Code of Conduct for Virtual Board Meetings

Code of Conduct for Virtual Board Meetings

Virtual board meetings are a relatively new phenomenon. In contrast, the structured discipline of face-to-face board meetings has been built on centuries of tradition. As a result, many organisations are still developing best practices to ensure virtual meetings are conducted efficiently while meeting governance requirements.

The following checklist outlines key principles that will likely form the foundation of a code of conduct for virtual board meetings. Each organisation may adapt these guidelines to suit its specific needs.

Code of Conduct for Directors at Virtual Meetings

• The Meeting Director (or Chairperson) controls the meeting.

• All members must comply promptly with any requests or instructions from the Meeting Director.

• Members must keep their video cameras on at all times unless instructed otherwise by the Meeting Director.

• Members must mute their microphones unless specifically directed to unmute by the Meeting Director.

• Members should use the ‘raise hand’ feature when they wish to speak.

• Members must wait until called upon before unmuting their microphone and speaking.

• Members must clearly identify themselves by name before speaking.

• Members must remain fully engaged in the meeting and avoid distractions such as:

  • Reading or responding to emails

  • Reviewing documents unrelated to the current meeting

  • Browsing the internet for non-meeting-related purposes

• Members should only type or use their keyboard when required to respond to a question from the Meeting Director or to take notes directly related to the discussion.

By adhering to these guidelines, organisations can maintain professionalism, efficiency, and governance integrity in their virtual board meetings.

[Updated: March 2025]