Course Introduction
An effective board secretariat is central to the smooth functioning of corporate governance, providing the administrative, procedural and information-management support that enables boards and committees to operate efficiently. This Board Secretariat and Corporate Governance Training Course equips participants with practical knowledge and professional techniques for coordinating board activities, supporting directors, maintaining governance records and strengthening organizational accountability.
The board secretariat serves as an important link between directors, board committees, executive management, shareholders and other governance stakeholders. Participants will examine the responsibilities of the board secretariat, the role of the company secretary and the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries between governance support and executive management. The course emphasizes professional standards for communication, confidentiality, independence, accuracy and timely delivery of governance services.
Effective board administration requires careful planning and disciplined documentation. Participants will develop practical skills in preparing board calendars, agendas, board packs, meeting notices, minutes, resolutions, action registers and governance reports. They will explore methods for ensuring that directors receive accurate, relevant and timely information while maintaining appropriate controls over sensitive corporate documents and governance records.
Corporate governance expectations continue to evolve because of regulatory developments, stakeholder scrutiny, cybersecurity, sustainability considerations, digital transformation and increased board responsibility for organizational risks. The programme therefore examines emerging governance issues, including technology oversight, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data privacy, environmental and social considerations, virtual meetings and digital board platforms. Participants will learn how these developments influence board responsibilities and secretariat practices.
The course also focuses on governance compliance and board effectiveness. Participants will explore statutory and regulatory calendars, committee terms of reference, director declarations, conflicts of interest, board evaluations, induction, succession planning and governance reporting. Practical techniques will help participants track decisions, monitor outstanding actions and ensure that governance obligations are escalated and addressed within appropriate timelines.
By completing the course, participants will be better equipped to provide professional board secretariat services and contribute meaningfully to effective corporate governance. They will gain practical capabilities in board coordination, documentation, compliance support, stakeholder communication, records management and governance improvement. The programme supports participants in becoming trusted governance professionals who help boards operate with greater efficiency, accountability, transparency and strategic focus.
Duration
5 days
Who Should Attend
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Company secretaries and assistant company secretaries responsible for board and corporate governance administration.
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Board secretaries and governance officers supporting directors, committees and senior leadership.
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Board and committee coordinators responsible for meeting preparation, documentation and follow-up.
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Corporate governance professionals seeking to strengthen board secretariat and governance capabilities.
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Executive assistants supporting boards, board chairs, chief executives and senior management.
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Legal professionals involved in corporate governance, statutory compliance and board matters.
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Compliance officers responsible for supporting governance requirements and regulatory reporting.
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Risk professionals providing board-level risk information, reporting and governance support.
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Internal auditors supporting audit committees and board-level assurance processes.
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Senior administrators responsible for governance records, board documentation and corporate registers.
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Directors and board members seeking a stronger understanding of effective board secretariat practices.
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Committee administrators responsible for coordinating audit, risk, remuneration, nominations and other board committees.
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Professionals responsible for statutory calendars, governance registers and corporate records.
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Professionals involved in board evaluation, director induction, governance policies and committee effectiveness.
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Professionals seeking advanced practical knowledge of board secretariat functions and corporate governance administration.
Course Objectives
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Develop a comprehensive understanding of board secretariat functions and their relationship with corporate governance, board effectiveness, accountability and organizational performance.
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Strengthen participants’ ability to coordinate board and committee activities through effective calendars, meeting schedules, notices, agendas, documentation and communication processes.
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Equip participants with practical techniques for preparing high-quality board papers and governance reports that provide directors with accurate, relevant and decision-ready information.
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Build professional competence in preparing board minutes, resolutions, action registers and governance records that accurately reflect decisions and support organizational accountability.
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Enable participants to understand the responsibilities of directors, board chairs, committees, executives and secretariat professionals while maintaining appropriate governance boundaries.
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Improve participants’ ability to support statutory and regulatory compliance through governance calendars, registers, declarations, filings, policy reviews and timely escalation of obligations.
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Strengthen governance information management through appropriate confidentiality, access controls, records retention, document security and digital board administration practices.
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Equip participants to support virtual and hybrid board meetings, electronic approvals, board portals and technology-enabled governance while maintaining procedural integrity and information security.
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Develop practical approaches for supporting board effectiveness through director induction, board evaluations, committee reviews, succession planning and governance improvement initiatives.
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Promote professional excellence in board secretariat services through ethical conduct, independence, continuous improvement, stakeholder responsiveness and consistent application of governance standards.
Comprehensive Course Outline
Module 1: Foundations of Board Secretariat and Corporate Governance
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Principles, objectives and organizational value of corporate governance and professional board secretariat services.
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Roles and responsibilities of company secretaries, board secretaries, directors, chairs, committees and executive management.
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Understanding governance structures, accountability relationships, delegated authority and appropriate boundaries between boards and management.
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Professional principles of confidentiality, independence, integrity, accuracy, responsiveness and effective governance support.
Module 2: Board Structures, Committees and Governance Frameworks
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Understanding board composition, governance structures, committee arrangements, mandates, terms of reference and delegated responsibilities.
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Supporting audit, risk, remuneration, nominations, governance and other committees through effective administrative and reporting processes.
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Maintaining clear relationships between the full board, committees, executive management and governance support functions.
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Managing conflicts of interest, director independence, declarations and other governance matters requiring formal documentation and oversight.
Module 3: Board Planning, Calendars and Meeting Coordination
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Developing annual board and committee calendars that integrate statutory obligations, strategic reviews, reporting cycles and governance activities.
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Coordinating meeting dates, notices, venues, attendance, technology requirements and communications with directors and relevant participants.
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Establishing effective meeting preparation schedules that ensure board papers, reports and supporting information are available within appropriate timelines.
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Managing quorum requirements, meeting protocols, voting arrangements, declarations and procedural requirements during board and committee meetings.
Module 4: Board Agendas, Papers and Information Management
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Developing structured agendas that prioritize strategic matters, governance responsibilities, risks, performance issues and decisions requiring board attention.
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Preparing professional board papers that communicate context, analysis, risks, financial implications, recommendations and proposed decisions clearly.
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Establishing standards for board information that improve accuracy, consistency, relevance, readability and decision-making effectiveness.
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Managing confidential, sensitive, late or incomplete board information while maintaining appropriate controls and protecting governance integrity.
Module 5: Board Minutes, Resolutions and Governance Records
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Applying professional techniques for preparing concise and accurate board minutes that capture material discussions, decisions and governance considerations.
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Recording resolutions, approvals, declarations, action commitments and other formal matters in accordance with applicable governance requirements.
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Establishing processes for review, approval, correction, circulation and secure retention of board minutes and governance documentation.
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Maintaining reliable governance records that provide evidence of board decisions, accountability, compliance and organizational oversight.
Module 6: Governance Compliance and Statutory Administration
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Maintaining governance calendars and registers for statutory filings, regulatory requirements, board obligations, policy reviews and important corporate deadlines.
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Supporting director appointments, resignations, declarations, interests, disclosures and other governance records requiring accurate administration.
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Coordinating corporate governance documentation and compliance information required by regulators, shareholders, members and other authorized stakeholders.
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Establishing escalation processes for overdue governance obligations, compliance concerns, regulatory changes and matters requiring board attention.
Module 7: Board Decision Follow-Up and Governance Reporting
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Establishing board action registers that capture decisions, responsible owners, deadlines, status updates and evidence of completed actions.
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Monitoring management responses to board and committee decisions and ensuring important commitments are reported back within agreed timelines.
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Preparing governance reports, compliance updates, risk information and committee summaries that support informed board oversight.
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Using tracking systems and escalation mechanisms to identify overdue, recurring or high-priority governance actions requiring intervention.
Module 8: Digital Board Secretariat and Emerging Governance Issues
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Using board portals, electronic document systems, workflow tools and secure communication platforms to improve board administration and information accessibility.
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Managing virtual and hybrid board meetings while maintaining participation, confidentiality, voting, documentation and procedural requirements.
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Understanding emerging board responsibilities relating to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data privacy, digital transformation and technology risk.
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Establishing appropriate information security, access control, document retention and technology governance practices for sensitive board materials.
Module 9: Board Effectiveness, Director Support and Stakeholder Relations
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Supporting director induction, continuing development, board evaluations and succession planning to strengthen governance capability and effectiveness.
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Coordinating board and committee evaluations and using structured feedback to identify opportunities for improving governance performance.
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Managing professional communication between directors, executives, shareholders, regulators, members and other governance stakeholders.
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Providing timely, accurate and impartial administrative support while preserving appropriate confidentiality, governance independence and professional standards.
Module 10: Governance Excellence and Continuous Improvement
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Developing governance performance indicators that measure board effectiveness, meeting quality, decision follow-up, compliance and secretariat service performance.
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Reviewing governance processes against changing legal, regulatory, technological and stakeholder expectations to identify improvement opportunities.
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Strengthening governance continuity through effective records management, knowledge transfer, succession planning and documented administrative processes.
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Establishing a culture of governance excellence based on accountability, transparency, ethical conduct, professional administration and continuous improvement.
Training Approach
This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.
Tailor-Made Course
This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808
Training Venue
The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group (at a discount of 10% to 50%) at requested location all over the world. The Onsite course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, buffet lunch, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, and guided tour.
Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant
Certification
Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.
Airport Pickup and Accommodation
Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808
Terms of Payment:
Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.
