The "Bus Factor": A governance risk you’re probably ignoring

We talk a lot about financial risk (running out of money) and reputational risk (ending up in the paper for the wrong reasons). But I rarely hear Boards talk about the "Bus Factor."

It’s a grim hypothetical: If your Secretary got hit by a bus tomorrow, would the organisation survive?

I don’t mean emotionally. I mean, does anyone else know the password to the bank account? Does anyone else know where the grant acquittal documents are saved? Or is that entire history locked inside one person’s head (or worse, their personal laptop)?

Governance isn't just about reading the Treasurer’s report. It’s about building a system that survives the people who built it.

If your organisation relies on "Susan just knowing how to do it," you aren't governing; you're gambling. It’s time to get those processes out of heads and onto paper (or SharePoint). It’s not about mistrusting Susan—it’s about respecting her legacy enough to make sure it lasts.