Empowering people with cerebral palsy to build impactful board careers
“There are so many talented people with cerebral palsy (CP),” said Dr Cadeyrn Gaskin, a former Cerebral Palsy Support Network (CPSN) board director.
“We wanted more people coming through with the skills and confidence to be nominated for and apply for board roles.”
CPSN began in 1995 as a monthly support group for parents. Since then, it has organically evolved into a progressive organisation with a mission to ‘empower people with CP’ through opportunities such as internal leadership programs and tailoring external programs like Take on Board KickStarter.
“One of the great things about our organisation is being able to do things that have a big impact,” said former CEO Scott Sheppard (2019 to January 2025). Having been a parent of a child with CP, Scott is deeply committed to the vision and purpose of CPSN: a world with equal opportunities for people with CP.
Programs like the tailored CPSN KickStarter not only upskill, they empower and create momentum.
“Even if they don’t go on to a board, the experience itself helps develop knowledge and experience,” Scott said. “And that’s an important part of our vision and purpose, to offer all those opportunities.”
CPSN KickStarter needs
- Tailor KickStarter to CPSN’s needs
- Set expectations around CPSN KickStarter workload and outcomes
- Help participants identify their ‘story’ and skills
- Give people the knowledge and confidence to apply for board roles
- Set expectations around how much work boards require
We’re hopeful that they will go on to hold governance roles in a variety of organisations, to be an active part of the decision-making, and to see an improvement in participation pf people with cerebral palsy in society.”
About CPSN
The Cerebral Palsy Support Network (CPSN) is a not-for-profit peak body representing individuals with cerebral palsy and their families in Victoria.
About CPSN KickStarter
Rounds
- CPSN KickStarter round 1: 2021
- CPSN KickStarter round 2: 2023
Connecting with KickStarter
CPSN’s first contact with the Take on Board KickStarter program was when member Liz Ellis was awarded a scholarship to participate in the public program in 2021 .
In addition to her vast experience working in the disability sector, Liz was already on a board by the time she enrolled in KickStarter, but found the resources and information invaluable, as well as connection to governance peers.
In November 2021 she was appointed chair of the Victorian government’s Department of Transport and Planning’s Accessible Transport Advisory Committee and to the CPSN board in December 2023.
Tailoring the program
“We had a couple of meetings with Helga,” Scott said of adapting KickStarter to suit CPSN’s needs. “The core content was there – we felt like that we needed a module about being on a board with CP.”
Tailoring the program was a collaboration with room for open discussion and adjustment. “Helga is upfront,” he said. “She would say ‘am I saying the wrong thing?’ or ‘do I need to slow down?’ She had the right personality and drive to do it.”
The CPSN board chair at the time, Cadeyrn was involved in setting the program recruitment criteria and conducting the interviews. A great deal of time and effort went into identifying participants and communicating what would be involved and achieved. A very detailed introductory webinar was recorded to set expectations and communicate the likely outcomes.
“I think it was important for people to know what they were getting themselves into, for them and for Helga,” he said.
The talent in the CPSN member base
This tailored KicKStarter was funded and managed by CPSN’s own Tribal Wisdom leadership program, which identified a pool of talent in the CPSN member base.
It was a quick process, keeping CPSN KickStarter front-of-mind for all involved. Those who registered for CPSN KickStarter were sent an application form and a link to the introductory webinar.
The first round of applications was assessed and interviews were conducted in January 2021 with the most board-suited candidates. Successful applicants were notified at the end of January and the program kicked off on 15 February.
“It was important for them to be able to find and tell their story,” Cadeyrn said. “They needed to know their skills. I think the interviewing helped with this process.”
Developing knowledge and confidence
Fifteen people participated across both rounds of CPSN KickStarter. The program comprised of 10 90-minute modules held over a three-month period, two mentoring sessions with an experienced mentor and a one-on-one meeting with one of the CPSN board directors.
The online sessions
You and your board strengths
- Skills: What are the skills you need to focus on for a board role.
- Alignment: What sort of organisation should you be looking to join?
- Commitment: What sorts of things do non-executive directors do?
- Diversity: Why a diverse board is stronger (yet, sometimes, harder!).
Get ready to apply for the board
- Where: How to find a board role.
- Your pitch: A powerful pitch for why YOU will be a fabulous director.
- Resume: Developing your board/governance resume.
Get ready for the interview and board role
- Interview: What to think about before, during and after the interview.
- Eyes wide open: Going in to your first board role with your eyes wide open…
- ‘My cerebral palsy’: Focusing on impact of CP in the boardroom.
The mentoring sessions
As part of the tailored program, a mentoring panel provided participants with access to two one-on-one 60-minute mentoring sessions held over the three months after the online CPSN KickStarter sessions had concluded.
The panel of mentors all had governance experience, were current board directors and some of them had a disability. The additional mentors gave the participants an opportunity to grow their governance network.
