Practical insights into corporate governance
Law@work, UCT Faculty of Law, is pleased to be offering the following five-day course in corporate governance."Corporate governance can be defined as the system by which companies are directed and controlled through relationships between a company's management, its board, its shareholders and other stakeholders."
An important element of any good corporate governance system is the clear definition of the role, duties, rights, and expectations of each of these stakeholders operating within a dynamic environment. Since 2001, corporate governance has received renewed interest internationally. This was due to high-profile company collapses. Enron and WorldCom in the US and the Global Financial Crisis in 2008/2009. Saambou and African Bank are further examples of high profile corporate collapses in South Africa and poor corporate governance. Companies are required to act in a responsible manner and in this regard directors and management must give due to regard to social, environmental and economic factors if sustainable performance is to be maintained.
"The proper governance of companies will become as crucial to the world economy as the proper governance of countries." Jim Wolfersohn - President of the World Bank 1998
King III, developed in South Africa, is an example of an internationally regarded highly authoritative corporate governance code as well as the Code for Responsible Investing in South Africa (CRISA). These Codes together with the key applicable legislation set the frameworks within which all organisations should operate.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
• Corporate lawyers
• Compliance officers
• Risk managers
• Company secretaries
• Aspirant directors, board committee members
• Senior managers
• Officers charged with governance duties in an organisation
COURSE OUTLINE:
The following topics will be dealt with during the course of the week:
• An overview of corporate governance
• International corporate governance trends
• Evolution of corporate governance in South Africa
• A review of King III, including ethical leadership and governance of ethics
• Regulation and legal entities
• Directors' and officers' roles and responsibilities
• Audit committees - internal and external auditors
• The role of the company secretary
• Strategy, risk governance and risk management
• Compliance
• IT governance
• Integrated reporting
• Sustainability corporate social responsibility and CSI
• Remuneration governance
• Responsible Investing
• Key trends including brief insights around King IV
COURSE PRESENTER
Richard Foster is a corporate governance advisor and independent chairman/non-executive director. His qualifications include FCIS; HFinstD, HDip company law (Wits); HDip tax law (RAU); PG Dip corporate governance (RAU) (with distinction).
Richard, a qualified chartered secretary with post graduate qualifications in corporate law, tax law and corporate governance, has held senior management positions in two of the largest global groups based in South Africa during his corporate career. Prior to joining Old Mutual in 2001, where he held the position of group secretary until July 2013, the bulk of his career was spent with Anglo American, inter alia, occupying the position of group secretary of Mondi Limited. He has over the years, been responsible for corporate secretariat, risk, corporate insurance and legal services functions and has held/holds, certain non-executive directorships/chairmanships in various companies including regulated entities within the financial services industry both in South Africa and overseas.
Richard currently operates an independent consultancy specialising in corporate governance and also serves as a professional independent non-executive director.
Date: 30 May 2016 to 03 June 2016Venue: Cape Town, Cape Town
Cost: R10,000 per delegate. Includes parking, teas, lunches, course materials.
More info:
Instructions regarding the programme and directions to the venue will be sent to you electronically a week prior to the event.