Learn how boards
really work.
Then take the first step.

NEXT PROGRAM BEGINS NOV 4

Discover Governance is a six-week online program for young people who want to be part of the decision-making structures that affect their communities.

You’ll learn how boards work, what it’s really like to be a board member, and how to bring your voice, experience and perspective confidently and authentically to the boardroom.

After completing Discover Governance:

Registrations now open

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Limited seats

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Registrations now open ~ Limited seats ~

Your introduction to the boardroom

Discover Governance is held online, over six weekly sessions. Each week, you'll get inside a different part of how boards work:

The big picture – what boards are, what they're responsible for, and why they matter.
The big decisions – how boards set direction and make the calls that shape an organisation.
Where the money goes – how boards look after an organisation's finances, explained simply.
Who answers for what – what it means to be accountable, and how good boards keep themselves honest.
Having a say – how to be heard in the room, contribute with confidence, and handle disagreement.
Your first step – how to find and go for board roles, or set up a board of your own.

You'll learn from experienced board members, hear from people who were recently in your position, and practise with real examples – so it stops being theory and starts being something you can do.

Enrol now

Supported positions and scholarships available.
Click here to learn more.

A woman with glasses and purple-tinted hair smiling during a conversation outdoors in a park with green trees in the background.

But I don't know anything about governance…

Think you’re not ready? Let’s unpack that.

"I don't know enough."

Nobody is born knowing how governance actually works, or what the word even means! Discover Governance starts from the beginning and explains everything in plain language – no jargon, no assumed knowledge.

“I’m too young”

Boards need people who understand the communities they serve. Your age isn't a gap in your experience. It IS experience – the kind most boardrooms are missing.

“I don’t have the right background”

You don't need a law degree, a career in finance or a string of formal qualifications to have a seat at the board table. What you've been through, what you know and what you’ve learned from your own life is a form of expertise. Good boards recognise that (and want it!). Your lived experience and insights will help boards make better decisions for the communities they are seeking to serve.

"I wouldn't know where to start."

That's the whole point of the program. We'll help you build the knowledge and confidence to take that first step and our community will be there to support you along the way and beyond.

You might be more board-ready than you think

Ask the average person what they think it takes to be a good board director and they'll list the same things: finance skills, legal knowledge, decades of corporate experience, unshakeable confidence.

Here's the truth:

      ASSUMPTION
      What people assume you need
    
      IN REALITY
      What good governance actually takes
    
      The ability to read complex financial documents
    
      The confidence to ask “where does the money go, and why?”
    
      A law degree or a corporate background
    
      Curiosity about how decisions get made, and who they affect
    
      Decades of executive experience
    
      A perspective the board doesn't already have – yours – one that represents the communities organisations are meant to serve.
    
      Knowing how to lead big structural decisions
    
      The courage to ask the question nobody else is asking
    
      Having all the answers
    
      Being honest about what you don't know, and the willingness to find out
    
      Commanding the room
    
      Listening well, thinking clearly, and knowing how to respectfully and productively disagree.

The technical skills do matter …. but they can be taught.

Discover Governance covers the foundations that you will need to know – how to read a meeting agenda, how decisions actually get made, what red flags to look out for. the questions you should be asking, and the financial literacy basics.

But the things that make someone genuinely valuable on a board are curiosity, honesty, care and respect.

You probably have more of those traits than you realise. This program helps you trust them, sharpen them, and back them with the knowledge and confidence to use them well – so you don't just get onto a board, you thrive on one and make a real difference.

The course will connect you with like-minded future leaders, and a network of women and gender-diverse people who’ve got your back. After the course, you can remain connected and supported through the Discover Governance alumni program.

You care about your community and want a real say in what happens in it
You're a younger person, or someone whose life experience gives you a perspective most boardrooms don't have
You've never quite understood what a board does - and nobody's ever explained it properly
You've thought "someone should do something about this" and suspected that someone might be you

You don't need experience. You don't need connections.
You just need to be curious.

Discover Governance will help you get ready to take your seat.

This program is for you if...

Enrol Now

A woman with long black hair, glasses, and earrings smiles at someone off screen. Someone's arm and hand are visible in the foreground, holding a tablet.

You’ll walk away with:

A clear understanding of how boards actually work
The confidence to speak up in rooms you're new to
Practical skills: reading the room, understanding the numbers, contributing to decisions
A network of people on the same path, and mentors who've walked it, and membership to a Discover Governance alumni community
A genuine first step - whether that's applying for a board role, joining an advisory group, or starting something of your own.

“This program doesn't just teach governance - it models it. It reshaped how I think about leadership, responsibility, and the role I can play.”

- Annette
“Discover Governance made governance feel accessible, empowering, and genuinely engaging. I'm walking away more prepared, more informed, and far more confident to step into board spaces.”

- Kaygan
“What makes Just Governance programs unique is that they are not just another program, but a fundamentally different approach to building governance capability. They recognise lived experience as a form of expertise, not a diversity add-on, and prioritise practical, real-world exposure over theoretical learning.”

- Michelle
“Discover Governance is creating real pathways into power for young women and gender diverse people. It's inspiring to be part of something that is actively reshaping governance.”

- Rhea
“This program made me feel capable and strengthened my belief that I have something valuable to contribute. It sparked a real interest in stepping into leadership.”

- Adele

Questions people ask us

Do I need any experience with boards?

No. The program assumes no prior knowledge and starts from the very beginning.

What if I already have some experience but want to learn more?

Great! About a third of Discover Governance participants have already held some kind of governance position (even if they didn’t know it). Whether you’ve sat on a student council, helped lead a community group or joined an advisory panel, or currently sit on a board, this program will help you understand what good governance actually looks like, and build your confidence to do it well.

How much time does it take?

The program runs for six weeks. Each weekly session runs for 2.5 hours and is hosted online.

What if I can't make a session?

That's OK! While you'll get the most out of attending each session live, it's all recorded so you can catch up on those times when life gets in the way.

Will this actually get me onto a board?

The program gives you the knowledge, skills and confidence to go for board and advisory roles, and our alumni program will support you as you apply for positions.

I'm an organisation, not an individual. Can we run this for our people?

Yes - we partner with organisations to deliver Discover Governance for their communities. This could be for your Board, an Advisory Council, or your emerging leaders. We also tailor governance partnership packages for organisations seeking to improve their intersectional, intergenerational and lived experience representation. Head to our For Boards page.

Interested?

Excellent. Our next program starts November 4.

Places are limited.