The training agenda of this Corporate Governance course provides an intensive exploration of the key principles of financial management and the related practices of corporate governance.

Day 1: Foundations and Frameworks of Corporate Governance

• Introduction, codes of practice, implementation, costs and benefits
• Some basic principles: the level playing field
• Corporate governance – the business case
• Good corporate governance and emerging markets
• Industry specifics: banks, government companies
• Legal and regulatory frameworks for governance
• Ethics, corporate social responsibility
• Ethics and culture: the Board's responsibility

Day 2: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Governance Integration

• The pressure for corporate behaviour change
• The Legal Background of CSR
• Company directors' obligations and CSR
• Voluntary measures
• Is CSR "Just Public Relations"?
• CSR and corporate governance links

Day 3: Board Structure, Responsibilities, and Effective Leadership

• Boards, directors and board committees
• The Board – key principles and practicalities
• The Board’s composition and processes
• Duties of a Director
• Promoting the success of the company
• Role of the chairman
• Executive and Non-executive directors
• Making a difference using non-executive directors

Day 4: Governance Challenges, Risks, and Learning from Failures

• Personalities on the Board
• A study in contrasts: BP's “where was the chairman?" vs. Singapore Airlines
• Governance and risk – responsibilities of directors and management
• The board and executive management
• The practicalities of the correct relationship
• The ineffective Board
• Examples of corporate failure: Maxwell, Polly Peck, Enron, WorldcomAnalysis of the banking crisis as a failure of governance
• Sarbanes-Oxley and other regulatory responses to corporate governance failure
• Lessons learned from corporate failures

Day 5: Strengthening Governance, Shareholder Engagement, and Strategy

• Governance in controlled companies
• The Board and strategy
• Shareholders, stakeholders, and the Board
• Case study: Prudential and AIA – time for a review of strategy and engagement with shareholders
• Improving corporate governance in your company
• The Comply or Explain rule
• How to protect the shareholder?
• Communicating with the shareholder
• A Legal framework for corporate governance