Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Essentials for Board Members

ESG for Board Members: Principles, Regulations, Integration, Governance, Reporting, and Performance

Platform:

Online

In-class

Date	Venue	Duration
16 November 2026	Sandton, Gauteng	1 Day
14 December 2026	Sandton, Gauteng	1 Day
20 January 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	1 Day
15 February 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	1 Day
28 April 2027	Live/Online	1 Day
14 June 2027	Live/Online	1 Day
26 July 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	1 Day
03 September 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	1 Day
11 October 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	1 Day
01 December 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	1 Day

Course Introduction

Prospen Africa’s one-day ESG Essentials for Board Members course is designed to provide board members with a comprehensive understanding of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Participants will learn about the significance of ESG in today’s business environment, the regulatory landscape, and how to integrate ESG into corporate strategy effectively.

Course Objectives

Understanding ESG: gain a clear understanding of ESG, its scope, and its importance for business sustainability
ESG Regulatory Landscape: learn about key ESG regulations and standards, including IFRS S1 and S2, and understand the implications of non-compliance
Integrating ESG: explore how to align ESG with business strategy and manage associated risks
Governance and ESG: understand the board’s role in ESG oversight, including emerging oversight responsibilities such as AI governance
ESG Reporting and Disclosure: discover best practices for ESG reporting, including key metrics and stakeholder communication
ESG Performance and Measurement: learn how to measure ESG impact and performance using various tools and frameworks

Key Training Outputs

You will leave this course with:

A practical checklist of informed questions to ask management on ESG strategy and risk
A framework for reviewing the integrity of your organisation’s ESG disclosures
Clarity on your board’s specific ESG oversight responsibilities and where they sit relative to management’s
A working knowledge of the regulatory standards (IFRS S1/S2, GRI, SASB, TCFD) your organisation will be measured against
An initial view of where AI governance now sits alongside ESG as a board oversight priority

Who should attend?

Board Members
CEOs, CFOs, COOs
Corporate Governance Professionals
Sustainability Officers
Chief Risk Officers
Investor Relations Professionals
Audit Committee Members
Investors and Shareholders

Training Methodology

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.

Training Outline

Session 1 — Welcome and Introduction

Welcome and opening remarks
Overview of course objectives
Introduction to ESG and its importance

Session 2 — Understanding ESG

Definition and scope of ESG
Evolution and current trends in ESG
The importance of ESG for business sustainability and success

Session 3 — ESG Regulatory Landscape

Key regulations and standards: GRI, SASB, TCFD, and IFRS S1/S2 (the ISSB's Sustainability and Climate Disclosure Standards, now mandatory in 21+ jurisdictions)
Global and local ESG reporting requirements
Implications of non-compliance

Session 4 — Integrating ESG into Corporate Strategy

ESG risk assessment and management
Aligning ESG with business strategy and objectives
Case studies: successful ESG integration

Session 5 — Governance and ESG

The role of the board in ESG oversight
Building an effective ESG governance structure
Key responsibilities and best practices for board members
AI governance as an emerging board oversight priority: moving from “what can AI do for us” to “do we have sufficient oversight of what our AI is doing”

Session 6 — ESG Reporting and Disclosure

Best practices for ESG reporting
Key metrics and indicators
Transparency and communication with stakeholders

Session 7 — ESG Performance and Measurement

Measuring ESG impact and performance
Tools and frameworks for ESG evaluation
Continuous improvement and benchmarking

Session 8 — Q&A and Discussion

Open forum for questions and discussion
Sharing experiences and challenges
Summary of key takeaways
Closing remarks

Course Categories

Office Administration Courses ❯ Audit, Risk And Governance ❯ Compliance Courses ❯ Finance Courses ❯ Human Resources Training & Development ❯ View All Course Categories ❯

Course Registration Guide

Everything you need to know about registering for a Prospen training course.

View Registration Guide

Success Stories

Discover how our courses enhance professionals’ effectiveness in their workplaces.

Central Bank of Lesotho

Fraud Risk Management

The Fraud Risk Management training was clear, practical, and very relevant to day-to-day work. Content was well structured and the real world case studies made concepts easy to apply. Presenter knowledge and engagement kept the session interactive. Overall a valuable program that strengthened my understanding of fraud detection, prevention, and regulatory requirements.

Central Bank of Lesotho

Fraud Risk Management

The facilitator was exceptionally good, approachable eloquent and was able to structure the course content to relate to our specific work designations, it was just perfect service delivery

Central Bank of Lesotho

Fraud Risk Management

Keep up the good work which I experienced during my training being training materials offered and great hospitality we received from all the staff members

Centenary Rural Development Group Ltd

Risk Management for Risk champions

Very informative course with good content and benchmarks of key players in South Africa. We are able to agree a plan on how to build an enterprise risk management framework for a developing group of companies. Several references to guide us and experienced Facilitators

GEMS

Auditing the ESG Process Masterclass

Very happy with the training. It was excellently delivered and comprehensively covered all critical aspects of ESG and effectively contextualised them within the environments of our respective organisations.

North West Gambling Board

Risk Management in the Public Sector

The course was eye opening and exceeded my expectations.

View All Reviews

FAQs – Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Essentials for Board Members

Build essential ESG knowledge for board members, covering environmental, social, governance, risk, compliance, and sustainable decision-making.

What is covered in the ESG Essentials for Board Members course?

The course covers board-level ESG oversight, climate-related financial disclosures, integrating sustainability into corporate strategy, double materiality, global ESG regulatory trends, greenwashing risk mitigation, and executive ESG remuneration frameworks.

Who should attend this ESG Governance Training for Directors?

This masterclass is designed for board directors, non-executive directors (NEDs), board chairs, committee members (Audit, Risk, Social & Ethics), company secretaries, chief executive officers, and executive leaders responsible for strategic governance.

How does this course guide directors on fiduciary duties regarding ESG risks?

Delegates analyze how evolving legal and market expectations redefine director fiduciary care, equipping board members to evaluate climate risks, human rights exposures, and governance failures as core business impacts.

Will board members learn how to evaluate ESG reporting standards?

Yes. The curriculum breaks down primary reporting benchmarks—including ISSB (IFRS S1 & S2), GRI, and TCFD—enabling directors to critically review published sustainability reports and demand robust audit assurance.

Does the training address aligning ESG performance with executive incentive structures?

Yes. The course examines strategies for incorporating meaningful, measurable ESG Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) into executive remuneration, long-term incentive plans (LTIPs), and performance evaluation models.

Why is proactive board-level ESG oversight essential for modern enterprises?

Active ESG oversight by the board protects capital access, prevents regulatory non-compliance penalties, mitigates reputational damage from greenwashing, and aligns long-term strategy with sustainable value creation.

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Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Essentials for Board Members

ESG for Board Members: Principles, Regulations, Integration, Governance, Reporting, and Performance

Course Objectives

Who should attend?

Course Outline

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Course Introduction

Course Objectives

Key Training Outputs

Who should attend?

Training Methodology

Training Outline

Course Categories

Course Registration Guide

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Success Stories

Fraud Risk Management

Fraud Risk Management

Fraud Risk Management

Risk Management for Risk champions

Auditing the ESG Process Masterclass

Risk Management in the Public Sector

FAQs – Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Essentials for Board Members

Related Courses

Your submission has been successful