Knowledge Peers

Event Sponsor:

Rensburg Sheppards kindly supported the event as Lead Sponsor.

Paralysed by Fear: Managing your board as they manage your reserves

Here's a quick update on the highlights of last week's event at RICS in Parliament Square. Mark Astarita (British Red Cross) kindly stepped in when one of our panellists was unable to attend, helping to make the evening a success.

Lynne Berry (CEO, WRVS) shared her own experiences in turning around boards' attitudes to reserves investment by evidencing how it will lead to a fulfilled mission. She mentioned Julia Unwin's valuable "5 S's of Governance" which many noted down on their pads.

Wendy Ellis (FD, BTCV) helpfully shared how she has a knowledgeable investment committee on her board who meet before board meetings. She described the type of forward looking financial forecasts BTCV now use, which are standard in the commercial sector.

Rodney Buse (former Chair CTN) made the room gasp as he claimed 'CEOs get the boards they deserve'. He advised having different kinds of reserves, one kind needed to shut down or reinvent the charity, and another needed for investing in your development – using reserves to manage risk.

Mark Astarita (Director of Fundraising, British Red Cross) got the evening's biggest cheer declaring that a fundraiser with a board reluctant to invest in fundraising should change jobs - that charity wouldn't be around for long anyway.

Thanks to our fantastic chair Roger Chester (FD, LionHeart) who made everyone feel very welcome, and kept the talk on track.

Watch Leonor Stjepic talk about persuading trustees to take risks at the event

Busy networking were; many of our Exchange members, including the Beatbullying team, James Gambrill at Build Africa, Bob Fee and Michael Waterson at Reach Skills, a duo from Independent Age and Tom Lawson at Leap Confronting Conflict. Some new faces included Malcolm Tyndall at Elizabeth Finn Care, Ben McGrath at Refuge, and Sally Burton at Shaw Trust as well as brand new members EB Women's Aid!