Apart from BAU meetings and discussions, Thursday had me presenting at two prestigious and significant events.
First, the Chartered Governance Institute of New Zealand held their Annual Conference in Auckland at the Hilton, where I presented a brief overview of the Great British Post Office Scandal.
This has been a disgraceful episode of repeated miscarriages of justice – the worst ever seen in British history – with innocent sub-postmasters being accused of theft based on day-end balance discrepancies in their cash transactions. In truth, the deficits were created by a computer defect in the Horizon system installed by Fujitsu, and these glitches have been occurring since installation across the network in 2000. Convictions, jail sentences, families and individuals bankrupted and ruined, and even a number of suicides due to the Post Office wilfully ignoring all protestations at all levels. A failure of Boards, Directors, CEOs, and the sole shareholder, the UK Government. The documentary – Mr. Bates v The Post Office was screened in the UK (and NZ) in January this year, which so outraged public opinion that Parliament was forced to pass urgent legislation quashing the convictions of those wrongly accused and convicted of crimes that they did not commit. The disgraceful conduct of corruption, cover-up, and self-interest is a sad reflection in the impotency of current legislation around Board responsibilities and obligations – I question whether the NZ legal framework is any better?
At the conference, I had the great good fortune to catch up with Bevan Killick and Anna Gruczynska with whom I served on the Southern Response Earthquake Services Ltd board a few years ago.
At the end of the presentation, I offered a copy of Nick Wallis’ book – “The Great Post Office Scandal” to the first three delegates who could answer the following questions –
1. How many seats did the British Labour Party win in the recent UK General Election?
2. How many days did Liz Truss serve as British Prime Minister?
3. Who lived at 221b Baker Street, London?
After a little prompting, all three copies were successfully claimed. The answers for those curious - 1. 411, 2. 49, 3. Sherlock Holmes.
Onto the next event, 'Scaling Up For Success" with my excellent colleagues Debra Chantry-Taylor and Adam Harris – both Grand Masters of their subject – the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). These presentations at the EMA facilities on Khyber Pass Road are fast becoming a significant event in the calendar, attracting growing numbers of business owners, founders, directors, and management executives looking for high-quality solutions, guidance, and content in these challenging times.
It's a privilege to be working with such consummate professionals like Debra and Adam – as you can see, we do have some fun as well!
Put simply, EOS is the most comprehensive, effective, and powerful management model I've encountered in many decades of research, studying, and practising the disciplines of management and governance.
The next event is scheduled for 24th October – more details to follow – watch this space.
Yours aye,
The Laird
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