When dashboards lie: what directors need to know about project risk

Overview

Major projects rarely fail overnight. The warning signs are there but they are softened, filtered or hidden behind green dashboards, RAG reports and polished slide decks.

In light of the recent MBIE $33 million Immigration Biometric Capability Update project failure, this session explores what directors need to know when reporting creates false comfort and emerging risks are not escalated early enough.

Don't allow these issues to happen on your watch. Gain greater assurance that our organisation's projects will be on time and within budget with no surprises.

Participants will learn how to:

• Spot patterns that suggest a project is entering dangerous territory
• Ask sharper questions when assurance, cost, scope or timing start to shift, and
• Test whether board reporting is complete, timely and reliable.

Designed for directors, chairs, audit and risk committee members, CEOs and senior executives, this session will help boards strengthen oversight without stepping into management.

Rodney Young

CMInstD

Rodney Young is Group Risk and Assurance Manager at Gallagher, where he leads enterprise risk, internal audit, assurance and resilience across a Hamilton-based global technology business.  He has more than 20 years’ experience in governance, risk management, internal audit, policy, compliance and strategic transformation across private, public and education sectors.  A Certified Internal Auditor and active member of IoD, IIA NZ, RiskNZ, RMIA and IRM, Rodney contributes widely to the risk, assurance and governance professions.  He was named RiskNZ Risk Professional of the Year in 2024 and 2025, and RMIA Asia-Pacific Risk Leader of the Year in 2025.  Rodney regularly speaks on practical risk leadership, board reporting, assurance and organisational resilience, helping leaders ask sharper questions before risks become surprises.

Additional information

Should you have any dietary, mobility, cultural or other requirements, you can let us know on the registration form.

By registering for this event you are confirming that you agree to adhere to our event terms and conditions.

Branch event cancellation policy

Regrettably, registration fees cannot be refunded when cancellations are received within two working days prior to any branch event.  See our standard terms and conditions for more information.

Contact

Megan Beveridge
Waikato and Bay of Plenty Branch Manager

+64 21 358 772
megan.beveridge@iod.org.nz

Our sponsors

The Waikato branch acknowledges the generous support of