Advisory Services & Engagement

Governance failures in listed companies are rarely caused by operational incompetence. They are caused by boards not built for the conditions they eventually faced, capital markets relationships not deep enough to hold under pressure, and development programmes without adequate board-level oversight.

The work takes three forms: board-level governance advisory and NED appointments; confidential CEO advisory for individual leaders; and principal venture partnerships alongside founding teams building toward listing or strategic exit. Each is distinct in structure, economics, and the relationship it creates.

Boards may consider the following engagement areas:

1

The Governance Diagnostic

The entry-point engagement. Fixed scope, fixed fee, defined deliverable.

What it is
An independent board-level assessment delivered as a structured written report with prioritised recommendations and an implementation roadmap.
What it covers
Board composition and capability gaps; independence and challenge culture; capital allocation governance; crisis preparedness; public markets discipline; regulatory risk exposure.
Process
4–6 weeks: document review → director interviews → management interviews → benchmarking → written report → board presentation.
Deliverable
20–30 page Governance Assessment Report; Executive Summary; prioritised recommendations; implementation roadmap; board session with Q&A; private Chairman debrief.
Fees
Fixed fee based on company size and complexity.
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2

The Public Markets Review

For companies preparing to list or in the first 18 months post-IPO.

What it covers
Board composition for listing; institutional investor strategy; analyst coverage plan; communication policy and cadence; capital cycle management; crisis communications framework.
Deliverable
Public Markets Readiness Report with implementation plan; optional retainer for implementation support.
Fees
Fixed fee depending on company size and listing proximity.
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3

The Crisis Readiness Assessment

A structured evaluation of the board's preparedness across six crisis scenarios.

Deliverable
Crisis Readiness Report with scenario-by-scenario scoring; prioritised Crisis Governance Action Plan; board workshop to stress-test protocols.
Fees
Fixed fee based on company size and complexity.
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4

The Advisory Retainer

Structured monthly retained advisory — scoped, defined, and reviewed quarterly.

What it includes
Monthly advisory session (2–3 hours); board meeting attendance as observer or advisor (quarterly); defined ad-hoc availability; written input on board papers and strategic documents.
Duration
Minimum 6 months; typically 12–24 months; reviewed quarterly.
Fees
Monthly, based on company size and complexity.
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5

Non-Executive Director Appointment

A formal board seat with full statutory responsibilities. Maximum two to three concurrent NED appointments.

What it includes
Board meeting attendance; committee membership; board paper input and challenge; strategy sessions; investor relations support; crisis governance when required.
Time commitment
Typically 20–30 days per year.
Fees
Annual retainer — plus expenses and equity.
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6

Transaction & Strategic Advisory

Project-based advisory for specific transactions or strategic situations.

Examples
Capital raise structuring and investor introduction; M&A and JV advisory; strategic sale management; hostile defence; government negotiation in frontier jurisdictions.
Fees
Monthly advisory retainer during the transaction plus a success component.

The best time to engage a governance advisor is before you know you will need one. Initial conversations are without commitment or obligation.

Contact Graeme