The presentation is divided into four modules. Module 1 creates an overall definition of what corporate governance really means and examines its scope. Module 2 deals with the role of the Board in corporate governance and deals with aspects that are applicable to both public as well as private sectors, including not-for-profit organizations. Module 3 deals with the “deployment” of governance. While the Board or governing body may set direction, the day-to-day compliance, accountability, and delivery of results and outcomes rests with management. Module 4 builds on learning to date by starting to project this in a broader context. While governance has been a hot topic in the first part of the 21st century, the problems with the existing approaches started back in the 1980s. Looking at this history, as well as at other change initiatives that are taking place in organizations and in society, we can begin to predict where corporate governance may be headed in the future.

This seminar covers major areas of interest within the topic of governance. The learning outcomes that are expected for this seminar are for you to be able to understand the following: the concept of governance, how external and internal accountabilities are related, how management’s role and internal control systems are a core component of corporate governance, the link between governance and risk management, and what governance means for professional advisors.

This seminar contains an audio component and printed handout materials. There is a brief quiz at the end of each module to test your understanding of the concepts and to help you increase your retention of the material. Once you have answered the questions, you will be able to see your results against the suggested responses, which will allow you, if required, to revisit any material that may need additional work.

Module 2: Boards, Directors, and Their Accountability for Governance

Module 3: Management’s Accountability for Governance

Module 4: Governance — Where Is It All Heading?

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE is authored and presented by Nick Shepherd, CGA, FCMC, FCCA. He is President of EduVision Inc. and has been providing consulting and training services to both the public and private sectors for the past 14 years. His public sector consulting experience includes work with both the federal and provincial governments as well as school boards in a wide area of topics, including areas that impact on governance. In the private sector, Nick consults in areas such as quality, cost, and service management, as well as measurement systems and business planning — areas that relate very closely to the issue of effective corporate governance. Prior to consulting, Nick had more than 25 years of private sector experience, including that of President (and prior to that, VP Finance) of an industrial parts distribution business, VP Finance of a computer equipment and services company, and several other financial positions in electronics and other manufacturing and service organizations.