Company Directors Course Establishing director knowledge

Company Directors CourseEstablishing director knowledge

A comprehensive and credible learning program for directors

Lear

nin

g Le

vel

Pro

gram

sSh

ort

Cou

rses

Fou

nda

tion

s of

Dir

ecto

rsh

ip

•St

rate

gy&

Ris

k

•G

over

nanc

e

•Fi

nanc

e

Com

pany

D

irec

tors

Co

urs

e

Inte

rnat

ion

al

Com

pany

D

irec

tors

Co

urs

e

e-Le

arn

ing

•In

terp

reti

ngC

ompa

ny

Fina

ncia

lSta

tem

ents

•R

epor

ting

to

the

Boa

rd

•Th

eR

ole

oft

heB

oard

•Th

eR

ole

oft

heD

irec

tor

•Eff

ecti

veB

oard

Mee

ting

s

•Co

nflic

tso

fIn

tere

st

•G

over

nanc

ein

Act

ion

In-F

ocu

s

•R

epor

ting

to

the

Boa

rd

•Th

eN

ot-f

or-P

rofit

Boa

rd

•Th

eEx

ecut

ive

Dir

ecto

r

•Th

eB

oard

and

the

Com

pany

Se

cret

ary

•Th

eB

oard

and

the

CEO

•Th

eM

anag

ing

Dir

ecto

r

•D

evel

opin

gyo

urD

irect

orC

aree

r

•Ca

pita

lRai

sing

•Th

eSt

rate

gic

Boa

rd

•Th

eB

oard

’sR

ole

inM

erge

rs

and

Acq

uisi

tion

s

•Co

mm

itte

esa

tW

ork

•Le

ader

ship

int

heB

oard

room

•Ev

alua

ting

the

B

oard

•Th

eLi

sted

Co

mpa

nyD

irec

tor

•Th

eCh

airm

an

Com

pany

Dir

ecto

rs C

ours

e U

pdat

e

Mas

teri

ng

the

Boa

rdro

om

Pro

fess

ion

al D

evel

opm

ent

Fram

ewor

k

The

Aus

tral

ian

Inst

itut

eof

Com

pany

Dir

ecto

rsis

com

mit

ted

top

rovi

ding

pro

fess

iona

ldev

elop

men

tfo

rdi

rect

ors

and

boar

dso

fal

llev

els

and

expe

rien

ce.

By

iden

tify

ing

your

leve

lof

expe

rien

ce,t

hef

ram

ewor

kbe

low

act

sas

ag

uide

to

assi

stin

det

erm

inin

gw

hich

pro

gram

(s)

orc

ours

e(s)

sui

tyo

urc

urre

ntn

eeds

and

fut

ure

goal

s.

Fo

rm

ore

info

rmat

ion

abou

tan

yof

the

sep

rogr

ams

orc

ours

esa

ndy

our

prof

essi

onal

dev

elop

men

tne

eds

plea

sev

isit

us

atc

ompa

nydi

rect

ors.

com

.au/

educ

atio

n

Aw

aren

ess

Fo

rse

nior

exe

cuti

ves

and

man

ager

s

repo

rtin

gto

ab

oard

,asp

irin

gan

dne

w

dire

ctor

s,A

AIC

Dm

embe

rs,a

ndt

hose

lo

okin

gto

est

ablis

ha

base

leve

lof

go

vern

ance

kno

wle

dge.

Asp

irin

g

For

dire

ctor

sw

ith

1–3

year

sex

peri

ence

,M

AIC

Dm

embe

rs,t

hese

cou

rses

and

pr

ogra

ms

assu

me

aba

se-l

evel

kno

wle

dge

of

gove

rnan

cea

ndf

ocus

on

the

appl

icat

ion

of

dire

ctor

ship

ski

lls.

Exp

erie

nce

d

For

dire

ctor

sw

ith

3–5

year

sex

peri

ence

,M

AIC

D/G

AIC

Dm

embe

rs,t

hese

cou

rses

re

flect

the

nee

dfo

rex

peri

ence

ddi

rect

ors

to

upda

tet

heir

kno

wle

dge

ont

heir

dut

ies

and

resp

onsi

bilit

ies

and

spec

ific

topi

cs.

Adv

ance

d

For

dire

ctor

sw

ith

5+y

ears

exp

erie

nce,

FA

ICD

/FA

ICD

Lif

eM

embe

rs,t

hese

cou

rses

pr

ovid

ehi

ghly

exp

erie

nced

dir

ecto

rs

ano

ppor

tuni

tyt

ofu

rthe

rde

velo

pth

eir

know

ledg

eon

the

ird

utie

san

dre

spon

sibi

litie

san

dsp

ecifi

cto

pics

.

Page 1

Company Directors CourseA comprehensive and credible learning program for directors

Setting the course on the right path

The importance of professional development

As the business landscape evolves, so too does the role of a company director.

Faced with constantly changing duties and responsibilities, today’s director needs to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in governance in order to manage both their own and the organisation’s performance. Not only does ongoing professional development ensure currency and relevance, it also serves to stimulate critical thinking.

The Australian Institute of Company Directors education program

As Australia’s pre-eminent organisation for directors, the Australian Institute of Company Directors offers leading education programs to advance the skills and knowledge of directors, chairmen and senior executives.

From those seeking to become directors, right through to highly experienced directors, we offer a comprehensive range of education programs and short courses to suit every level of director experience.

Each course forms part of our overall learning pathway, offering you the opportunity to follow a step-by-step progression throughout the different stages of your directorship career.

Refer to the diagram opposite for an explanation of the Australian Institute of Company Directors learning pathway.

Page 2

companydirectors.com.au/companydirectorscouse


Company Directors Course overview

Who is the Company Directors Course for?

The Company Directors Course is designed to suit those who wish to further their directorship skills and knowledge. Participants include executive and non-executive directors, CEOs and senior executives who report to boards, from publicly listed, private, government and not-for-profit organisations.

Key benefits of the course

The Company Directors Course provides you with a comprehensive coverage of the major issues associated with your role as a director in today’s business environment and equips you with skills and knowledge to take your practice of directorship to new heights.

This program will:

•Equip you with the knowledge you need to ensure you understand your role and the compliance issues for your board

•Lead you beyond compliance to better understand the governance expectations and the ethical considerations for businesses

•Help you build a better board and improve and streamline board processes

•Focus your future strategic discussions and provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to monitor your organisation’s financial performance and risk management

•Broaden your view of directorship and provide direction to help you improve your personal performance and consequently the performance of your organisation

Who delivers the course?

Experienced directors facilitate the Company Directors Course. Each course uses a variety of facilitators. Our facilitators are selected based on their in-depth knowledge of board environments as well as their ability to engage and connect with participants.

How is the course delivered?

The Company Directors Course is delivered in a variety of formats to suit your individual circumstances, including:

Facilitated sessions (local):

These face to face facilitated sessions take place in a variety of formats including:

•One 3-hour tutorial session per week for 10 weeks (mornings or evenings)

•One day per week for 5 weeks

•Five full days (consecutive or over two weeks)

•Weekend program (held weekends over a number of weeks)

Correspondence:

This format is suited to those who have difficulty in attending facilitated sessions. You are provided with reading materials, a study guide and five hours support via e-mail. If you are choosing this mode of study you need to be self motivated and familiar with financial statements.

You are required to complete the assessment tasks and exam within the financial year (up to 12 months) of enrolment.

Whether you’re looking to establish a career as a director or develop your existing directorships, the Company Directors Course is ideal to further your aspirations and build your contribution to your organisations’ governance.

Developed and facilitated by directors for directors, this dynamic and well-recognised course will equip you with thorough knowledge of the responsibilities of directors and board members.

Established in 1975, the course is updated annually to ensure it remains current, relevant and good practice. It also provides outstanding networking opportunities across a wide variety of industries and sectors.

Do I need to complete the course assessment?

Whilst there is no official requirement to complete the assignment and examination components of the course, the assessment must be completed within six weeks of completing your course if you wish to achieve the Company Directors Course award. Australian Institute of Company Directors members may use the GAICD member post nominals on successful completion of the assessment.

The assessment needs to be completed if you are planning to use the course to gain advanced standing in an MBA program.

Course dates, locations and fees

Courses are held throughout the year in capital cities and large regional areas around Australia.

For more information on course dates, locations, fees and enrolment, please contact your state office or visit companydirectors.com.au/companydirectorscourse

Page 3


National Residential Program:

The residential delivery of the Company Directors Course provides an opportunity to engage in dynamic learning and professional development, away from the distractions of daily life. Facilitated by nationally sourced facilitators, the program is held at specially selected venues over a five-day period with the option to undertake the award examination at the program.

In this highly focused and interactive setting, you will have the opportunity to network with peers from across Australia.

Guest directors are invited to the residential programs for their depth and diversity of experience. Their interaction with participants during sessions and dinners enables the sharing of valuable insights and practices, and allows you to discuss the application of the tools and resources introduced during the course.

You’ll also have access to an e-Learning course, Interpreting Company Financial Statements, to assist in preparation for the financial modules and the assessment.

In-Boardroom:

Suitable for whole boards from the one organisation, this is designed to build rapport between board members and develop a consistent level of current knowledge and standards.

Delivery can be tailored and formatted to suit your boards’ specific needs. Please contact your state office to discuss In-Boardroom delivery further.

What preparation is required?

Course materials are sent to you as pre-reading preparation approximately four weeks before the commencement of the course, pre-reading is estimated at 20-30 hours across the whole course. Materials become a valuable reference document both during the course, in preparation for assessment and throughout the next few years as a director.

Whilst each format comprises face-to-face sessions (excluding the correspondence program), participants should also allow for additional time spent pre-reading and undertaking the assessment components of the course.

Page 4



Module overview

Module 1 - The Role of the Board and the Practice of Directorship

Covers the role of the board and of directors; examines practices in contemporary corporate governance.

Module 2 - Directors’ Duties and Responsibilities

Outlines the key responsibilities of directors in private, public and not-for-profit organisations, it also examines the Corporations Act in detail.

Module 3 - Risk: Issues for Directors

Examines the board’s role in developing a risk culture appropriate to the business and overseeing risk management to ensure improved performance.

Module 4 - Strategy: The Board’s Role

Discusses the board’s role in developing and executing strategy.

Module 5 - Financial Literacy for Directors

The key financial statements are examined from a director’s perspective.

Module 6 - Driving Financial Performance

Highlights the directors’ role in driving organisational performance.

Module 7 - The Board’s Legal Environment

Examines legal and compliance obligations of the board including contracts, intellectual property, trade practices, privacy, OH&S, environment and anti-discrimination.

Module 8 - Decision Making

A fundamental board process is examined and frameworks to achieve improved performance outcomes and avoidance of disasters explored.

Module 9 - Achieving Board Effectiveness

Discusses the good practices of effective boards, including composition and skills mix, the undertaking of board reviews and how boards can add value to global organisations.

Module 10 - Learning into Practice

A case study approach linking the information from the previous modules and providing opportunities to contribute to productive boardroom discussions.

About the Australian Institute of Company Directors

With over 30,000 members, the Australian Institute of Company Directors is Australia’s pre-eminent organisation for both directors and those seeking to become directors.

Our professional development programs and short courses are flexible, relevant and contemporary, and facilitated by experienced directors. They also provide directors and boards with credible skills and practical knowledge needed to perform their role. We offer a number of sector specific workshops to contextualise governance for participants across a variety of industries.

As a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, you benefit from:

•Access to a range of educational courses, facilitated by highly qualified directors

•Professional recognition and credibility within the director community

•Opportunities to obtain your first or additional directorships and/or board positions

•Extensive networking opportunities

•Professional support and development

For more information on membership or the Company Directors Course, visit our website companydirectors.com.au/companydirectorscourse

Membership – www.companydirectors.com.au

Australian Institute of Company DirectorsIntroduction

Page 6

Australian Institute of Company DirectorsContentsAustralian Institute of Company DirectorsContact information

General enquiries

t: 1300 739 119e: [email protected]

Overseas enquiries

Overseas Member Relations ExecutivePO Box 7050Cloisters Square WA 6850

t: +61 8 9320 1706e: [email protected]

National Office

Level 30, 20 Bond Street

Sydney NSW 2000

t: 02 8248 6600 f: 02 8248 6633 e: [email protected]

Australian Capital Territory

Level 3, 54 Marcus Clarke Street Canberra ACT 2601

GPO Box 1371Canberra ACT 2601


New South Wales

Level 30, 20 Bond Street Sydney NSW 2000


Queensland

Level 9, 40 Creek Street Brisbane QLD 4000

GPO Box 73Brisbane QLD 4001


South Australia/Northern Territory

Level 8, 70 Pirie Street Adelaide SA 5000

GPO Box 482Adelaide SA 5001

t: 08 8236 2800 f: 08 8236 2833e: [email protected]

Tasmania

Level 1, 198 Sandy Bay Road Sandy Bay, Hobart TAS 7005

PO Box 1090Sandy Bay TAS 7006


Victoria

Level 21, North Tower459 Collins StreetMelbourne VIC 3000

PO Box 380Collins Street West VIC 8007


Western Australia

Mezzanine Level 190 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000

PO Box 7050 Cloisters Square WA 6850



0059

5_10

Documents

Company Directors Course Establishing director knowledge