability to engage in strategic thinking. This isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a critical process that empowers boards…