NABS Biosecurity Governance Training: Participant portal

Workshop objective: Provide participants with a foundational understanding of governance principles and why they are essential for organisational success.

Key topics:

• Definition and purpose of governance
• Core governance principles (e.g., accountability, transparency, integrity, fairness, and leadership)
• Importance of governance in decision-making and organisational sustainability
• Governance structures and their functions (e.g., boards, committees, working groups)
• Case studies on good and poor governance practices
  

Activities:

• Group discussion: What does good governance look like?
• Case study: Lessons from governance problems/challenges
• Interactive scenario: Identifying governance strengths and weaknesses in an organisation
  

Pre-workshop materials:

• Video: What is good governance?
• Template: Governance Policy

Workshop resources:

• Session 1 resources
• Slides
• Recording Passcode: Biosecurity1!

Workshop objective: Equip participants with knowledge of their roles, responsibilities, and obligations to ensure ethical and effective governance.

Key topics:

• Responsibilities of committee members in governance and decision-making
• Legal and ethical obligations (codes of conduct, confidentiality, and conflict of interest)
• Managing conflicts of interest and maintaining transparency
• Recognising and addressing misconduct
• Best practices for effective and successful committee participation
  

Activities:

• Simulation exercise: Managing conflicts of interest
• Case study: Ethical dilemmas in governance
• Group discussion: Traits of an effective committee member
  

Pre-workshop materials:

• Video: Key financial reports
• Template: Conflict of interest policy
• Help sheet: Board members and what they do

Workshop resources:

• Session 2 resources

Workshop objective: Develop participants' understanding of risk assessment in governance and the importance of documenting decisions effectively.

Key topics:

• Risk assessment frameworks and processes
• Identifying, analysing, and mitigating risks in decision-making
• The role of committees in risk management
• Importance of documentation for accountability and transparency
• Methods for recording decisions (e.g., minutes, action logs, risk registers)
• Legal and regulatory considerations for documentation
  

Activities:

• Case study: Risk assessment in decision-making
• Hands-on activity: Completing a risk assessment matrix
• Group discussion: Drafting a decision record with appropriate risk documentation
  

Pre-workshop materials:

• Video: Effective meetings for good governance
• Template: Risk management policy
• Help sheets: The role of the board in risk management; Ten questions a board member should ask about risk management
• Tool: Risk management register

Workshop resources:

• Session 3 resources
  

Workshop objective: Strengthen participants’ ability to collaborate, negotiate, and resolve conflicts to support effective governance.

Key topics:

• The role of cooperation and negotiation in governance effectiveness
• Strategies for effective negotiation and consensus-building
• Conflict resolution techniques and approaches
• Understanding the impact of unresolved conflicts on governance
• Structured issue resolution processes (e.g., mediation, escalation pathways)
  

Activities:

• Role-playing exercise: Simulating a governance negotiation
• Case study: Identifying best practices in the conflict resolution process
• Group discussion: Developing an issue resolution framework for committees

Pre-workshop materials:

• Video: Board conflict resolution
• Template: Board code of conduct policy
• Help sheet: Tips for resolving conflict

Workshop resources:

• Session 4 resources

This is the final session for participants to engage with each other and consider their learnings over the duration of the program. Participants will divide into breakout rooms by location to consider a biosecurity emergency response simulation relevant to their state or territory. The session will run for 2 hours online.

Activities:

• Analyse case studies and explore board-level challenges shared by participants, receiving tailored advice from mentor.
• Gain insights into applying ethical leadership principles to improve collaboration and decision-making, with an emphasis on building trust and protecting stakeholders, drawing on the experience of the mentor.
• Develop actionable steps to enhance reporting practices, ensuring clarity, transparency, and accountability in organisational governance.