Getting your first Non-Executive Director (NED) role can be difficult, let alone building a successful portfolio. Our latest AQ NED Exchange event, hosted by Helene Usherwood, Senior Partner at Anderson Quigley, brought together aspiring and existing NEDs to meet industry leaders, ask questions, and gain insights into boardroom dynamics.
The panel of seasoned NEDs provided advice on a range of practical strategies for those new to NED roles or seeking to expand their existing portfolios; they included:
- Amerdeep Somal: Chair of The Law Society of England and Wales and Ombudsman for Local Government and Social Care for England
- Jeremy Shute: Co-Founder of Ignition Strategy and Trustee at Teenage Cancer Trust
- Benaifer Bhandari: CEO at Hopscotch Women’s Centre and Chair of Voluntary Action Camden (VAC)
- Kemi Adenubi: Programme Director and Strategic Consultant at Think Act Ltd and NED at Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust
Key takeaways:
- Securing your first NED role: Starting a NED career can be daunting. Our panelists discussed how they broke through the barriers, stressing the importance of networking, continuous learning, and gaining governance experience. Whether voluntary or paid positions, the panel were eager to stress the importance of engaging with the organisation and its recruiter to ensure your understanding and appreciation as to the remit of the role and its core requirements were a good fit before embarking on the process of appointment.
- Developing the right skills for NED Success: While many NEDs come from executive backgrounds offering a range of professional skills such as finance or HR, the role also requires the individual to demonstrate their strategic thinking, risk management, good governance and understanding of the boardroom dynamic. Our experts highlighted how evolving these skills—through advisory roles or governance training—can help position aspiring NEDs for success.
- What boards really want in NEDs: Whether public, private, or charitable, boards seek candidates who have really considered their “value proposition” and are able to easily articulate their diversity of experience, strategic thinking, and a clear understanding of the sector’s needs is important. Moreso, being able to mirror some of the language of the appointing organisation can be helpful, especially if you are considering new sectors that may be quite removed from the world you have occupied. Can you explain in five minutes what you’ve got for a board and how it will benefit them, especially if you’re coming from a different sector?
- Building a diverse NED portfolio: A strong non-executive portfolio isn’t just about securing multiple roles—it’s about balancing positions that align with your strengths, interests, and values. The panel discussed identifying the right opportunities, managing multiple roles effectively, and offering the time and commitment needed to fulfill all duties.
The key to building a successful NED portfolio is understanding your motivations, knowing the value you bring, and seeking roles that align with your values and professional goals. With growing demand for diverse and engaged board members, these great insights shared at the NED Exchange event will help individuals navigate the market and develop a meaningful career.
If you’d like to discuss how you could shape a non-executive portfolio or work for an organisation looking to recruit NEDs in 2025, you can connect with Helene Usherwood on Linkedin or send her an email.