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When Shyaam Raivadera was appointed to the board of Stride, Australia’s longest serving mental health service provider, he was fulfilling a life-long promise of helping to support people at their most vulnerable. Still in his earlier 30s, Shyaam is breaking the mould of your average silver-haired, Anglo-Celtic board director, challenging the status quo and bringing a purpose-led approach to the boardroom that goes beyond crunching numbers and managing risk.
Shyaam spent his childhood around the healthcare system, experiencing firsthand its vital role, and he knew someday he too wanted to do his part. He has since lived up to that ambition by dedicating his career to the health and human services sector as a Consulting Partner at EY Australia, advising on governance, operations and transformation to support organisations deliver essential services in our communities.
More recently, by joining the board of Stride a year ago, he is now able to apply his business nous and life experience to influence decisions that improve the lives of thousands of people experiencing issues with mental health.
“For me, being on the board of Stride has been about ensuring we have a real connection to our consumers and our staff, while also keeping pace with how the health systems operate in today’s world and tackling challenges with a fresh perspective and purpose.”
“Protecting the sustainability of an organisation like Stride, that’s had roots since 1907, comes with a lot of responsibility and we want to make sure it’s around for another 100 years, continuing to drive outcomes and improved access for all Australians. To do that we need to be asking the right questions and challenging with respect.”
Taking on a boardroom role was a steep learning curve for Shyaam. Before stepping into the role, he took part in a 6-month training program at EY Australia called Ignite, dedicated to equipping socially aware emerging leaders to become boardroom-ready with a combination of formal learning and development, mentorship and real-life experience tailored to their aspirations.
EY’s Ignite co-sponsoring Partner Brad Tozer says: “The evolving landscape of the issues that board members need to be across has changed markedly. Fifteen years ago, the typical board agenda items revolved around financial statements and risk. These days we can see the scope of issues that boards are focussed on is much wider, particularly remuneration, culture and more recently ESG with the development of sustainability standards.
“Instead of a board role being something that is inaccessible and seen as a partner-only aspiration, we want people who are 20, 30 years old to begin their board journey with for-purpose and community organisations. We want our people out there contributing to their community – it’s a double benefit for us, having smart technical people helping community groups will strengthen our society but also give EY people another chance to embrace their personal purpose.”
EY’s Ignite program, now in its third year, is a training ground for the next generation of boardroom directors like Shyaam who think critically about the role they play in creating a positive legacy, and shaping the future of the organisations and the societies they serve. Participants are assigned mentors – typically EY leaders who currently hold board director roles – based on their aspirations, ranging from supporting children, refugees, Indigenous communities, gender equality, environment and sustainability and freedom of speech.
According to Watermark’s 2024 Board Diversity Index, the average age of board directors on the top ASX300 listed companies is 61, with 91% from an Anglo-Celtic background. In comparison, of the 32 participants accepted in this year’s Ignite program, 65% are female, 44% come from non-Anglo-Celtic backgrounds and all are under 50 years of age.
Still in its infancy, so far the Ignite program has seen five participants take up boardroom roles in sectors including education, mental health and not-for-profits. As the program grows, it promises to bring much needed diversity to more boardrooms – reflecting the make-up of our society and the people these organisations represent.
Shyaam says: “At this stage of my career, I'd never thought about sitting on a board, but that’s what this program is all about. It’s been about encouraging leaders to join a board and how it can help live out your purpose.”