1. POWER TO THE PEOPLE How NFP boards can produce better outcomes by inviting stakeholders to have a say in their decision-making

2. I AM AN UNAPOLOGETIC SUPPORTER OF THE VOLUNTARY NOT- FOR-PROFIT SECTOR

3. BOARDS NO LONGER LOOK LIKE THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT

4. BOARDS HAVE LESS POWER AND INFLUENCE THAN THEY USED TO “Leaders must change their management approach and become more inclusive by seeking the input of employees, consumers, activists and experts such as academics, and adapting to their feedback. They must also pass the test of radical transparency” Richard Edelman, President & CEO Edelman

5. CORPORATIONS LAW IS HOPELESSLY OUT OF DATE

6. WHAT IS PUBLIC PARTICIPATION? “Public participation is the involvement of people in a problem-solving or decision-making process that may interest or affect them.” John Bryson and Anne Carroll Hubert M Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs University of Minnesota

7. "Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.“ - Abraham Lincoln

8. 1. Public participation is based on a belief that those who are affected by a decision have a right to be involved in the decision-making process 2. Public participation includes the promise that the public’s contribution will influence the decision 3. Public participation promotes sustainable decisions by recognising and communicating the needs and interests of all participants, including decision makers 4. Public participation seeks out and facilitates the involvement of those potentially affected by or interested in a decision 5. Public participation seeks input from participants in designing how they participate 6. Public participation provides participants with the information they need to participate in a meaningful way 7. Public participation communicates to participants how their input affected the decision

9. IMPROVES THE PROCESS OF PROBLEM-SOLVING AND DECISION- MAKING  Provides early warning of difficulties or challenges  Creates better understanding of the problem or issue  Builds better relationships  Manages conflict more effectively  Exposes ‘single-issue advocates’ to other perspectives  Builds a coalition of support  Ensures you ‘Get it right the first time’

10. PRODUCES BETTER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE DECISIONS  Brings more information into a decision-making process – information that goes beyond technical or scientific know-how  Incorporates more perspectives – and so, is more likely to satisfy the full range of stakeholders  Increases mutual understanding of the various viewpoints  Leverages the specific knowledge of participants

11. THE IAP2 SPECTRUM OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION InformConsultInvolveCollaborateEmpower To provide balanced and objective information to assist the public in understanding the problem, alternatives and/or solutions To obtain feedback on analysis, alternatives or decisions. To ensure that the public’s issues and concerns are consistently understood and considered. To partner with the public in each aspect of the decision, including the development of alternatives and the identification of the preferred solution. To place final decision-making in the hands of the public.

12. THE ‘SAGE ON THE STAGE’ NO LONGER CUTS IT IN 2014

14. EXERCISE

15. WHAT DOES PARTICIPATION LOOK LIKE AT EACH POINT ON THE SPECTRUM? InformConsultInvolveCollaborateEmpower One-way Communication Fact sheets Speeches Media conferences Displays Websites Research Interviews Focus groups Surveys Town Hall meetings Fishbowls Longer-format Meetings Workshops Deliberate polling World Cafes Open Space Co-creation Sessions Deliberative forums Participatory decision- making Advisory Cmtes Independent Processes Citizen juries Specially- constituted assemblies Ballots

16. FEAR is one of the biggest barriers to greater engagement

17. THE BENEFITS OF INCREASED PARTICIPATION WILL OFTEN OUTWEIGH THE BARRIERS - Increased democracy - Improves problem-solving and decision-making process - Produces better more sustainable solutions - Fear of loss of control - Challenge to authority and accepted ways of doing things - Ego

18. THANK YOU! For more information, contact: Randall Pearce THINK: Insight & Advice 02 9358 6664 randall.pearce@thinkinsightadvice.com.au www.thinkinsightadvice.com.au