Strong governance depends on effective committees. From agenda planning to meeting management and minutes, high-quality committee support enables better oversight, stronger assurance and more informed decision-making.
Advance HE’s Strengthening Governance Through Effective Committees workshop equips governance professionals and committee support staff with the skills, tools and confidence to support Boards, Academic Boards and committees effectively throughout the institutions’ committee system.
The session combines practical guidance, sector insights and real-world examples to help participants strengthen governance practice and improve committee effectiveness.
What the workshop covers
The workshop explores:
- The role of the governance professional in enabling effective governance.
- Planning agendas that focus on strategy, risk and assurance.
- Supporting Chairs and productive committee discussions.
- Writing concise, accurate and decision-focused minutes.
- Tracking actions and ensuring effective follow-up.
- The appropriate use of AI in committee support.
- Governance standards, frameworks and good practice.
- Building professional confidence and capability.
Who should attend?
This workshop is suitable for:
- Governance professionals and governance teams.
- Committee and executive officers.
- Professional services staff supporting governance committees.
- Senior leaders with committee oversight responsibilities.
- Anyone involved in planning, advising or supporting institutional committees.
- Staff new to governance, as well as experienced practitioners seeking to refresh their practice.
Benefits for your institution
- Improve the quality and consistency of committee support.
- Strengthen governance oversight, assurance and decision-making.
- Support more focused and effective committee discussions.
- Enhance transparency, accountability and the accuracy of governance records.
- Create greater consistency across committee structures.
- Increase efficiency through better planning and action tracking.
What participants will gain
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Structure agendas that support effective governance discussions.
- Contribute to stronger, more decision-focused committee meetings.
- Understand how the relevant governance codes and frameworks inform effective committee practice
- Work effectively with Chairs and senior stakeholders.
- Produce clear, accurate and action-oriented minutes.
- Manage committee business throughout the full committee cycle.
- Apply practical tools and approaches immediately within their role.
- Use AI appropriately to support governance practice while maintaining professional judgement and accountability.
Our approach
Drawing on extensive experience of governance practice across higher education, this workshop:
- Focuses on practical application and real-world challenges.
- Provides tools, templates and techniques participants can use immediately.
- Reflects current governance expectations and emerging practice.
- Encourages consistency, quality and continuous improvement.
- Is tailored to your institution’s governance arrangements and context.
Workshop format
Duration: 3.5 hours
Format: Interactive workshop with practical exercises and facilitated discussion
Delivery: Online or in person
Approach: Practice-focused and tailored to institutional needs
Facilitators
Workshops are delivered by experienced governance specialists.
Dawn Turpin
Associate, Governance
Dawn is an experienced governance consultant with extensive expertise across higher education and the wider education sector. She has led governance effectiveness reviews for a diverse range of institutions, including chartered, post-92, specialist and private providers, and supports institutions in strengthening governance practice through the provision of professional development for governance practitioners.
Julie Kelly
Associate, Governance
Julie Kelly is an experienced higher education consultant who was previously the Academic Registrar at the University of Hertfordshire and Chair of the Academic Registrars Council Admissions Practitioner Group. She now specialises in governance effectiveness reviews and supporting institutions with governance related investigations and challenges.
