| Date | Venue | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 - 30 September 2026 | Sandton, Gauteng | 3 Days | |
| 16 - 20 November 2026 | Sandton, Gauteng | 5 Days |
Please note: This is not a final registration, one of our team members will contact you shortly to finalise your registration.
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 Prospen Africa, 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 Prospen 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.
This Company Secretaries Workshop is available in two formats, so you can choose the depth that fits your time and needs:
Governance foundations, legal and regulatory mastery, board dynamics, financial oversight, and ethics and stakeholder engagement — the complete core Company Secretary skillset.
Everything in the 3-Day Essentials, plus digital governance and crisis management, and advanced practice in M&A governance support, succession planning, and board evaluation.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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