Impartial or Independent Chairperson

When the Stakes Are High, Get the Chair Right

An AGM that isn’t chaired properly isn’t just uncomfortable — it’s invalid. The whole thing has to be done again. That’s an expensive and embarrassing outcome nobody wants. Getting it right the first time requires someone with a genuine depth of knowledge, the credentials to back it up, and the experience to handle whatever the room throws at them.

That’s where I come in.

The Six Qualities That Matter Most

When you bring in an independent chairperson, you’re not just hiring a traffic controller for your meeting. You’re bringing in someone who will hold the room together. Here’s what I bring to the chair:

Fair — When impartiality isn’t optional, I won’t take sides. Ever. The decisions belong to the group, not to me.

Firm — Conflict happens. I know how to manage it calmly, without the meeting derailing or descending into chaos.

Focused — I apply a clear philosophy: the Greatest Good for the Greatest Number. Every agenda item gets the attention it deserves.

Efficient — Over 35+ years, I’ve developed deep expertise in communication and meeting procedures. Meetings I chair don’t drift.

Effective — I’ve authored four books on meeting procedures. This isn’t theory. It’s practice, refined over decades.

Equitable — I know the rules and I apply them fairly. Every participant is treated with the same respect and given the same opportunity to be heard.

The Art of the Modern Meeting: Melded Procedures

Here’s something most people don’t talk about. Effective chairing isn’t about rigidly applying formal procedure to every item on the agenda. That’s a recipe for a stilted, frustrating meeting. Equally, running everything informally invites confusion and challenge.

The skill — and it genuinely is a skill — is knowing when to use which approach.

Think of it like a pilot switching between autopilot and manual control. Routine items cruise along on informal procedures. Contentious issues? That’s when the formal processes provide the structure and protection the group needs.

Formal + informal procedures blended together = Modern Melded Meeting Procedures.

This is the contemporary way of running meetings, and it’s what separates a good chair from a great one.

Why Hire Me?

As an experienced independent chairperson, I understand constitutions, compliance and governance — not just in theory, but in practice. I’ve managed the full spectrum of meeting dynamics: the heated debates, the personality clashes, the procedural challenges, and the moments when a room holds its breath waiting for someone to show leadership.

My job is always the same: find the correct and calmest path for the group to make the decisions that need to be made.

When I chair your meeting, something important happens. The group can see immediately that the intent is equitable and reasonable. That visible impartiality creates space — space for more open discussion, more honest debate, and better decisions.

The short bloke in the room is always on your side. But he’s not on anyone’s side.

That’s exactly what you need.

Ready to talk? Contact David to discuss your next AGM, special general meeting, or any gathering where an independent chair would make all the difference.