I am delighted to have been able to put this book together with the help of so many people who are passionate about what goes on in the board room and with improving governance around the world. The inspiration for the book came from the myriad of people I have met who are interested in knowing more about how to be effective directors. Their questions and queries over the yearsmade it clear to me that there seemed to be a gap in the tools and training directors have access to. Trying to limit yourself to the most important topics and the top twenty or so questions for each topic has seen this book’s remit grow. Already therefore we have agreed that this will be the first in a series of books to explore all the topics and issues of boardroom discussions within different industries and different types of organisations – a plethora of books to write for many years to come. My first thanks go to, Claire Fargeot, my co-editor, who without hesitation gave up her time and energy to support me in completing this book. Her willingness to help with her network, her efficiency and ability to hold me to account has been invaluable as we started the journey of first completing and then publishing my first book. The chapter authors deserve real acknowledgement too as all of them are busy working senior practitioners or academics who have either found the time, or found the patience, to put up with our demands. Often at incredibly short notice chapters have been drafted, reviewed and completed. Other authors have seen their initial drafts from over two years back suddenly be re-invigorated. Without their help this book would never have been started and I wouldn’t be looking forward with excitement to seeing this book available for everyone to read. Thank you also to Routledges’s commissioning editor, Rebecca Marsh, and the editing team for working with me in this endeavour.

Charlotte Valeur