Corporate governance: Understanding ESG and responsible investment

About the course

Since the first King report in 1994, responsible investment and shareholder activism have been recognised as an integral part of the overall corporate governance ecosystem and increasingly so with the current focus on and challenges in respect of environmental, social and governance (ESG).

This four-hour course will give high-level insights into the concept of ESG which is dominating the corporate governance agenda both locally and around the world and the stakeholder expectations in this regard.

The strong recurring theme in the evolution of corporate governance is the need for institutional investors to play a significant and proactive role within the context of the overall corporate governance framework, including driving ESG. The course will give insights into responsible investment and shareholder activism, how it has evolved and the expectations and legal rights, as well as best practice corporate governance expectations and challenges that flow from it, to support the corporate governance ecosystem for the institutional investor community and investee companies alike.

Course content

Governance and Sustainable Value Creation

• The evolution of corporate governance in South Africa
• The governance philosophy underpinning King V and CRISA 2
• Stakeholder inclusivity and long-term sustainable value creation
• Why ESG is fundamentally a governance issue

Understanding ESG

• Environmental, Social and Governance fundamentals
• Global and local ESG developments and trends
• ESG as a board and leadership responsibility
• Ethical and effective leadership in practice
• Stakeholder expectations and organisational legitimacy

Responsible Investment and Stewardship

• The rise of responsible investment ,evolution through CRISA and CRISA 2
• The governance rationale for investor stewardship
• Expectations placed on institutional investors
• How responsible investors influence governance outcomes
• The link between responsible investment and sustainable value creation

Shareholder Activism in Practice

• The evolution of shareholder activism
• Shareholder rights and influence
• Activism as a governance mechanism
• Constructive engagement between investors and boards
• Emerging trends in shareholder engagement

Governance Challenges and Opportunities

• Understanding the context of shareholder and stakeholder interests in decision making
• Governance risks arising from ESG-related issues
• Board responses to investor concerns and activism
• Building trust, transparency and accountability
• Future governance trends shaping the corporate landscape

Practical Insights and Discussion

• Governance case studies and lessons learned
• Real-world examples of investor influence
• Interactive discussion of boardroom challenges
• Applying governance principles in practice

Registration

Register and enrol directly with the course provider.

More information

Download course brochure