Purpose-Driven Governance for Global Impact
Great governance doesn’t just protect your mission—it powers it.
At SRI Executive, we believe that effective governance is essential to mission delivery, particularly in today’s rapidly evolving and interconnected world. Whether you’re an international NGO, philanthropic foundation, or multilateral institution, your board must do more than provide oversight. It must reflect your values, the diversity of the communities served, the nuance of stakeholder relationships, and the agility required in times of rapid change.
We specialise in supporting purpose-led organisations to meet these challenges. From appointing a new Chair to reimagining your entire governance structure, we tailor our board placement services to the unique mission, context, and operating environment of each organisation.
With decades of experience across thematic sectors and regions, we understand that future-ready boards balance technical expertise with lived experience, global perspective with local insight, and bold leadership with consensus-building. Our governance advisory services, including board reviews and assessments, equip us with the insight to identify candidates who will enhance your organisation’s accountability, agility, and long-term impact. Our Search team specialises in appointing exceptional:
- Chairs
- Committee Chairs
- Board members
- Independent members
A trusted partner in governance
By partnering with SRI Executive, you gain more than a search firm. You gain a trusted advisor committed to strengthening governance structures that reflect your mission, uphold integrity, and enable your organisation to drive lasting global change.
Our approach to board recruitment
‣ Driven by your mission, anchored by your reality
We begin by listening, to understand your organisation’s mission, strategy, history and operating environment. Whether your organisation is navigating change, growth, or complexity, we design tailored approaches that fit your unique context. Our aim isn’t to impose a model, but to co-create methodologies which respect the uniqueness of your governance while leveraging our decades of experience in working with purpose-driven boards.
‣ Shaping the board you need for tomorrow
Boards are not static – they must evolve with the world around us. We help you to define what kind of board your organisation needs to meet the challenges of today and anticipate those of tomorrow. This includes:
- • Aligning board composition with strategic direction
- • Articulating the skills, experience, and perspectives needed at the table
- • Ensuring your board reflects the communities you serve
- • Creating space for emerging voices and underrepresented leaders
- • Designing realistic roles and clear expectations for board members
We don’t just fill roles – we help you shape governance that truly serves your mission.
‣ Recruiting with rigour and values
Board recruitment for mission-driven organisations requires a different approach. We understand how to balance strategic alignment with values fit, and global expertise with local legitimacy.
Our process includes:
- • Co-developing executive briefs tailored to your culture and mission
- • Sourcing and engaging candidates beyond traditional pools
- • Assessing for leadership character, integrity, and the ability to navigate complexity
- • Ensuring each candidate can commit meaningfully, even in a voluntary capacity
We recognise that exceptional board members are often those who’ve worked through complex challenges and bring the resilience, nuance, and strategic thinking earned through real-world experience. In thinking about what makes a great candidate for a board position, we consider:
- • Depth of lived and professional experience
- • Sound judgement and problem-solving ability
- • Alignment with the organisation’s mission, values and stage of evolution
- • Commitment to learning and curiosity
- • Time and energy to contribute meaningfully
- • Humility and self-awareness
- • Ethical integrity and accountability
- • Ability to steward both strategy and risk
- • Respect for governance boundaries
Our goal is to find the individuals best equipped to govern wisely, support your leadership, and advance your mission with integrity and care.
‣ Strengthening board effectiveness
Exceptional boards are not just well-composed: they are grounded in ethical integrity, fuelled by strong culture and effective dynamics, and committed to continual evolution. We go beyond recruitment to help boards function at their highest potential, supporting cultures of accountability, learning, and strategic clarity.
We consider aspects including:
- • Board composition and structure
- • Board dynamics, culture and ways of working
- • Integrity, ethics and reputational risk
We bring independent, well-informed guidance that strengthens board practice today while equipping you for tomorrow’s challenges.
‣ Sustaining good governance
Governance isn’t one appointment or one review – it’s an evolving practice. We assess where your board is now – its strengths and challenges, structures and ways of working – and establish processes and systems to continually enhance governance. We support long-term board effectiveness through:
- • Designing regular, fit-for-purpose assessments of board and committee effectiveness
- • Defining, refreshing or re-defining governance and accountability frameworks
- • Coaching, advising, onboarding and assessing board and committee members
We help you embed governance as a source of strategic advantage, evolving alongside your mission.
Contact Us
Contact SRI Executive to learn more about our team can help your organisation.