Our next programme is taking place from 1-6 November 2026.
Join the Executive Board Secretary Programme and Community
Designed for experienced governance professionals and Company Secretaries, the Executive Board Secretary Programme is our flagship residential development experience, created to equip senior governance leaders with the skills, insight and confidence to operate at the highest levels of organisational leadership.
The next cohort will take place from 1-6 November at the prestigious Macdonald Berystede Hotel & Spa in Ascot. Set in a premium residential location, the programme offers a unique opportunity to step away from day-to-day demands and focus on your professional development alongside a peer group of senior governance professionals.
Your programme fee includes accommodation, all meals and full access to the hotel's facilities, ensuring a fully immersive and rewarding learning experience.
To find out more or secure your place, please contact Peter Pickin at ppickin@cgi.org.uk
Join a cohort of senior governance professionals who are navigating an era defined by unprecedented complexity.
Executive Board Secretary Programme
Our ambition is clear: to establish the CGI Executive Board Secretary Programme as the definitive residential development experience for senior governance professionals and Company Secretaries.
Designed exclusively for experienced governance leaders, this flagship programme will challenge your thinking, broaden your perspective, and elevate your ability to influence at the highest levels of organisational leadership. It is an opportunity to invest in yourself, strengthen your boardroom impact, and position yourself for the next stage of your professional journey.
You will join an exceptional cohort of peers, bringing together some of the profession's most accomplished governance practitioners to learn, share experiences and explore the challenges shaping the future of governance.
The demands placed on Board Secretaries have never been greater. In a world characterised by geopolitical uncertainty, technological disruption, evolving stakeholder expectations, complex people risks and unprecedented organisational change, governance professionals are expected to provide far more than technical expertise and regulatory assurance.
Today's Board Secretaries are influential strategic advisers, trusted confidants to chairs and directors, champions of governance excellence and critical enablers of organisational success. Their ability to guide decision-making, navigate complexity and foster effective board dynamics has become a defining factor in long-term organisational performance.
The Executive Board Secretary Programme has been purposefully designed to prepare governance leaders for this evolving reality. Through a highly immersive residential experience, you will develop the strategic insight, leadership capability, psychological awareness, geopolitical understanding and governance expertise required to support high-performing boards in 2026 and beyond.
By the end of the programme, you will be better equipped to lead with confidence, influence with authority, navigate complexity with clarity and deliver greater value to your board, executive team and organisation.
This is more than a programme. It is an opportunity to join a community of senior governance leaders committed to shaping the future of the profession and redefining what exceptional governance leadership looks like.
Unlock your full potential and amplify your contribution to organisational success.
Shape Your Future as a Governance Leader
This programme has been designed to help you become a more influential, strategic and impactful governance leader in an increasingly complex world:
- Elevate your role from governance expert to trusted strategic adviser, enabling you to support and influence board decision-making with greater confidence and authority.
- Gain deeper insight into boardroom psychology, power dynamics and behaviour under pressure, helping you navigate complex stakeholder relationships and challenging situations more effectively.
- Strengthen your commercial acumen by enhancing your ability to interpret, challenge and communicate financial and organisational performance metrics.
- Explore the ethical, geopolitical and technological forces reshaping governance, equipping you to anticipate emerging risks and opportunities.
- Lead critical conversations around human risk, psychosocial safety, culture and organisational resilience, helping your board create sustainable long-term value.
- Refine your personal leadership style and executive presence, increasing your influence and impact at the most senior levels of your organisation.
More than a learning programme, this is a transformational development experience designed to expand your perspective, sharpen your strategic thinking and strengthen your boardroom effectiveness.
By the end of the programme, you will have the insight, confidence and practical tools to lead governance with greater influence, navigate complexity with clarity, and create lasting value for your board, organisation and stakeholders.
Take time away, broaden your perspective, deepen your thinking and strengthen your professional network.
An immersive learning experience
Throughout the week, you will engage in:
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Thought-provoking keynote presentations from leading experts and practitioners
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Insights from distinguished guest speakers, sharing real-world governance experiences and challenges
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Interactive expert-led seminars exploring the issues shaping modern boardrooms
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Practical simulations and case clinics designed to test and strengthen your judgement in complex situations
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Peer-to-peer learning and facilitated discussion, drawing on the collective experience of fellow governance leaders
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Personal reflection and leadership development activities to deepen self-awareness and enhance your executive impact
More than a traditional learning programme, this is an immersive development experience designed to challenge your thinking, broaden your perspective and accelerate your growth as a governance leader.
Beautiful and relaxed.
Venue
Macdonald Berystede Hotel & Spa, Bagshot Road, Sunninghill, Ascot, SL5 9JH
The Berystede Hotel & Spa is a beautiful, accessible hotel situated less than an hour from central London by train and extremely close to the M3, M4 and M25 motorways and Heathrow Airport is just a 20 minute drive.
Celebrate and connect.
CGI Awards Ceremony - The Royal Lancaster Hotel
Enhance your programme experience with an invitation to the CGI Awards Ceremony at the iconic Royal Lancaster Hotel.
As one of the profession's premier events, the ceremony brings together leading governance professionals, senior executives and industry influencers for an evening of celebration, networking and inspiration.
This is a rare opportunity to expand your professional network, gain fresh perspectives from the sector's leading voices and immerse yourself in the very best of modern governance practice.
Transport to and from the venue is included, allowing you to focus on making the most of this exceptional experience.
Join us
Book Your Place Today
Take the next step in your professional development and secure your place on the programme today.To discuss the course, receive personalised guidance, or complete your booking, please contact Peter Pickin, Commercial Training Manager, directly:
Email: ppickin@cgi.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7612 7016
Alternatively, you can register your interest using either of the web links below, and a member of our team will be in touch to support your application.
Flexible Payment Plans Available
We understand that budgeting for professional development can require flexibility. To make joining the programme even more accessible, we offer a payment plan option, allowing delegates to spread the cost through manageable instalments before the programme start date.
Speak to us today to find out more about our flexible payment options and secure your place with confidence.