Maria David
BOARD effectiveness is vital in corporate governance, especially concerning public enterprises.
This was according to Nangula Hamunyela, Namport Board Member and Chairlady of the Public Enterprises Chairpersons Forum, while addressing various Chief Executive Officers during their Forum held in Windhoek on Wednesday.
Hamunyela said the Board sets the strategic direction for the public enterprise and reviews its progress in line with the agreed strategy and the purpose for which the public enterprise is created.
“Effective board operations play a crucial role in ensuring organizational success, accountability, and stakeholder confidence,” she said.
She added that effective and efficient board members see diversity of thought as an opportunity to engage with new ideas and possibly challenge the status quo; however, this may not always be comfortable.
Moreover, she highlighted the importance of ensuring that boardroom dialogue is kept open and respectful if the board is to deliver the best-in-class thinking.
Hamunyela encouraged heads of public enterprises to establish a boardroom culture of respect and transparency that fosters innovation by creating a space where honest opinions can be shared without hesitance.
She stressed that this practice welcomes conflicting arguments that, in turn, shape direction and ultimately produce a powerful shared vision.
Fluksman Samuehl, Chairman of the Public Enterprises CEO Forum, indicated that the idea of establishing this Forum, which brings together CEOs/MDs of Public Enterprises, started early in 2017.
He stressed that the Forum, aided by the current generation of CEOs/MDs, is driving a narrative to ensure the Public Enterprises sector is efficient, professional, responsive, and impactful to society.
