105. Understanding the role of chairperson: Part 2 interview with Moana Weir, Chair of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
Oct 25, 2021
This is the second half of my conversation with Moana Weir, the Chair of the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission Victoria (VEOHRC). In the previous episode (104), we discussed Moana's approach to building a portfolio of board appointments, inspiring and advising executives willing to transition into governance roles. This episode focuses on her role as chair.
We discuss the difference between chairing versus being a board member, the extra responsibilities, and what that entails. We also discuss the work of the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. So this conversation will be exciting for both aspiring board members and chairs, executives interested in diversity and inclusion, equal opportunity, and human rights issues in the workplace. The timestamps below are a great representation of the broad range of topics we addressed.
It was an absolute pleasure to interview Moana, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
Podcast Episode Timestamps:
- 04:16 - Director vs. Chair
- 06:49 - Succession planning
- 07:38 - Setting up the board agenda
- 10:00 - Chair and CEO relationship
- 11:18 - On being the chair of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
- 14:43 - Representation and lived experience at the board level
- 16:57 - The pandemic's impact on equal opportunity and human rights
- 20:13 - Key issues in equal opportunity and human rights
- 22:01 - Ageism in the workforce is real
- 26:58 - Dealing with trauma, bad behavior, and bullying
- 31:14 - Moana's future career plans
- 33:11 - Final advice from Moana Weir
Links mentioned in this episode:
- The Job Hunting Podcast episode 98. Why are we still not seeing more women in senior roles? - with Carly Moulang and Alessandro Ghio.
- The Job Hunting Podcast episode 96. Recruitment and selection without resumes - with Dina Bayasanova Ph.D.
- Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know, book by Malcolm Gladwell.
- Working With Monsters: How to Identify and Protect Yourself from the Workplace Psychopath by John Clarke.
- The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilised Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't, by Robert Sutton.
- Click here to download the transcript of this episode on our new blog.
About our guest, Moana Weir:
Moana has over 20 years of Executive experience, leading strategic business and cultural transformation: in the healthcare and health insurance industry with Bupa, including as Acting MD for the Bupa Dental business and as Acting Corporate Affairs Director. Before this, she had Executive experience in listed, international online companies at SEEK (seek.com.au), REA (realestate.com.au), and Melbourne IT leading areas including Legal, Governance, and Company Secretarial, Regulatory, Risk, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability.
Moana also has deep experience for over ten years as a Non-Executive Director in the not-for-profit government and community sector. She is currently Chair of the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission Victoria (VEOHRC) and a member of the People and Culture Committee at Movember, the leading charity changing the face of men's health globally. She has also previously been a director on the Board of VLine and a director of the Melbourne Montessori School Board. Click here to see Moana Weir's LinkedIn Profile.
