Our Cat Herder Board Portal

Most board portals are racing to add AI features. We get it. AI is the hot thing right now... We went a different direction. We just shipped Registers in Our Cat Herder. Boards can now build and manage any governance register directly inside their portal. Conflicts of interest, contracts, compliance, delegations, insurance, whatever your board needs to track. Why registers? Because we talked to company secretaries and board administrators. Sure, some have asked about AI. But far more have asked us to help them stop having to maintain critical governance records in spreadsheets.  So that's what we built: - 9 built-in templates (conflict of interest, contracts, compliance, and more) or build your own - 15+ column types so the register fits your data, not the other way around - Self-service forms so board members can submit declarations any time, not just at the next meeting  - Link a register to a meeting type and your minute-taker can add entries on the spot - Three access levels so sensitive registers stay restricted to the right people - Register categorisation so you can organise and group them in a way that makes sense to you - Export to PDF or CSV when the auditor comes knocking (or even grant the auditor restricted in portal access) No per-user fees. No extra charge. Included for every subscriber. Other portals are building for the keynote stage and headlines. We're building for the company secretary who has a board meeting on Monday. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/e8dcYHXs #BoardGovernance #CompanySecretary #NFPGovernance #CorporateGovernance

Are your board meetings productive — or are poor meeting habits quietly derailing progress? Strong governance isn’t just about strategy and papers — etiquette matters. How directors behave in the boardroom directly impacts decision-making, culture, and organisational outcomes. This guide breaks down essential meeting etiquette, including: ✔️ Arriving prepared and on time ✔️ Limiting distractions (yes, phones too!) ✔️ Staying on topic and respecting time limits ✔️ Listening actively + sharing the stage ✔️ Managing disagreement respectfully ✔️ Maintaining confidentiality ✔️ Bringing cultural practices into the boardroom thoughtfully Great governance starts with great behaviour. https://lnkd.in/gh7qX3SK #governance #boardmeetings #leadership #directors #notforprofit #boards #australia #betterboards #boardwise #boardportal

Do your board members know how to spot a conflict of interest — before it becomes a problem? Conflicts happen in every organisation, especially in the tightly connected NFP sector. The key is having the right policies, registers, culture, and conversations in place. This guide covers: ✨ What counts as a conflict (financial + non-financial) ✨ The 4 most common types of conflicts ✨ How to build a strong conflict of interest policy ✨ What to record in a conflicts register ✨ Practical scenarios to help boards recognise risk ✨ How transparency protects your organisation’s reputation Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gqVBh8uS #governance #nfps #boarddirectors #communityorganisations #ethics #betterboards #boardwise #boardportal

Do your board papers overwhelm directors… or empower them? Board papers are one of the biggest influences on the quality of board decisions — but many packs are too long, too dense, unfocused, or missing the insights directors really need. This guide explores the 10 most common board paper problems and exactly how to fix each one. You’ll discover how to: 🔹 Keep papers concise 🔹 Add structure + clarity 🔹 Provide the right context 🔹 Use visuals to simplify complexity 🔹 Deliver clear recommendations 🔹 Avoid overwhelming directors with irrelevant information Read the full guide here: https://lnkd.in/dDqtjj-N #governance #boardpapers #boarddirectors #nfps #boards #betterboards #boardwise #boardportal

Do your board meeting minutes meet today’s governance standards? 📘✨ Good minutes do more than record what happened — they protect the board, preserve organisational memory, and keep everyone accountable. This guide breaks down: 🔹 Why minutes matter legally 🔹 How to prepare, capture, and finalise minutes 🔹 Common mistakes (over-recording, inconsistency, delays) 🔹 Ethical + privacy considerations 🔹 Technology you can use to make minute-taking easier 🔹 Templates and examples you can download Read the full minute-taking guide here: https://lnkd.in/g8UKhFaf #governance #boardadmin #boarddirectors #nfps #meetingmanagement #betterboards #boardwise #boardportal

Could your board save 20–30 minutes every meeting — just by changing how the agenda works? ⚡📝 Consent agendas are one of the most underrated governance tools. They streamline routine approvals, free up precious meeting time, and help boards shift their focus from operational updates to strategic decision-making. This deep-dive article covers: ✔️ What a consent agenda is ✔️ How it improves governance + meeting efficiency ✔️ What to include (and what to never include) ✔️ Expert tips for mastering the process ✔️ A ready-to-use consent agenda template ✔️ A podcast episode to go even deeper 🎧 If your board meetings feel bogged down in admin, this is a must-read. https://lnkd.in/g3YeM7xr #governance #boardmeetings #companysecretary #boardchair #minutes #nfp #australia #betterboards #boardwise #boardportal

❓ Should your board be hitting “record”… or steering well clear of it? 🎙️📹 With virtual meetings now the norm, many boards are wondering whether audio or video recordings are helpful — or risky. This article breaks down: ✔️ The legal landscape across Australia ✔️ Benefits of recordings for accuracy + onboarding ✔️ Privacy pitfalls and consent requirements ✔️ Why detailed, verbatim records can actually hurt good governance ✔️ Best-practice tips if your board chooses to record Essential reading for Company Secretaries, Admins, and anyone supporting a modern board. Read the full article 👇 https://lnkd.in/gm5N88ms #governance #boardmeetings #minutes #companysecretary #notforprofit #riskmanagement #betterboards #boardwise #boardportal

❓ Are AI-powered minute-taking tools helping your board… or quietly increasing your risk exposure? 🤖⚠️ AI note-taking is booming — but for boards, it’s not as simple as hitting “record.” From legal discovery risks to security vulnerabilities, infrastructure requirements, accuracy issues, and the irreplaceable role of human judgment… the hidden pitfalls are significant. This new deep-dive unpacks what directors must understand before adopting AI in the boardroom — including essential questions to ask, quality assurance must-haves, and best-practice implementation steps. 🧠📘 Read the full article 👇 https://lnkd.in/gYNz8ykT #governance #artificialintelligence #boards #minutes #riskmanagement #companysecretary #notforprofit #australia #betterboards #boardwise #boardportal

🗳️ Ever sat in a meeting that went off the rails? That’s where Robert’s Rules of Order come in — a centuries-old framework that keeps meetings fair, focused, and efficient ⚖️. In this Our Cat Herder guide, we unpack how to use Robert’s Rules to: ✅ Maintain order and ensure every voice is heard 🪶 Structure agendas, motions, and minutes properly 📋 Protect your board from confusion (and chaos!) 💻 Apply these rules effectively in virtual meetings Whether you’re a seasoned chair or new to board governance, this is your go-to resource for mastering meeting discipline. 👉 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gKzBc9Au #Governance #Meetings #Leadership #BoardChairs #BoardMeetings #NonprofitLeadership #RobertRules #BoardGovernance #betterboards #boardportal

🎥 Should your board record its meetings — or hit pause on the idea? With AI tools and virtual meetings on the rise, more boards are turning to video and audio recordings to improve accuracy and accountability. But with this convenience comes risk ⚖️ — from privacy concerns and legal inconsistencies across states to stifled boardroom debate and the potential misuse of recordings. In this Our Cat Herder article, you’ll learn: ✅ The legal framework for recording board meetings in Australia ⚠️ The disadvantages of verbatim or detailed records 🔒 How to manage privacy and consent correctly 🧭 Best practices for boards choosing to record responsibly Make sure your board balances transparency with compliance and trust. https://lnkd.in/gm5N88ms #Governance #BoardMeetings #Privacy #Leadership #BoardDirectors #Technology #Compliance #AI #betterboards #boardportal 💼🎧