Independent Governance Services Ltd
Dauniika Maclean
Administrative & VA services
The governance backbone for boards that want to get it right.
Good governance is only as strong as the record it leaves behind.
Who I help
Boards, trusts, committees, and charities across Aotearoa that need their governance run well, from the agenda through to the actions.
The problem I solve
Board administration ends up with whoever has time: an executive assistant, a CEO, or a volunteer. Papers arrive late, minutes lag, actions get lost, and the board can't show a clear record of its decisions.
My point of difference
IGS are the only scaled outsourced board secretariat in New Zealand. Every client is supported by a team of experienced board secretaries, not one person, so cover is always there. I also bring AI-assisted minute-taking into governance workflows, with standards that keep minutes accurate, defensible, and confidential.
My niche market
Not-for-profits and charities, iwi and Māori entities, education, health, financial services, and growing SMEs. In short, anyone with a board who would rather govern than administer.
Key benefits
Board packs out on time, every time Minutes that are well summarised and make sense to an outside reader Actions tracked through to completion Your directors and executives get their time back A governance record that stands up to audit, regulators, and future boards
Problems my clients avoid
Late papers, disputed minutes, lost actions, compliance gaps, and the risk of losing the one person who "knows how the board works". They also avoid paying law firm rates for work that doesn't need a lawyer.
About
Independent Governance Services (IGS) provides outsourced board administration and company secretariat services to boards, committees, and trusts across New Zealand. IGS was formed in October 2025 through the merger of my business, Board Administration Services (founded 2018), with IGS. We now support around 30 organisations across the corporate, not-for-profit, education, health, financial services, technology, and state-owned sectors.
Products and services
- Board secretariat: agenda setting, board pack collation and distribution, meeting attendance, minutes, and action tracking - Committee support: audit and risk, people and culture, finance, and more - Company secretarial and interim governance cover - Board portal setup and optimisation (BoardPro, Tūtaki, and others) - AI-assisted minute-taking: setup, standards, and team training - Governance training for board secretaries and executive assistants
Why I am a member
I've built my business on referrals and relationships, and many of the best of both have come from other women in business. I joined to connect with women who are building something, to share what I know about governance, and to keep learning from people outside my own field.
An offer for you
A complimentary 30-minute governance health check for any member's board or advisory board. I'll review your meeting cycle, board pack, and minutes, and give you three practical improvements you can make straight away.
Testimonials
"Taking meeting minutes is a real skill, especially when your business is highly regulated and financially complex. We really struggled to accurately capture the key discussion points and decisions from our meetings using internal staff as minute takers. Then we were introduced to Dauniika at IGS and she has solved all our problems. She is a master at capturing just the right level of detail to produce professional minutes in a timely and accurate manner. She has quickly learned our “jargon” and consistently delivers a great set of minutes after each meeting. I very rarely need to make any changes. Thankyou so much!!!" Marise James Chair ARACC Midlands Funds Management Limited
Skills
- Award-winning
- Board & company secretarial
- Boards & governance
- Charity governance reviews
- Corporates
- Governance training
- Nationwide
- Not-for-profits
- Startups
An invitation
Kia ora! If your board papers are always a scramble, let's talk. Email dauniika@igs.nz to book a 30-minute kōrero.