Executive Excellence in Company Secretaryship and Governance Leadership

Overview

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.