Company Secretaries Workshop

The programme

Programme overview

In today’s fast-evolving business environment, the role of the Company Secretary has expanded beyond statutory compliance to encompass strategic leadership in governance, ethical stewardship, and stakeholder management. This Company Secretaries Workshop, powered by Ratomac, delivers an immersive learning experience for both aspiring and experienced Company Secretaries. Participants will master King V, South Africa’s current Code on Corporate Governance, alongside other major global standards, sharpen their understanding of legal and regulatory requirements, and acquire the practical, boardroom-ready skills needed to support organisational integrity and resilience.

The Ratomac Company Secretaries Workshop bridges theory and practice, combining expert-led lectures with interactive case studies and hands-on workshops. Attendees will return to their organisations equipped to navigate complex board dynamics, drive ethical culture, oversee financial reporting, and champion effective stakeholder engagement — ensuring their organisations not only comply, but thrive.

Who should attend

Who is this programme for?

This Company Secretaries Workshop is essential for:

• Aspiring and Current Company Secretaries (Public, Private, or Non-Profit Sectors)
• Legal, Governance, and Compliance Professionals
• Board Members and Executive Directors
• Finance and Accounting Managers
• Stakeholder Engagement Officers
• Governance and Risk Consultants

Suitable for private and public sector, NGOs, multinational companies, and organisations seeking to elevate their governance and compliance standards to world-class levels.

Learning outcomes

What you will learn

Upon completion of this Company Secretaries Workshop, participants will be able to:

• Master the core principles of King V, South Africa’s current corporate governance code, and other leading international frameworks
• Interpret and implement international governance standards across different jurisdictions and organisational contexts
• Navigate complex legal and regulatory environments affecting organisations globally
• Develop and manage comprehensive compliance calendars and risk mitigation strategies for multinational operations
• Understand diverse board structures, director responsibilities, and boardroom dynamics across varied cultural and legal settings
• Plan and facilitate effective board meetings, including international standards for minute-taking and records management
• Analyse financial statements and support board financial oversight, audits, and reporting in global organisations
• Champion ethical conduct, integrity, and compliance, no matter the operating region
• Design and lead CSR initiatives and stakeholder engagement strategies relevant to global business
• Current to King V, Not King IV: Learn the code that’s actually in effect for financial years from 1 January 2026 onward, presented as the current standard, not an “upcoming” one.
• Genuinely International: Apply governance standards across jurisdictions, not just a single national code.
• Boardroom-Ready, Not Just Theory: Leave with a compliance checklist, an annual report preparation exercise, and a CSR and stakeholder plan built during the workshop itself.
• Financial Literacy for Governance Professionals: Read and interpret financial statements confidently enough to support real board oversight.
• Learn Directly from Practitioners: Networking and open Q&A sessions with leading Company Secretaries and legal experts.

Explore the programme

Detailed programme outline

3-Day Essentials — Training Outline

DAY 1 — Governance Foundations and Legal Mastery

Module 1: Corporate Governance Foundations & The Evolving Role of the Company Secretary

• Key principles of King V, South Africa’s current governance code, and other leading international codes
• Governance and sustainability in a global business landscape
• Legal status, authority, and value-add of the Company Secretary
• King V’s independence requirement: the Company Secretary should not be a member of the governing body and should maintain an arms-length relationship with it
• The Company Secretary as the bridge between the board, management, and stakeholders

Case Study: Success stories of Company Secretaries as governance champions.

Module 2: Legal & Regulatory Mastery

• Key legal frameworks: Companies Acts, securities laws, and cross-border regulations
• Navigating compliance for listed vs. unlisted companies
• Building and managing an annual compliance calendar
• Legal risk management: identification, mitigation, and reporting

Workshop: Drafting a compliance checklist for a model company.

DAY 2 — Board Dynamics and Financial Oversight

Module 3: Board Structures, Dynamics & Effective Meetings

• Board structures and best practices around the world
• Board diversity, inclusion, and contemporary expectations
• Roles, duties, and relationships: directors and the Company Secretary
• King V’s new committee composition requirement: Risk and Social & Ethics Committees must have a majority of nonexecutive members, including at least one independent member
• Planning, convening, and managing effective board meetings
• Best practices in minute-taking and statutory record-keeping

Case Study: Improving board meeting outcomes.

Module 4: Financial Oversight for Company Secretaries

• Understanding and interpreting financial statements
• The Company Secretary’s role in financial oversight, reporting, and audit processes
• Practical skills: reading financials, asking the right questions, ensuring compliance

Workshop: Preparing annual reports and supporting board financial literacy.

DAY 3 — Ethics, CSR, and Action Planning

Module 5: Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) & Stakeholder Engagement

• The ethical imperative: code of conduct and integrity in the boardroom
• Company Secretary as ethics champion: promoting ethical practices organisation-wide
• Introduction to CSR: aligning social responsibility with business strategy
• Stakeholder engagement: mapping, communication, and conflict resolution

Workshop: Crafting a CSR and stakeholder plan for a case organisation.

Final Session: Open Forum, Q&A, and Action Planning

• Panel Q&A: addressing country-specific legal and governance challenges
• Peer sharing: practical solutions to day-to-day Company Secretary challenges
• Deciding whether the 5-Day Comprehensive programme is the right next step
• Personal action planning for post-training implementation

5-Day Comprehensive — Training Outline

Module 6: Digital Governance and Crisis Management

• Technology in modern company secretarial practice: board portals, e-signatures, and virtual AGMs
• Cybersecurity governance: the Company Secretary’s oversight role
• Crisis governance: board crisis response protocols and reputational crisis management
• Business continuity oversight from a governance perspective

Case Study: Governing through a corporate crisis: lessons from real board responses.

Module 7: Advanced Practice — M&A Governance, Succession, and Board Evaluation

• Supporting the board through mergers, acquisitions, and corporate transactions
• Leading formal board evaluation processes
• Succession planning for board and executive leadership
• Building your personal roadmap as a strategic governance advisor

Workshop: Design a board evaluation process and succession planning framework for a sample organisation.

Learning approach

How you will learn

Our diverse instructional approaches ensure effective learning:

– Lectures & Presentations: Engage with expert-driven, stimulating content.– Course Material: Access well-crafted supporting resources.– Group Work: Collaborate on discussions and case studies for practical insights.– Workshops & Role-Play: Participate in immersive, scenario-based activities.– Practical Application: Focus on applying theoretical knowledge in real situations.– Post-Training Support: Receive extensive support after training for skill implementation.

Discuss your requirements

Dates, duration & arrangements

Contact Ratomac to confirm dates, duration, delivery format, entry requirements and any applicable assessment or certification before booking.