Boards with Purpose - Zoe Black and Mark Osborn

Zoe and Mark generously take us inside the Happy Paws Happy Hearts organisation and board, sharing its journey of impact measurement so far. 

Here are just a handful of many noteworthy takeaways.
 

• Traditional output metrics fall short. A robust Theory of Change fundamentally reshaped how Happy Paws Happy Hearts understands and delivers impact. 
    

• Measuring impact requires trauma‑aware approaches that avoid retraumatising participants while still capturing meaningful outcomes. 
  
  

• Thoughtful impact reporting can strengthen participant agency, giving beneficiaries tools to advocate for themselves in complex support systems. 
  
  

• Embedding impact into organisational strategy demands board commitment—integrating it into dashboards, conversations and decision‑making processes. 
  
  

• Purpose‑driven organisations must carefully balance scale and sustainability without compromising the integrity of their mission. 
  
  

• Effective governance requires navigating shifting NDIS reforms, regional growth pressures, and a clearly defined risk appetite. 
  
  

• Leadership wellbeing is critical; conversations about burnout, sabbaticals and “healthy compassion” reveal what it takes to sustain impactful work over the long term.