Member Story : Jessica Riches

Working in house

My interest in governance began to grow during my time as a qualified commercial and corporate lawyer working in house for a local authority-owned trading company. The business spans aviation (including Newquay Airport), highways and infrastructure, and care services. In that legal role, I became increasingly aware of the importance of good governance and the value it adds - especially within an organisation majority funded by the public purse and accountable to a broad range of stakeholders.

Promotion

When I was offered a promotion to become Head of Legal and Governance, it felt like the right moment to deepen my expertise. I decided to pursue the Qualifying Programme (QP) with the CGIUKI to ensure I had the technical grounding and confidence necessary to do justice to the role. Our organisation was going through a period of change, and I could clearly see how effective governance could support and guide that transition. Strengthening my governance knowledge became a priority.

Broadening my perspective

The QP has been instrumental in developing my understanding of governance frameworks, principles, and ethical practice. Previously, my work had largely centred on ensuring legal compliance, but the programme broadened my perspective - encouraging me to think beyond minimum standards and towards becoming an ethical governance leader. With a more detailed understanding of governance frameworks, I was able to work closely with the board to shape and implement an approach tailored to our organisation’s needs. This technical grounding has given me the confidence to identify when governance practices fall short of expectations and to take a more strategic approach in my role, including spotting opportunities for improvement and enhancing overall effectiveness.

"I would absolutely recommend the Fast Track route
to others with backgrounds in law, finance,
accountancy, or similar professions."

Growing professionally

Several aspects of the QP have made a significant impact on my professional growth, particularly the technical skills I gained and the confidence I’ve developed in applying them in real-world scenarios. This knowledge has strengthened my ability to provide clear, practical governance advice and to help shape practices that genuinely add value. It also reinforced my appreciation of the pivotal role good governance plays in organisational success, allowing me to contribute at a more strategic level.

Throughout my QP journey, past papers and model answers proved invaluable for revision. I also participated in the CGIUKI Mentorship Scheme, which I found extremely helpful and would highly recommend to anyone undertaking the programme.

A career milestone

Becoming chartered has been a milestone, strengthening my position and helping signal to internal stakeholders that I am the organisation’s governance subject matter expert. It has also helped secure my seat at the board table, where I’ve been able to add meaningful value.

It was particularly important to me that my existing qualifications and background were recognised in my pursuit of becoming Chartered. Balancing study with full time work and a young family is no small undertaking, so knowing that the CGIUKI acknowledged my previous experience played a big role in my decision to commit.

For that reason, I would absolutely recommend the Fast Track route to others with backgrounds in law, finance, accountancy, or similar professions. The two modules selected for the route - Corporate Governance and Risk Management - complement existing professional qualifications well. The Fast Track route gave me the technical expertise I needed to perform my role at the highest level.

Advantages of the Qualifying Programme

The biggest advantages of completing the QP via the Fast Track pathway were the ability to fit study around my working and family life, and the speed of qualification. Knowing I could complete the programme within a year (and that some even complete both exams in one sitting!) made the commitment feel achievable.

While I am the only qualified lawyer within my organisation and work with a small governance team, I would recommend the Fast Track route to colleagues in my wider professional network. The journey has been challenging but hugely rewarding - and ultimately transformative for my career.