London/Dublin, 23 October 2014 – These days, trust and transparency, or the lack of them, are headline news. Companies, charities and public bodies all need help to put the right governance arrangements in place, but where does the responsibility lie?
“Governance is a board level responsibility,” says Andrew Kakabadse, Professor of Governance and Leadership at Henley Business School “and the company secretary plays a critical role in the implementation of good governance practices.”
A renowned expert in how to improve the performance of top executives and their teams, Andrew believes that chairmen and CEOs should make better use of in-house expertise to cut the risk of governance failures. “We are used to the roles of chairmen and CEO working effectively together at the top of organisations, but really effective companies have a third member of the top team to deliver best practice in corporate governance,” he says of the company secretary.
On 4 November, Andrew will be speaking in Dublin at a breakfast briefing and networking event for senior governance professionals. He will discuss his research into how company secretaries help organisations build trust through governance, as well as demonstrating how companies are adding value by implementing governance best practice. “Company secretaries hold leadership positions dealing with complexity, confusion, and ambiguity, all of which need resolutions that satisfy the elected board and appointed executive,” according to Andrew. “My research clearly shows the need for a qualified company secretary at the highest levels within the public, private and voluntary sectors to help steer boards through increasingly challenging governance issues.”
The event, which takes place at The Conrad Hotel in Dublin, is being organised by ICSA Ireland, the chartered membership and qualifying body for professionals working in governance, risk and compliance, including company secretaries.
The event starts at 7.45am and will be of particular interest to executives and non-executive directors, chairmen, risk and compliance officers, finance and HR directors and company secretaries. “We will offer practical insights into how to get the most out of the company secretary role in your organisation, the impact on the role of changes in your sector and the effect they are having on all those in the boardroom,” says ICSA Policy & Research Director Peter Swabey who is hosting the event. “We want to bring together all of the key players in the governance community to discuss the research findings and consider how this will impact the wider business, not-for-profit and public sector environment.”
The event is free to attend, but booking is essential. Places can be booked online here.
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For further information, please contact Maria Brookes, Media Relations Manager:
mbrookes@icsa.org.uk
+44 (0)20 7612 7072
+44 (0)7890 649 143
Notes to Editors:
1 ICSA (Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators) is the chartered membership and qualifying body for professionals working in governance, risk and compliance, including company secretaries. Our members work in all sectors and at every level of seniority. With over 120 years of experience, we champion high governance standards by providing qualifications, training, high-quality guidance and support (including technical resources, publications and software), and through our work with regulators and policy makers.
Website: www.icsa.org.uk
2 ICSA Ireland is the representative body of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) in the Republic of Ireland. The Irish Region is governed by its own Council and sub-committees representing all areas of business in which the members work. ICSA Ireland has approximately 600 members and 200 students with many of its members working in the corporate and professional services sectors.
Through its Council and sub-committees it provides a range of services to members and students, including the organisation of educational and social events. Council also makes representations and submissions to Government Departments and Governance Forums on behalf of the ICSA members.
Website: www.icsacharteredsecretaries.ie
3 Professors Andrew and Nada Kakabadse are experts in global top team and board consulting, training and development. Andrew is Professor of Governance and Leadership at Henley Business School. His wife Nada is Professor of Policy, Governance and Ethics at Henley Business School. More details can be found at http://www.kakabadse.com/about-us
4 For background information, or to download a copy of the Henley research, visit: www.icsa.org.uk/cosecreport
5 To hear Professor Andrew Kakabadse, of Henley Business School, discuss the Company Secretary Report's key findings, watch the video below:
