The Chair’s key role in Board meetings is to ensure the meetings are an excellent forum in which Directors can undertake their duties and exercise diligence and clear judgement.
This will include ensuring that Directors are adequately informed in advance of the meeting of the proposals to be considered and decisions to be made. It is essential that the Directors have time to consider the relevant information which should be provided to them beforehand.
During the meeting, the Chair should ensure that nobody is left behind in any discussion, that everyone has an opportunity to express opinions and to ask relevant questions and that dialogue is professional and appropriate but challenging.
The Chair will also need to ensure that the agenda is respected and that time is allowed for the more critical topics, without endangering the proper discussion of other agenda items.
The Secretary will normally minute the meeting but in the absence of a secretary, the Chair should ensure that this duty is undertaken.