- 21 November 2025
Governance has never mattered more. Across the world, boards are grappling with complexity: new technologies, shifting regulation, rapid global change, and greater public scrutiny. In this environment, the role of governance professionals, and particularly Chartered Secretaries, has never been more essential.
Yet, for all its strategic importance, what a governance career can offer is not widely understood outside our community. Traditionally it has not been a career of fanfare, but of contribution. However, I think it is time we more confidently asserted why becoming a Chartered Secretary holds such value. Recognising the integrity, judgement and steadfastness Chartered Secretaries bring to organisations across all sectors.
For me personally, deciding to pursue the Chartered route was the point at which all the strands of my working life finally came together. It gave shape to my career, a clear professional identity, and opportunities I could never have planned for at the start. That is why I can say, without exaggeration, that becoming Chartered was the most important step in my career.
A rewarding, varied and people-centred career
Many people reach this profession almost by accident, but very few leave it.
In my own case, I started out studying science, moved into retail, and even dabbled in accounting. I learnt a great deal in each of those environments, but I never quite felt I had found my professional home. When I discovered the Chartered Secretary qualification, what struck me was its breadth. It was not about becoming a narrow specialist in one tiny corner of law or finance. It brought together law, strategy, risk, culture, ethics, finance and communication in a way that made sense to me.
Once I committed to the qualification and became Chartered, my career changed. I began to thrive, in business terms and personally. I found myself working more closely with boards, sometimes as the youngest person in the room, but with a clear role and a trusted voice. The qualification opened doors internationally, showed employers what I could bring, and gave me the confidence to contribute fully.
The work of a Chartered Secretary is intellectually rich and incredibly varied. It offers real influence and it is work that matters. Good governance strengthens trust, protects organisations, supports better decisions and ultimately benefits society.
One of the great strengths of the Chartered Secretary route is its portability. Whether you start your career in the UK or Ireland, move into global roles, or work across sectors, the qualification travels with you.
Our members work everywhere: FTSE companies, charities, tech start-ups, government departments, financial services, sport, higher education and more. The role adapts to the organisation, but the professional foundation remains the same.
For those who value purpose, challenge and human connection, it is an exceptionally fulfilling career.
Join our community
If you have ever thought about becoming Chartered, now is a perfect time to begin that journey. I will be discussing its benefits and routes to qualification with Patrick Courtney, the Institute’s head of membership, in a webinar on 9 December. Please sign up below:
Becoming Chartered: Everything you need to know