The GPC-EP delivers critical and relevant content for governance professionals in a condensed, rigorous program with key speakers from across Canada. It consists of three 2.5 day Course that are each at least offered twice a year, enabling busy professionals to complete the modules in a schedule that works for them.
It is designed for anyone operating in a governance role, whether in public, private, not-for-profit or governmental organizations. Individuals new to these roles as well as seasoned professionals will find benefit in the GPC.D as it will not only provide them with the latest best practices, skills and tools in governance, but will enhance standard of their profession.
Registration Fee:
GPC member price: $7,550 + HST Non Member price: $8,250 + HST (includes the cost of a ONE YEAR GPC membership and processing fee)
Please note that GPC members will be given priority on first come, first served basis.
You may register for any of the courses as a standalone for professional development learning opportunity, or you can choose to explore the complete series to earn your Governance Professionals of Canada Designation: GPC.D.
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Within each of these areas, practitioners in governance will take a thorough look at central elements of practice and how to navigate difficult situations, apply best practices and important tools in the day to day running of a governance office. This course is a comprehensive view of the key foundations and practice of governance, and essential for professionals both seasoned and new to the role.
This session sets out the expectations and growing role and responsibilities of the Governance Professional. It will examine the legal commonalities and differences among various kinds of organizations and how they impact oversight, strategic and operational functions.
Participants will explore the following topics in depth:
The purpose of the session is to provide the tools for developing critical processes to enhance Board effectiveness from before directors join the Board, through their tenure and until they leave – with the objective of improving the Board’s decision-making processes
Committee focus and work
Boardroom dynamics have a significant yet largely unrecognized impact on good governance. The governance professional has a critical role in supporting their board in fostering a more conducive boardroom culture by mastering the required soft skills to do so.
Heather Laxton, Chief Governance Officer & Corporate Secretary, Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (bio)
John Dinner, President, John T. Dinner Board Governance Services (bio)
This Event is one of three courses that make up the full GPC-EP education program and which leads to the GPC.D (Governance Professionals of Canada Designation).
You have the option to register and attend this event without committing to the full Education program, however, you will not be eligible to the professional designation (GPC.D), unless you complete all 3 modules as well as their individual exams and the final evaluation.
Participants who are registered for the Education program (GPC-EP) will be required to write an exam after the completion of this module.
If you wish to enroll in the entire designation program to obtain the GPC.D designation (and save on the cost of the entire program), you can change your registration here: Education program on this link.
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
If canceling the program in its entirety outside of 2 months prior to taking your first course, the program fee will be refunded with a cancellation penalty of $500. If canceling the program within 3 weeks of taking your first course, the program fee will be refunded with a cancellation penalty of $1,000. If cancellation occurs during or after the first module has been started, there will be no further refunds. Companies or individuals may transfer their registration to another individual only if cancellation occurs prior to taking the first course only or individuals may be able to transfer their registration to another individual only if cancellation occurs prior to taking the first of the 3 courses only. All cancellations or transfer requests must be received by email to education@gpcanada.org.
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The Pandemic changed the way organizations held their Annual General Meetings (AGMs) this year. Organizations had to quickly adapt and adjust to maintain regulatory compliance while adhering to public health mandates, resulting in many moving towards a virtual AGM. Join us and share your experience with virtual AGMs this season, hear ideas from your governance professional colleagues and gain insight from panelists in attendance, including Imperial Oil, Lumi, Computershare and ISS.
We will explore discussion topics such as the successes and challenges of virtual AGMs, investor voting, feedback from shareholders, technology use, best practices and the future of AGMs. We invite you to share your experience, ask questions or bring your own topic regarding virtual AGMs for discussion.
The session will be followed by a virtual holiday networking social. Please join us with your favourite holiday food or beverage. Come to connect with someone new or re-connect with your governance professional colleagues.
When: December 2, 2020 | 4:00 pm-5:30 pm Mountain Time
Location: Zoom webinar
Registration: Free Event. RSVP to confirm attendance.
Agenda:
Moderator:
Burke Vindevoghel, Counsel, Law Department, Imperial Oil Limited
Panelists:
Andre Cinq-Mars, Managing Director, Lumi Canada
Julie Silver, Product Innovation > Technology Services, Computershare
Edward (Ted) Seaton, Vice-President, ISS Corporate Solutions
As media reports on public sector financial scandals makes it very clear, ethics need to be at the heart and soul of every governance and HR decision. With the speed at which information is delivered through social media, news can quickly proliferate and, as a result, judgement can make or break a reputation in a short period of time. In time where COVID-19, diversity and equity are at the heart of every decisions, the challenge for executives is being ethical in a world where guidelines for behaviors are being consistently blurred such that absolute right and wrong no longer seem to apply.
This session will address how executives can be ethical in a corrupt environment, and how they should frame their ethical behavior, in a way that resonates with as wide a network of ethically sensitive stakeholders as possible.
(Click on the speaker's name to see his biography.)
COURSE OVERVIEW
This 2-day intensive workshop will be launched as a virtual course, as a pre-cursor to our GPC Education program. In this course, participants will gain basic exposure to the subject matter of governance.
The ideal audience for this course includes the following:
· Individuals who are new to their role · People with junior positions in their organizations with some governance functions
· Individuals who are new to their role
· People with junior positions in their organizations with some governance functions
· Individuals in administrative positions attending to governance processes · Boards or more senior governance professionals may also not have had a proper introduction to the subject matter
· Individuals in administrative positions attending to governance processes
· Boards or more senior governance professionals may also not have had a proper introduction to the subject matter
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the course are as follows:
1. Focus on individuals who have little or no knowledge of governance but could be:
· Joining a NFP board for the first time · Executive assistant being asked to take notes at board or management meetings · In process of accepting or moving into a position related to organizational governance · Individuals wanting to position themselves for a position related to governance
· Joining a NFP board for the first time
· Executive assistant being asked to take notes at board or management meetings
· In process of accepting or moving into a position related to organizational governance
· Individuals wanting to position themselves for a position related to governance
2. Provide access to a training program that is financially accessible
3. Provide an intensive 2-day session that fulfills knowledge requirements in a brief time.
4. To be a critical component of a planned ‘Governance in a Box’ concept which will consist of the 2-day workshop, a Glossary of Terms, and an on-line tool to provide access to the documents, forms, templates and best practices needed for establishing an effective governance framework for various kinds of organizations.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Understand what governance means, and how it looks the same and different for various kinds of organizations
2. Understand the key principles of governance: accountability, transparency, independence, participation and predictability
3. Learn about the different structures that underpin the governance of an organization: by-laws, board of directors, committees,
4. Learn about the decision-making process for organizations through meetings, resolutions, minutes, board/management relationships
5. Understand the nature of the organization’s relationships with various stakeholders: the difference between shareholders and members; why understanding stakeholder needs is a key governance function.
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
Day 1 - Understanding Governance Basics
Morning Session
· What is governance: essential terms and definitions · We ‘build’ the governance structure based on the organization’s purpose; · Structure consists of the legal entity choice – essential ‘plumbing’ in by-laws – board – committee – · 5 key Governance Principles described · Breakout exercises to understand how principles get put into practice
· What is governance: essential terms and definitions
· We ‘build’ the governance structure based on the organization’s purpose;
· Structure consists of the legal entity choice – essential ‘plumbing’ in by-laws – board – committee –
· 5 key Governance Principles described
· Breakout exercises to understand how principles get put into practice
Afternoon Session
· Strengthening structure for better decisions · By-laws · Boards · Committees · Dividing the work/responsibilities – Board and management · What do directors really do? Their duties and responsibilities · Breakout sessions:
· Strengthening structure for better decisions
· By-laws
· Boards
· Committees
· Dividing the work/responsibilities – Board and management
· What do directors really do? Their duties and responsibilities
· Breakout sessions:
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a ‘big’ board? 2. Why do people join boards of directors? 3. Should employees always have a seat in the boardroom?
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a ‘big’ board?
2. Why do people join boards of directors?
3. Should employees always have a seat in the boardroom?
Day 2 - The Key Tools for good governance
• The role of the corporate secretary/governance professional • Effective meetings: what, why, who and how • AGMs Special meetings, board and committee meetings • Key tools • Getting the right board: composition, terms, orientation • And keeping it effective: training and evaluations
• The role of the corporate secretary/governance professional
• Effective meetings: what, why, who and how
• AGMs Special meetings, board and committee meetings
• Key tools
• Getting the right board: composition, terms, orientation
• And keeping it effective: training and evaluations
· What are corporations are worrying about: · CSR/ESG/Triple Bottom Line/Sustainability – all explained · CEO compensation – what is the issue? · Diversity and inclusion – what is the issue? · Breakout session: What is your organization worrying about? Janis Riven, BCL, LLB, MBA, FCIS, Acc. Dir., Principal governance & compliance solutions (Click on the speaker's name to see her biography.)
· What are corporations are worrying about:
· CSR/ESG/Triple Bottom Line/Sustainability – all explained
· CEO compensation – what is the issue?
· Diversity and inclusion – what is the issue?
· Breakout session: What is your organization worrying about?
Acc. Dir., Principal
governance & compliance solutions
(Click on the speaker's name to see her biography.)
The Foundations of Governance Course consists of two and a half days covering key areas of governance, which include: the role of the governance professional, director management, advising the board, board dynamics, effectiveness, culture, relationships and conflicts.
Introduction and Setting the Scene / Objectives /Agenda (1-1.10)
Governance Professional – An evolving role and the Crucial impact of soft skills for success (1.10-1.20)
Developing the role as an influencer and advisor (1.20-1.35)
Breakout Session (1.35-1.50)
Self-awareness and self-management (1.50 – 2.10)
Conflict Resolution and Dealing with Difficult Board members (2.10 – 2.30)
Break for 5 minutes (2.30 – 2.35)
Building Resilience (2.50 – 3.10)
Fostering Trust (3.10 – 3.30)
Group Discussion / Video (3.30 – 3.40)
The Governance Professional as a Leader and Coach (3.40-3.55)
Summary, final thoughts and action steps (3.55-4.00)
March 2020 Cancellation Policy
Speaker
(Please click on the name of the speaker to read his biography.)
The purpose of the session is to provide the tools for holding successful meetings – the ultimate decision-making process for all organizations including:
The purpose of this module is to help give you an understanding of business finance, and the role of the Board, Audit Committee, Auditors and the Governance Professional in the preparation, presentation and analysis of financial information.
Participants will develop an understanding with respect to:
In this session, the use of bylaws as an importance foundation of sound governance will be explained, including their sources of content and drafting considerations.
If canceling the program in its entirety outside of 2 months prior to taking your first course, the program fee will be refunded with a cancellation penalty of $500. If canceling the program within 3 weeks of taking your first course, the program fee will be refunded with a cancellation penalty of $1,000. If cancellation occurs during or after the first module has been started, there will be no further refunds. Companies or individuals may transfer their registration to another individual only if cancellation occurs prio
r to taking the first course only or individuals may be able to transfer their registration to another individual only if cancellation occurs prior to taking the first of the 3 courses only. All cancellations or transfer requests must be received by email to education@gpcanada.org.
Presenting to the Board can be intimidating and it is not like any other presentation an executive is likely to give. It is fraught with all the issues and fears around public speaking, but the purpose is less about teaching and persuading (the underlying purpose of most other presentations) and more about engagement and answering questions.
Complaints from directors are typically that presentations take up too much time and there is too little room left for the board to do its most important jobs – have a discussion, seek answers and make an informed decision.
As a governance professional, you are in the perfect position to add value for the board and the management team by improving the quality of board presentations.
In this ½ day interactive workshop, you will learn:
(Please click on the name of the speaker to read her biography.)
The purpose of the session is to provide the introductory basics, with selected corresponding tools, to introduce the Governance Professional to two key elements of Risk Management:
Governing Principles Best Practices Practical Tools Implementation Skill
Governing Principles Best Practices Practical Tools Implementation Skills
Chief Operations, Financial & Legal Officer
Digital Identity Laboratory of Canada
(Please click on the speaker's name to see his biography.)
