Boards With Purpose

Produced by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), Boards with Purpose is a monthly podcast creating meaningful connection within Australia’s diverse not-for-profit sector. Every episode features CEOs, founders, executives and non-executive directors in conversation with Phil Butler, the AICD’s NFP Sector Lead. They share their purpose-driven governance insights and experiences to guide, inspire, and inform those working within or alongside the NFP sector. Tune in every month to be inspired, strengthen your governance impact, and stay connected to the leaders shaping Australia's not-for-profit community.

Measuring Impact Without Losing Heart: Healthy Compassion in Action (with Zoe Black and Mark Osborne, Happy Paws Happy Hearts) 02/26/2026

Measuring Impact Without Losing Heart: Healthy Compassion in Action (with Zoe Black and Mark Osborne, Happy Paws Happy Hearts) In our debut episode of Board with Purpose, we sit down with Zoe Black, Founder & CEO of Happy Paws Happy Hearts, and Mark Osborne, the organisation’s chair, for a powerful conversation on the challenge of measuring impact in a not-for-profit organisation. Authentic, candid and full of practical insight, we delve into: How impact data informs governance, board decision‑making and strategic planning The importance of CEO wellbeing, including Zoe’s transformative three‑month sabbatical Balancing impact and sustainability in a changing NDIS landscape Scaling a purpose‑driven model across diverse communities Building board capability and culture for long‑term success Zoe and Mark generously take us inside the Happy Paws Happy Hearts organisation and board, sharing its journey of impact measurement so far. Here are just a handful of many noteworthy takeaways: Traditional output metrics fall short. A robust Theory of Change fundamentally reshaped how Happy Paws Happy Hearts understands and delivers impact. Measuring impact requires trauma‑aware approaches that avoid retraumatising participants while still capturing meaningful outcomes. Thoughtful impact reporting can strengthen participant agency, giving beneficiaries tools to advocate for themselves in complex support systems. Embedding impact into organisational strategy demands board commitment—integrating it into dashboards, conversations and decision‑making processes. Purpose‑driven organisations must carefully balance scale and sustainability without compromising the integrity of their mission. Effective governance requires navigating shifting NDIS reforms, regional growth pressures, and a clearly defined risk appetite. Leadership wellbeing is critical; conversations about burnout, sabbaticals and “healthy compassion” reveal what it takes to sustain impactful work over the long term. /episode/index/show/nfpmatters/id/40238375

Boards With Purpose

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