MISCO Directors Network, recently held its first workshop which was attended by a number of board directors from different sectors who had the opportunity to discuss the challenges faced in the boardroom.
The MISCO Directors Network is a network of individuals who wish to provide their services as directors on Maltese companies. It is a network of excellence, composed of people who are already active in board directorship positions or who are interested in joining this growing niche of professional non-executive directors.
The first workshop themed ‘The Challenges of Non-Executive Directorships’, was facilitated by Joseph F.X. Zahra and Lawrence Zammit and was the start of a series of events to be organised by MDN aiming at addressing issues, opportunities and challenges which directors face on a regular basis in their positions.
“We sought to find answers to some of the more frequent questions asked by non-executive directors such as ‘what and how can I contribute to the company?’, ‘what is the significance of independence?’, ‘how to I handle conflicts of interest?’, and other similar questions,” explained Joseph F.X. Zahra. “We also had the opportunity to look at some of the more important ethical issues that are sometimes encountered at board level and we looked at all aspects of the role of a non-executive board director and generated discussions on how as an ‘outsider’, the director, should aim at having a more objective view of external factors affecting the company in its business environment. The evaluation of board effectiveness was another topic covered in the workshop,” added Mr Zahra.
Tony Potter, a director with many years of experience was one of the 25 attendees at this workshop. “This first workshop was an enjoyable and educational experience for me especially knowing that I was surrounded by real professionals who share the same experiences and have to face the same challenges,” said Mr Potter. “Although I am a seasoned director, this workshop was a true eye-opener and I came to appreciate the role of non-executive directors better. The workshop was also very interactive and in my opinion, it succeeded well as a networking opportunity as well as a social working event.”
Following this successful first meeting and as a response to the increased demand from companies and directors, the workshop is being repeated on Friday 12th April between 9.00am and 1.00pm. Those interested to participate may request more information by visiting www.miscodirectors.com or by contacting Maria Zahra on 22054210 or [email protected].