Case Study: Governance Training

Building Better Boards: How Governance Training Is Strengthening NZ's Construction Sector

For James Woods, governance wasn't a new topic when he walked into CGF's Governance Essentials course in Wellington in September 2025. He'd already spent eight years on the Southern Region Board / Committee of NZIOB (now Building Institute Aotearoa), the last four as Regional Chair. But a day of formal training with the Institute of Directors (IoD) gave him something his years of hands-on experience hadn't: a shared framework, and a room full of peers wrestling with the same questions. 

"It was great to attend with other people in similar industry organisations and be able to discuss with them how they operate, govern and relate to their members," James says. "The content itself was fantastic, and Giselle's presentation and delivery was first class." 

Image credit : thanks to Image Projects

The course, delivered in partnership with the Institute of Directors (IoD) and contextualised specifically for the construction sector, is part of a wider push by the Construction Growth Foundation (CGF) to strengthen governance across its member associations. CGF covers the full cost for nominated Board members, Trustees and future leaders, including travel, course fees, accommodation and meals, removing the usual barriers that keep volunteer-run associations from investing in professional development. 

Investing in courses like this is one of the ways CGF delivers on its Strengthening Capability strategic pillar, which is about building people and organisational capability across the construction ecosystem, from individuals and small businesses through to associations and the wider sector. In practice, that means supporting leadership development and expanding access to training so associations can build the resilience to survive and thrive. 

For James, the value wasn't only in the content. It was in comparing notes with people running similar organisations. "The IoD course and framework was excellent, and to undertake training with peers from other industry organisations was a bonus, you were able to talk course content and industry collectively," he says. 

James's term as Southern Region Chair wrapped up not long after he completed the course, but that hasn't diminished what he took from it. "I have taken course understandings into my daily operations and practice," he says. He's also seen the training ripple outward through his organisation: "It has helped our team, whom I have spoken with who have also attended, understand a better framework to operate under." 

Asked whether the course changed how he thinks about his role, James points to something many volunteer board members quietly struggle with: knowing where governance ends and management begins. "It helped reinforce what I already knew, and I believe others in our organisation have learnt more around these differences," he says. 

That combination of reinforcing existing knowledge while sharpening it is, in James's view, exactly the point. "It reinforces existing knowledge and builds confidence in the way you operate," he says. And he's not alone: he believes many of Building Institute Aotearoa's regional and national volunteers have had exposure to the course and can now use better frameworks to govern more efficiently. 

Looking ahead, James is keen to build on what the course started. "I would like to undertake additional IoD courses in the future and increase my knowledge around governance and directorship," he says. 

 His message to CGF sums up why it keeps investing in this kind of training: "Thanks to CGF for supporting the industry to upskill and gain knowledge to perform better in the construction sector. You have helped many people in many ways." 

For associations considering nominating board members to the next Governance Essentials course, James's experience makes the case simply: governance training doesn't just build stronger individual directors. It builds stronger boards, and, in turn, more resilient associations across the construction sector. 

Building Capability Across the Sector

The Construction Growth Foundation (CGF), in partnership with the Institute of Directors, delivers targeted governance training designed specifically for building and construction industry associations who are members of CGF.

For CGF members contact info@cgf.org.nz to learn when our next course is running, or for non-members please click here.