Introduction:

In today’s complex corporate landscape, the Company Secretary plays a pivotal role in ensuring legal compliance, upholding governance standards, and supporting the Board’s strategic decision-making. This advanced program equips seasoned governance professionals with cutting-edge knowledge, leadership strategies, and practical frameworks to excel in the evolving role of Company Secretary and governance leader.

Program Objectives:

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

Lead corporate governance strategy at an executive level with global best practice alignment.
Interpret and apply complex legal, regulatory, and compliance frameworks in diverse business contexts.
Enhance board effectiveness through strategic advisory, meeting management, and evaluation processes.
Strengthen stakeholder engagement and crisis governance capabilities.
Drive innovation in governance through digital transformation and emerging leadership practices.

Target Audience:

Senior Company Secretaries and Chartered Secretaries.
General Counsels and Legal Advisers.
Board Secretaries in public, private, or listed companies.
Senior Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) leaders.
Corporate Affairs Directors with governance oversight.

Program Outline:

Unit 1:

The Evolving Role of the Company Secretary:

Strategic positioning of the Company Secretary in corporate governance.
Shifting expectations: From compliance custodian to governance leader.
Advisory role to the Board and senior leadership.
Enhancing influence through strategic communication and presence.
Best practice benchmarks in global governance.

Unit 2:

Advanced Corporate Governance Frameworks:

Comparative governance models: OECD, King IV, UK Corporate Governance Code.
Roles, duties, and liabilities of directors and officers.
Integrating ESG into governance agendas.
Managing conflicts of interest and ethical dilemmas at the board level.
Ensuring effective Board and Committee charters and protocols.

Unit 3:

Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance Mastery:

Regulatory updates impacting governance.
Corporate laws, securities regulations, and listing requirements.
Managing shareholder rights and general meeting protocols.
Drafting, reviewing, and interpreting governance policies.
Compliance risk assessment and audit readiness.

Unit 4:

Strategic Board Support and Leadership:

Designing and managing high-impact board agendas.
Effective minute-taking for strategic decision tracking.
Leveraging governance technology and board portals.
Board evaluation frameworks and continuous improvement.
Managing boardroom dynamics and building trust with directors.

Unit 5:

Governance, Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement:

Building organisational governance culture.
Stakeholder mapping and strategic engagement plans.
Crisis governance and communication during organisational challenges.
Championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in governance.
Future-ready governance leadership: Digitalisation, AI, and innovation.

Executive Excellence in Company Secretaryship and Governance Leadership