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Irish Region

Welcome to The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland, Irish Region. We support and develop governance, risk and compliance professionals, including chartered company secretaries, in Ireland and the UK.

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About us

We are the Irish Region of The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland, which provides thought leadership and international recognised qualifications for everybody working in governance. Our professional network supports a growing community of over 600 chartered secretaries and more than 200 students and affiliate members, many of whom work in governance, risk and compliance in Ireland.

The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland - Irish Region's services include guidance on technical issues, such as the provisions of the 2014 Companies Act, training, qualifications, CPD and networking events, regular email briefings and online recruitment services. Use the tabs below to find out more about our Institute, and our governance. Click here to find out how to join us.

Thinking about a career in governance?

Intrigued by a career as a Company Secretary, but unsure where to start?

There are several exciting opportunities for recent university graduates to begin their corporate governance journey all across the country. 

2026 Company Secretarial Graduate Programmes

Artificial Intelligence

For governance professionals, artificial intelligence offers opportunities that will shape the way their organisations work, from automation of repetitive tasks and data aggregation to drafting documents and supporting recruitment. It comes with just as many threats. Boards and governance professionals need to be aware of the potential and the pitfalls to ensure that they can take advantage of AI in an ethical, legal and responsible way.

AI Resource Hub

Upcoming events

Our branches offer a variety of events to support your professional development at every stage of your career. Whether you to want brush up on your knowledge and skills, network with peers or add to your CPD, we run sessions on a variety of topics and in a variety of formats, with contributions from experts and guest speakers across the governance community.
Upcoming Events
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Conference

Governance Ireland 2026

Join us at Governance Ireland Conference on 7 May in Dublin, at the stylish Royal Dublin Convention Centre. This is the premier event for governance professionals in Ireland.
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CPD
In Person
Branch
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Annual Conference

Governance 2026

Hundreds of company secretaries, governance professionals and expert speakers joined us on 7 and 8 July and for two days of insight, discussions on best practice and debate.
In Person
CPD
Conference
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Branch event - Ireland

CGI Ireland Branch - Annual Lunch

SAVE THE DATE! Bookings will open on 28 September. The CGI Irish Regional Council is delighted to invite you to the annual members’ lunch taking place directly after the AGM.
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Networking
In Person
Irish Region

Latest Agenda Articles

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Agenda Article

New Government Legislation Programme: Industry & Sector Breakdown Spring 2025

The Government Legislation Programme for the Spring 2025 session has been published. The Cabinet has approved 21 bills for priority publication and 29 bills for priority drafting. Priority legislation includes the EU Data Regulation Bill, the Media Regulation Bill and the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill.
20 February 2025
Agenda
Irish Region
Legislation and regulation
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Agenda Article

Highest GDPR Award for Damages in Irish Court

In M.H. v Child and Family Agency, a 2023 ex tempore judgment, the Circuit Court (Court) awarded the plaintiff €7,500 for non-material damages under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
13 February 2025
Agenda
Irish Region
Governance and directors
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Agenda Article

NIS2 Is Coming: Will It Apply To Your Organisation?

On 30 August 2024, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications published the General Scheme for the National Cyber Security Bill 2024 (CSB).
20 February 2025
Agenda
Irish Region
Legislation and regulation

Latest Blogs

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Blog

The Company Law Review Group

The Company Law Review Group is an expert advisory body charged with advising the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment on the review and development of company law in Ireland. It was accorded statutory advisory status by the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001, which was continued under Section 958 of the Companies Act 2014. The CLRG operates on a two-year work programme which is determined by the Minister in consultation with the CLRG.
20 March 2025
Blog
Corporate
Irish Region
Law, regulation and compliance
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Blog

The Institute's Response to the UK Stewardship Code Consultation

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has finished consulting on its proposed changes to the Code. The UK Stewardship Code sets a standard for how investors manage their responsibilities and aims to ensure that investment decisions drive long-term value and create positive societal outcomes.
4 March 2025
Blog
Consultation
Reporting
Corporate
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Blog

The Paradox of Risk

Risk is now a mainstream topic of conversation. In the past, risk was associated primarily with fast-moving innovative businesses (and with particular events such as product launches); but the UK’s risk landscape has changed radically in the last decade.
4 March 2025
Blog
Audit and risk
Risk Management
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Blog

Analysis of the European Commission's Proposal for "EU Inc."

On 18 March 2026, the European Commission published its proposal for a harmonised corporate legal framework: the "EU Inc.". Described as "the cornerstone and starting point of the EU's 28th regime", the purpose of the proposal is to establish a single, standardised system for company incorporation across the European Union (EU).
26 June 2026
Blog

Meet the team

We are The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland – Irish Region, which provides thought leadership and internationally recognised qualifications for everybody working in governance.
President

George Alton

Eilishdownes2
Joint Secretary

Eilish Downes FCG

Eilish Downes is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute and is Joint Secretary of the Irish Institute. Eilish has worked as a Company Secretary at Grant Thornton Ireland, ICON plc, and currently works as Assistant Company Secretary at FBD Group. Eilish holds a Bachelor of Business and Law (BBLs) from University College Dublin, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Corporate Governance from Ulster University.
Nathan Grimley Web
Joint Secretary

Nathan Grimley ACG

Nathan is an Associate of the Chartered Governance Institute and is joint Secretary of the Irish Institute. Nathan has worked as a Company Secretary in Ireland and the UK, with PwC UK and PwC Ireland, and currently works at Arthur Cox LLP providing Company Secretarial services to a large profile of clients across various sectors including large pharmaceutical companies, large financial institutions, and multi-national logistics and food industry companies.
Jamie Hedderman
Student Champion

Jamie Hedderman

Jamie is a Student of the Chartered Governance Institute and is joint Secretary of the Irish Institute. Jamie has worked as a Company Secretary in BDO Ireland and currently works at TMF Ireland providing Company Secretarial services to a large portfolio of clients across various sectors including large multi-national logistics and pharmaceutical and property management companies.

Council Members

  • George Alton FCG (President)
  • Colm Hanley ACG (Treasurer)
  • Niamh Duddy FCG (Chair of AI working group)
  • Jenny McGowran ACG (Chair of Events Committee)
  • Aoife Kernan ACG (Chair of Education Committee)
  • Sarah Colfer FCG (Chair of Company Secretarial Practice Committee)
  • Conn Cleary (Regional Development Manager)
  • Jillian O'Sullivan FCG
  • Jolene O'Sullivan FCG

Joint Secretaries

  • Eilish Downes
  • Jamie Hedderman FCG

Committee Members

Governance and Nomination Committee:

  • George Alton FCG (Chair)
  • Salvador Nash FCG
  • Jillian O’Sullivan FCG
  • Aoife Kernan

Events Committee:

  • Jenny McGowran ACG (Chair)
  • Erina Chakraborty FCG
  • George Alton FCG
  • Claire Healey ACG
  • Liza Botha GradCG
  • Aoife Carroll ACG
  • Phil Hayden ACG
  • Cillian White ACG

Company Secretarial Practice Committee:

  • Sarah Colfer FCG (Chair)
  • Deirdre Mooney FCG
  • Ray Hunt FCG
  • Conor Sweeney FCG
  • Sinead Floody ACG
  • Salvador Nash FCG
  • Laura Kearney FCG
  • Jillian O'Sullivan FCG

Education Committee:

  • Aoife Kernan (Chair)
  • Orla Murphy
  • Claire O'Brien ACG
  • Jamie Hedderman
  • Colm Hanley ACG
  • Sarah Colfer FCG

Contact the Irish Region

For membership and study enquiries please contact the student and membership team:

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