How to find your first Non-Executive Director Role

A Practical Workshop for Aspiring NEDs

Overview

Stepping into your first Non-Executive Director (NED) role can be one of the most rewarding moves of your career — offering intellectual challenge, personal growth, and the chance to make a real impact on the direction of an organisation. Yet, for many professionals, the path to becoming a NED feels opaque.

What boards are looking for?
Where do you find opportunities?
And how do you position yourself as “board-ready” if you’ve never been one before?

This practical, engaging workshop — “How to Find Your First Non-Executive Director Role” — is designed to demystify the process and help you build a clear, actionable roadmap toward your first NED appointment.

Whether you’re a senior executive considering your next chapter, a founder seeking portfolio balance, or a professional eager to contribute at a strategic level, this event will give you the insights, strategies, and confidence to take that next step.

Who This Workshop Is For

This session is ideal for professionals who are:

• Experienced leaders or managers considering portfolio careers
• Executives and entrepreneurs looking to expand their influence beyond operational roles
• Senior professionals seeking personal development or a stepping stone toward future board positions
• Individuals curious about governance and strategy who want to understand the realities of NED work

You don’t need prior board experience — just curiosity, ambition, and a desire to make a difference.

What You’ll Learn

This isn’t a theoretical talk. You’ll walk away with a clear sense of how to actually land your first role. By the end of the session, you’ll understand:

1. What Boards Are Really Looking For

• The essential skills, attributes, and mindsets that make effective Non-Executive Directors
• How the needs of a start-up board differ from a charity or listed company
• What “board dynamics” really mean — and how you can add value from day one

2. How to Position Yourself as ‘Board-Ready’

• Translating your career achievements into a compelling NED profile
• Crafting a concise and persuasive Non-Executive CV and LinkedIn summary
• Identifying your unique contribution — financial expertise, governance, innovation, sector insight, or leadership experience

3. Where to Find Opportunities

• The different routes to NED roles: headhunters, networks, membership bodies, and direct applications
• How to make the most of board recruitment platforms and NED networks
• How to use your existing connections and reputation to generate opportunities organically

4. How to Navigate the Application and Interview Process

• What to expect from board interviews (and how they differ from executive ones)
• How to demonstrate judgment, integrity, and independence
• The types of questions you’ll face — and the questions you should ask in return

5. The Realities of NED Life

• How much time to expect to commit (and what the compensation looks like)
• The legal responsibilities and fiduciary duties of a director
• Balancing multiple board roles — and avoiding conflicts of interest

Why Attend

This workshop is practical, honest, and actionable. You won’t just leave with ideas — you’ll leave with a plan.

You’ll gain:

✅ Clarity on what type of NED roles suit your experience and ambitions
✅ Confidence in presenting yourself as a credible candidate
✅ Connections with other aspiring NEDs and current board members
✅ Concrete next steps to move forward immediately

Many attendees describe this session as a “lightbulb moment” — a turning point that transforms vague interest into focused strategy.

About the Speaker

Adrian Lawrence FCA
Board Advisor | Experienced Non-Executive Director | Governance Mentor

With over 25 years of board-level experience across many sectors Adrian has served as a Non-Executive Director, Trustee, and Chair for organisations ranging from high-growth start-ups to established non-profits and public sector boards.

Having mentored dozens of professionals through the transition into their first NED role, Adrian brings a refreshingly transparent and practical perspective on what it really takes to break into the boardroom.

Adrian is passionate about broadening access to board roles, helping talented individuals from diverse backgrounds understand their value and navigate the process with authenticity and confidence.

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