Are you a board member of a corporate entity, looking to enhance your contribution to the board, to address governance issues and to improve the governance practices in the organization? This course will provide you with the practical guidance you need to become a governance champion on your board. The instructor describes the Canadian corporate governance environment and highlights key issues facing corporate boards today. The course identifies signs of governance problems and provides practical guidance on governance best practices to tackle common issues. Using case studies of governance failures, as well as governance success stories, the instructor illustrates why effective decision making at the board and senior leadership level is critical. The cases help in identifying key takeaways and governance do's and don’ts. The course also introduces topics including the Governance as Leadership philosophy, corporate culture and tone at the top. 


Learning Objectives

  1. Define governance and its components.
  2. Explain why corporate governance is critical for the success of a business.
  3. Describe the Canadian corporate governance environment.
  4. Identify key issues that corporate boards face.
  5. Identify signs of governance problems in any corporate entity.
  6. Identify best practices at the board, management and staff/operational levels.
  7. Apply the Governance as Leadership model.
  8. Identify insights gained from examining governance success stories.
  9. Explain the importance of the tone at the top of any organization.
  10. Describe characteristics of “corporate psychopaths”.


Topics Covered

  • Definition and components of governance
  • Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders involved in the corporate sector 
  • Key issues facing corporate boards
  • Globe and Mail corporate governance rankings
  • Signs of governance problems
  • Examples of governance failures
  • Governance as leadership model, including fiduciary, generative and strategic components
  • Board responsibilities, evaluation, size, composition, recruitment and renewal
  • Management responsibilities and evaluation
  • Quality of information
  • Employee engagement 
  • Plain language communication 
  • Conducting effective meetings
  • Governance success stories and award winners
  • CCGG Gavel Awards and best practices
  • Tone at the top

Instructor

Founder and Lead Instructor, UltimQuest Knowledge Inc.

Arun K. Mathur, FCPA, FCA, LPA

Arun is Partner at Gerald Duthie & Co. LLP, where he provides professional services to a diverse group of clients. Arun is also Owner and Lead Instructor at UltimQuest Knowledge Inc. He has been delivering corporate training on improving governance, ethics, internal control, performance measurement and related topics. He provides live and online training through CPA bodies across Canada and Bermuda. Arun served for several years on the Board for HealthForce Ontario Marketing and Recruitment Agency, and was also Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee there and for the Trillium Gift of Life Network. He has served on the CMA Ontario's Review Committee prior to the merger.
CPA Alberta
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OSBIE
CPA Canada