Why stepping away from work helped Ben King sharpen his impact as a director

For Ben King, founder of Aviato Consulting and a director across multiple organisations, including AI health platform Nabu, undertaking the Company Directors Course was about strengthening his effectiveness at board level.

Despite extensive experience in technology and venture environments, King recognised a gap between operational expertise and governance best practice.“

I think the Company Directors Course complemented my tech experience and board experience by showing me what right is,” he said. “When you join a board, the board has norms and procedures and processes and culture… and how do you know if that’s good?”

That question became a key motivator. While King had completed an MBA and built a strong career in technology, he was looking for clearer frameworks to assess governance and contribute more effectively as a director.

The course offered that perspective - but it was the residential format that ultimately shaped his decision.

“The reason I chose the residential Company Directors Course is I just can’t spend that amount of time focusing online,” he said. “So it had to be in person.”

For King, long hours of virtual learning simply weren’t effective. The residential format, by contrast, provided the structure and focus needed to fully engage with complex governance concepts.

“The choice of in person in Sydney or some other large city or residential was a pretty easy one,” he said. “You’ve got dedicated time to focus on the course without the distractions or the commute.”

Stepping away from daily responsibilities proved critical. Without the usual interruptions, he was able to concentrate fully and engage more deeply with both the material and his peers.

Connection was a defining part of the experience. Participants spent time together beyond structured sessions — over meals and informal discussions — which helped bring the content to life.

“You’re spending all of that time networking with the other people,” he said. “Having breakfast and dinner and discussing the course content over those was key.”

These conversations helped extend the learning beyond the classroom, allowing participants to share perspectives and apply concepts across different industries and board contexts.

The relationships formed during the week have continued well beyond the course. The cohort established a WhatsApp group that remains active, with members sharing insights and supporting each other.

“I think having that time away from the hustle and bustle and having to commute really helps you build those connections and start your networking as a director,” he said.

Alongside the networking benefits, the course delivered practical insights that reshaped how he approaches governance - particularly in understanding director responsibilities.

“Nobody apart from lawyers ever wants to read the Corporations Act,” he said. “So having that distilled down into what I’m responsible for and what I need to do as a director was key for me.”

The course also shifted his thinking on risk - especially in cyber security, an area where he already had deep technical expertise.

“One aspect of the Company Directors Course that really had a paradigm shift in my thinking was viewing cyber risk,” he said. “I used to view cyber risk as separately from other risks… and the course really framed this as it’s another risk to be managed by the board.”

By placing cyber risk within broader governance frameworks, the course helped him move from a technical perspective to a strategic, board-level view.

Ultimately, the combination of focused learning, peer connection and time away from day-to-day demands made the experience particularly impactful - equipping King with the frameworks, perspective and network to strengthen his contribution as a director.

Learn more about the Company Directors Course and upcoming residential programs.