About Us
We support Institute members and students in the Yorkshire area. This includes North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.
We are volunteers who work together with the team at the Institute to provide free and low cost CPD activities, local networking opportunities and activities which raise the Institute’s profile. Our events are open to subscribers and non-members who would like to learn more about the Institute are also welcome to join us.
Our branch committee meets regularly to plan events and discuss new areas of activity. If you would like to make a suggestion of what you’d like us to focus on in the coming months, or are interested in finding out more about what the committee does, please get in touch.
Upcoming events
Our branches offer a variety of events to support your professional development at every stage of your career. Whether you to want brush up on your knowledge and skills, network with peers or add to your CPD, we run sessions on a variety of topics and in a variety of formats, with contributions from experts and guest speakers across the governance community.
Event
Subsidiary Governance Conference 2025
This year, the Chartered Governance Institute’s Subsidiary Governance Conference is back to explore the evolving landscape currently impacting parent and subsidiary companies. By investigating a range of geopolitical, economic, legal and regulatory issues, this event aims to better equip participants with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate these complex governance challenges.
Annual Conference
Governance 2025
*******Governance 2025 Day One Sold Out*******
Join us at our 2025 Annual Conference, ‘Navigating Governance: Adapting to an Evolving World’ on 1st and 2nd July at the Novotel Hammersmith West in London. Hundreds of governance professionals and expert speakers in London for two days of insight, discussions on best practice and debate.
The CGI Annual Conference – Governance 2025 is the ideal environment to network governance professionals from across the UK and beyond.
Prices will start from £250 with discounted rates available for CGI Members and Students.
Latest Blogs
Blog
The Institute's Response to the UK Stewardship Code Consultation
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has finished consulting on its proposed changes to the Code. The UK Stewardship Code sets a standard for how investors manage their responsibilities and aims to ensure that investment decisions drive long-term value and create positive societal outcomes.
Meet the team
The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland maintains a presence in Yorkshire and Humber through its local branch committee. The local branch strives to enhance the presence of the Institute within North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, to support members and students throughout their careers and study programmes, as qualified or aspiring governance professionals. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact us.
Branch Chair
Mark Howorth ACG
Mark is an experienced governance professional and has a wide variety of experience in governance across different sectors including professional sports, education, public sector, finance, charity and housing.
Mark is the Chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Branch and Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland. Mark is a Chartered Company Secretary and a Member of the Institute of Leadership. Mark is also the Chair and a trustee of Beyond the Margin, a charity in Bradford who deliver community-based interventions that improve wellbeing, raise aspirations and enhance skills.
Away from work, Mark enjoys spending time with his children, listening to music and reading.
Secretary
Evie Page ACG
Evie is the Secretary of the Yorkshire & Humber Branch and is a Manager within the Entity Governance & Compliance team at PwC. Her governance career began in Guernsey, Channel Islands, where she worked for a private professional services provider before relocating to Yorkshire in 2022. Evie then gained experience working in-house as an Assistant Company Secretary. Throughout her career, Evie has managed large, complex structures across multiple jurisdictions. During the completion of the CGI International Finance and Administration and Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme, Evie has earned awards for achieving the highest marks in six exam sittings since 2018.
Committee Member
Farha Nazakat ACG
Farha Nazakat boasts over 12 years of experience within the secretarial departments of various Private Companies and FTSE 100/250 companies in India and the UK. Her passion for governance is the cornerstone of her professional ethos. Driven by the pursuit of excellence in this field, Farha's commitment extends to supporting student members and championing their engagement. Over the years, Farha has demonstrated exceptional dedication and expertise, further solidifying her role as a key advocate for the continuous development of governance practices. She is currently working in a global utility company listed on Euronext and is keen to bring her passion and expertise to contribute to the committee’s mission and to advocate for the continuous development of governance practices.
Committee Member
Lesley Ward FCG
Lesley Ward FCG has been a chartered Governance Professional for 20 years with experience of working in the charity, public and private sector, as well as 5 years working for CGIUKI. She is also an International Coaching Federation accredited coach and has coached and mentored governance professionals at all points in their career and in different roles. She is passionate about supporting governance professionals to thrive in their roles, including via their local branches.
Committee Member
Rachel Bradford FCG
Rachel is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute with over 15 years’ experience working in company secretarial and governance roles in a variety of sectors including FTSE and AIM listed companies, charitable and Higher Education sectors and professional services. She is currently Assistant Company Secretary at the National Wealth Fund. Outside of work Rachel spends her time running around after her son and she enjoys walking her dog, practicing yoga, and reading.
Contact the Yorkshire branch
For membership and study enquiries please contact the student and membership team:
For branch support and event queries please contact the branch support team: