Inclusivity in Governance

Does your board look, think and sound like the young people you serve? This practical session tackles what’s missing from your boardroom and what it’s costing you, how to amplify unheard voices and champion EDI across your organisation, leaving you with top tips to act on tomorrow.

Good governance is about more than process. The strongest boards reflect the communities their organisations serve, draw on a genuine range of skills and lived experience, and make space for voices that are too often absent from the boardroom.

This session unpacks what inclusivity really means, starting with a simple question: ‘does your board look, think and sound like the young people you serve?’. We’ll start with board basics: who should sit around the table, what mix of skills and experience you need, and how to recruit beyond the usual networks. We’ll then look at how to bring in perspectives not always represented on the board itself, including young people, hub organisations and other local stakeholders.

Going beyond the basics, the session will explore the board’s role in championing equity, diversity and inclusion across the whole organisation not as a compliance exercise, but as a driver of better decisions, stronger accountability and greater trust. Drawing from the Charity Governance Code we’ll also cover practical ways to embed inclusive governance into your structures, policies and culture.

What key themes will be discussed?

• Board skills
• Board recruitment
• Unrepresented perspectives

What are the learning outcomes and key takeaways?

• You’ll leave with a clear set of top tips you can take straight back to your board.

This session will be of particular interest to:

• Those involved in the governance of music education organisations, including trustees, CEOs, and senior leaders.