As the importance of effective corporate governance continues to be critical in today’s environment, there has been increased focus on the role of the company secretary.
The company secretary acts as one of the key custodians of governance. An effective company secretary requires considerable knowledge, skill and judgement everyday in order to provide an efficient service to the board and other key stakeholders. This demands a blend of talent, dynamism and leadership skills. The latter is often overlooked although it is extremely valuable.
The 1993 Cadbury Report on The Financial Aspects of Corporate Governance noted that:
‘‘The company secretary has a key role to play in ensuring that board procedures are both followed and regularly reviewed. The chairman and the board will look to the company secretary for guidance on what their responsibilities are under the rules and regulations to which they are subject and on how these responsibilities should be discharged. All directors should have access to the advice and services of the company secretary and should recognise that the chairman is entitled to strong support from the company secretary in ensuring the effective functioning of the board.’’
Take a new perspective on the tools that are required to enable you to be an effective company secretary and promote good governance.
What will be Covered:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Identify styles of behaviour that impact the dynamics of a meeting.
- Describe how a company secretary can support a productive working climate during a board meeting.
- Explain how to manage conflict and issues emanating from a Board Evaluation.
Master Class Facilitator - Mrs. Alison Dillon Kibirige
Mrs. Alison Dillon Kibirige is a global expert on corporate governance (Governance, Ethics, CSR and Risk Management). Her work has taken her throughout Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia working for organisations across all three sectors (private, public and not-for-profit) Institutes of Directors and other bodies involved in corporate governance.
Alison has worked for the IFC/Global Corporate Governance Forum on projects in Indonesia, Mongolia, Zambia, Nigeria, Rwanda and Malawi. She has developed a series of workshops for IFC for corporate secretaries in developing and emerging markets, Directors of Banks in Nigeria and for SME Governance.
Alison has worked globally for over 25 years as a governance professional, previously as Secretary to the main Boards of Unilever and Barclays in London. She has also set up and worked as a Director in several SMEs Alison has also been involved in numerous consultations with governments, regulators and industry and professional bodies in Africa, Europe and the US.
She is a Fellow of ICSA and a UK solicitor. Alison was awarded the 2013 ICSA President’s Medal for Meritorious Service, the inaugural ICSA Company Secretary of the Year award in 2005 and has also won awards globally for her work with shareholders.
