Developing an Intentional Risk Culture to Align with Mission and Vision

Debra Wilson, President, NAIS

There are no educational institutions without risk. However, educational institutions can take steps to articulate and manage risk in alignment with their mission, vision, and values. Importantly, this work can drive the amount of risk the institution takes on across its work and build a better understanding among trustees and administration about the school’s tolerance for risk as a whole. This both ensures that the risks the school accepts are in alignment with its long-term strategic goals and that day-to-day risk management is aligned with the school’s long-term goals. Join this interactive session to understand the attributes of an effective risk culture and the board’s role in actionable risk management.

Assessing and Improving Risk Culture

David Hillson, The Risk Doctor Partnership

Culture matters, setting the context for everything else. Risk culture determines how anorganization or group approaches risk, which in turn influences their ability to meet objectives effectively. In this session, David Hillson presents the A-B-C Model of culture, outlines the characteristics of a mature risk culture, and explains how to assess the underlying risk mindset that drives it. Understanding your current risk culture allows you to take steps to improve it. The simple tools described in this presentation will equip Board leaders to evaluate your school’s existing risk culture, decide what needs to change, and lead your school to a more mature approach to managing risk effectively.

The Risk Management Cycle and Assessing Your Own School’s Risks

Lorri Durbin, HOS; Cara Wood, Director of Operations; and Wyatt Gruber, Board Chair,  Town School for Boys

After an initial introduction to the risk management cycle, the leadership of Town School for Boys will share how they worked through the risk management cycle to identify, analyze, treat and monitor risk.  This session will concentrate on how Town School for Boys filtered through the myriad of risks that could potentially impact their school to establishing the unique risk priorities they are focused on addressing.

How to Best Incorporate Risk Management into Your Board’s Infrastructure

Breakout Sessions by school type:  Turning Point School (K-8), La Jolla Country Day (K-12 Day), Westtown School (K-12 Day/Boarding)

Join one of the three breakout session that most closely aligns with your school type.  Each school will address how risk management gets incorporated into their board’s work.  Some of the topics include: Is there a  committee dedicated to this work and if so, describe?  How does Administration interact with the Board on risk management issues?  When and how does the full board discuss risk management?  Unique elements  of success in their risk management program.

Implementing Your Board’s Risk Management Work:  From Reactive to Proactive

Mark Orchison, Founder and CEO, 9ine

How can boards organize themselves to do critical risk management work efficiently and comprehensively?  Utilizing the 9ine template risk framework as our foundation, this session aims to guide independent school board chairs through the essential process of identifying, assessing, and managing risks in a structured and anticipatory manner.
We will delve into how a well-developed risk register can serve as a dynamic tool for capturing both existing and potential risks, categorizing them by severity and likelihood, and assigning clear ownership for mitigation strategies. This approach enhances the school’s preparedness for unforeseen challenges and embeds a culture of proactive risk management across the institution.

School Insurance Policies:   Key Insights for Board Chairs

Ronald Wanglin, Chairman, IMA Financial Group

In this session, we will explore essential information for board leadership on school insurance policies. Learn how to assess whether your school’s insurance coverage is sufficient; how insurance policies are adapting to emerging areas of risk; and understand how the school’s insurance broker should interact with the board. Gain the tools to provide effective oversight of your school’s insurance policies and safeguard your school’s future.