{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Ivey Impact Podcast","title":"Who's in the boardroom? Examining politics, expertise, and good governance","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1728,"description":"Canada's government-owned corporations control assets worth billions of dollars and deliver essential services, from electricity to water, to millions of Canadians. But who is actually overseeing them? And are the right people in the room? In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw is joined by Guy Holburn, Professor of Business, Economics and Public Policy at Ivey and former Director of the Ivey Energy and Policy Management Centre, to explore the state of governance in Canada's public utilities. One of Canada's leading experts on energy policy and corporate governance, Holburn brings both rigorous research and real boardroom experience as a director of London Hydro. The conversation digs into a striking and underexamined finding: roughly a quarter of directors on Ontario's electricity distribution boards are elected politicians such as municipal councillors and mayors, rather than independent industry experts. Holburn explores what this means in practice: how political and independent directors may bring different priorities to the table, what questions this raises about expertise and accountability, and examples where good governance has led to mega-project success. This episode is essential listening for policymakers, business leaders, and anyone who cares about how public assets are managed, and by whom. In this episode:0:00 Essential ingredients for a board7:18 How elected politicians approach board work13:18 What does bad governance look like vs. good governance19:46 Personal experience on the London Hydro Board24:53 Students understanding role of government","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/p3c5G6cLaEhh_AVFfZIk6AanLIq3pOyjXbjwzjxsGHU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lNWQz/YmUxYzY5NGVkZTgw/MDQwY2UzOGE3MWJm/MGNjZi5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}