About Us

OUR

TEAM

We are award-winning governance thought leaders published nationally and internationally.

Paula Minnikin, ICD.D (she/her)

Principal

Paula is focused on privately held, ABC and family-owned businesses.  Paula’s clients often experience improved business results through enhanced people, processes, and technology governance.

Paula has served as a leader, senior executive, and board director for Private, Not-For-Profit, Academic, and Crown Corporations both domestically and internationally.

Mitch Archibald (he/him)

Associate & Not-for-Profit Lead

Mitch is the primary resource for most of our not-for-profit projects and leads our Student Governance Practice. Mitch’s expertise empowers not-for-profit governance, policy, and strategy.

Mitch’s career includes roles in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. He has served on and worked with purpose-led organizations in education, health, poverty alleviation, community engagement, advocacy, housing, and publishing.

Robert Patzelt QC, ICD.D (he/him)

Senior Associate, Corporate, Private and Family Business Lead

Robert Patzelt, Q.C., ICD.D. iis focussed on private sector and NFP clients.  He has degrees in business, economics and law.  He has been a respected Board Director for multiple organizations and a leader of a number of major initiatives in a variety of corporate, not-for-profit and non-governmental agencies including some undergoing major transformational change. He most recently was CEO of a publicly traded resource company.  

He was awarded both the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals for his contributions to Canada through his impressive dedication to charitable organizations. 

Lisa M. Gallivan, LLB, MBA (she/her)

Investigations & Ombudsman

Lisa works with our clients in all sectors on effective investigation into and resolutions of whistle-blower complaints when they happen. She also provides wise counsel on the policies boards might want to implement to reduce the likelihood of the incidents that spark them occurring.  In addition to her vast experience as a lawyer, Lisa has an MBA and has been working with boards for more than 20 years.

OUR

STORY

01.

The governance landscape has changed more in the last five years than in the previous fifty.  The political, economic, technological, and social realities of governing have and continue to evolve rapidly.

02.

We recognize that good governance does not come in a one size fits all format.

03.

What is good governance at one organization might be a burden at another.  We focus on giving each client what they need to succeed in their respective markets.

Policies

Processes

Procedures

OUR

EXPERTISE

GOVERNANCE is the collection of processes and structures organizations use to make decisions. Beyond knowing the policies, processes, and procedures, governance is about leadership and setting the tone for your organization’s culture.

We assess the current state of your governance, make short-term adjustments and implement long-term strategies to provide the strength and agility to meet the demands of your business.

We empower boards and leadership teams to:

  • Enhance their understanding of their purpose, responsibilities, and duties.
  • Govern effectively to improve overall organizational performance.
  • Adopt mature ESG and Cyber Risk Stances
  • Identify and work productively with all of the participants in their ecosystem.
  • Understand, oversee, and influence the culture of their organization.
  • Evaluate, manage, and moderate risk.
  • Develop, articulate, and execute strong policies, strategies, and plans.
  • Develop, implement and integrate strong environmental, governance, social and cyber stances.
  • Clearly understand the different roles of everyone involved and set appropriate boundaries and supports.
  • Develop, implement and monitor Board Level Crisis Communications, ESG, Cyber Risk and Business Continuity plans.

We support clients from a wide variety of industries across North America and Europe.

We have diverse governance backgrounds and strong reference clients in:

  • Privately Held Corporations
  • Crown / State / QUANGO Organizations Public Interest Organizations
  • Local, Provincial/State and National Regulatory Bodies,
  • Professional Associations
  • Student Unions and Associations
  • Academic Governing Bodies
  • Not-for-Profit Organizations
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