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Description

Boards can be complex. Directors must understand their role to make a lasting impact and fulfill their fiduciary obligations to the board they serve. The first step is to gain an appreciation for the principles of board governance.

The ICD-Rotman Governance Essentials Program (GEP) is an intensive two-day program focused on the key accountabilities, responsibilities and critical skills of board directors. Developed with the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, the GEP equips participants with the fundamentals of board governance through team-based learning, enhancing their contributions to board discussions and boosting their effectiveness as directors.

Who Should Participate?

This course is for newly appointed board directors and senior executives seeking to gain a deeper understanding of governance in the boardroom.

This course provides a learning environment that balances diversity, experience, and the ability of participants to contribute positively within the group. There are no admission requirements for this program however, space is on a first come, first serve basis.

Key Benefits


  • After completing all components of the course, participants will:
    • Understand the fiduciary responsibilities of directors and boards
    • Understand the duty of care expected of directors in board decision-making
    • Recognize the many applications of the generative, strategic, and fiduciary governance models
    • Better understand the dynamics of group decision-making in a boardroom environment
    • Increase understanding of governance best practices to be better prepared for board meetings
    • Have the opportunity to learn alongside and from director peers
    To increase awareness of governance principles, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the responsibilities and duties of the board director while developing the required skills to serve more effectively.

ICD-RBC Foundation Scholarship


  • Board members or executive directors of a registered charity, whose mission is to enhance the outcomes for the community the organization it serves, are invited to apply for the ICD-RBC Foundation Scholarship.

    The scholarship covers GEP enrollment costs, providing access to the highest levels of training, leadership capabilities, and insights from industry leaders and peers through Canada's leading foundational board governance education program.

    There are a limited number of scholarships for the 2023 academic year. Please visit Apply Online for current offerings.

    Applications are evaluated based on merit, need and the impact of governance education on the registered charity. Preference is given to equity-seeking organizations that serve the underrepresented.

Format

This program includes two live, instructor-led online sessions, delivered over two consecutive days. Attendance at the live sessions is required for successful course completion. The GEP includes breakout group exercises, case studies, Q & A with instructors and other experts, and interactive discussions.

Participants will receive readings and other resources that must be reviewed independently in preparation for the live sessions.

Current Offerings

  •  
    City  Course Code Instructor Led Session Application Deadline Session Time
    Online GEP 68 June 19-20, 2023 *Waitlist only 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET 
    Online GEP 69 September 18-19, 2023 August 21, 2023 10 a.m. to 6:30 pm ET
    Online GEP 70 October 14-15, 2023 (Sat-Sun) September 14, 2023 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET

Program Faculty

Richard C. Powers Headshot

Richard C. Powers

National Academic Director

Associate Professor, Rotman School of Management, National Academic Director, Directors Education Program and Governance Essentials Program.

Richard C. Powers

National Academic Director

Associate Professor, Rotman School of Management, National Academic Director, Directors Education Program and Governance Essentials Program.
An internationally recognized expert in both corporate and not-for-profit governance, Richard is the National Academic Director of the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program (DEP) and the Governance Essentials Program (GEP). Richard also serves as the Academic Director of the CUES Governance Programs in Canada. He also teaches in Rotman’s Executive MBA, OMNIUM, MBA and Executive Education Programs.

Richard has led and taught in the DEP and GEP for over 15 years and has assisted in designing and implementing the programs at 13 universities across Canada. The DEP is recognized as one of the most robust governance programs in the world. In addition to his responsibilities with the DEP, Richard has worked with numerous boards, associations and organizations in identifying, creating and developing best governance practices.

He is a director and chairs the Governance & Compensation committee of TSX-V listed Pivotree Inc. and serves on the boards and committees of several not-for-profit organizations including Commonwealth Sport Canada (President) and the Canadian Olympic Committee. Richard frequently comments on legal and governance issues in various media across Canada.
Richard C. Powers Headshot
Nouman Ashraf Headshot

Nouman Ashraf

Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto MBA, University of Toronto, BCom, University of Toronto

Nouman Ashraf

Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto MBA, University of Toronto, BCom, University of Toronto
Nouman Ashraf is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream within the Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management area at the Rotman School of Management. He possesses a broad range of professional, academic and research interests, with a specialized focus on enabling innovative and inclusive practices within organization life.

For the last decade and a half, he has held progressively senior roles at the University of Toronto. He is a recognized thought leader in governance and has taught thousands of directors in the national Rotman program on Not-for-Profit Governance in partnership with the Institute for Corporate Directors since its inception in 2007.

An award-winning faculty member, Nouman teaches Emancipatory Leadership within the Executive MBA as well as the OMNIUM Global Executive MBA Program, Leading Social Innovation within the 2- and 3-Year MBA programs, and Leading across Differences within the Rotman Commerce Program. He is the Academic Director of various custom leadership programs in partnership with Rotman Executive Program clients.
Nouman Ashraf Headshot
Loren Falkenberg, PhD Headshot

Loren Falkenberg, PhD

Professor, Haskayne School of Business

Loren Falkenberg, PhD

Professor, Haskayne School of Business
Loren Falkenberg has been a faculty member in the Haskayne School of Business for more than 30 years. She has taught decision-making, business ethics and negotiations. She was an Associate Dean in the faculty for over 10 years, overseeing research and graduate programs. She actively consults with boards on strategy and decision-making. She chaired the board of a larger not-for-profit in Calgary and was a strategic advisor to the Calgary Parking Authority.

She was a member of the City of Calgary Economic Resiliency task force and chaired a sub-committee on community engagement for hosting the Olympics. Loren has published in the Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Perspectives, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Management and California Management Review, and was a Section Editor for the Journal of Business Ethics. Loren has won six awards for best papers published in journals or presented at conferences. As well, she has recently published Strategic University Management: Future-proofing your institution.
Loren Falkenberg, PhD Headshot
Margaret McKee, PhD, ICD.D Headshot

Margaret McKee, PhD, ICD.D

Associate Professor, Associate Dean, Undergraduate and Professional Graduate Programs, Sobey School of Business

Margaret McKee, PhD, ICD.D

Associate Professor, Associate Dean, Undergraduate and Professional Graduate Programs, Sobey School of Business
Margaret is the Academic Director of the Halifax Directors Education Program, and the Associate Dean of Undergraduate and Professional Graduate Programs in the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. Her teaching and research is focused on business ethics, CSR/sustainability and governance, with her latest research examining boards of directors from the perspective of diversity and inclusion. Margaret transitioned to academia after a 20-year career as a professional communicator and strategist with publicly traded companies, federal and provincial government departments, and consulting firms in Halifax and Toronto.

Over her career, Margaret has served on several not-for-profit boards. She is currently on the Board of Governors for Saint Mary’s University and a member of the Executive Committee for the ICD Maritimes Chapter. She has completed the ICD-Rotman Not-for-Profit Governance Essentials Program (GEP), and the Directors Education Program, earning her ICD.D designation in 2016.
Margaret McKee, PhD, ICD.D Headshot
John Oesch Headshot

John Oesch

Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto PhD, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University; MSc, University of British Columbia; MBA, Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western, Ontario; MEd, BEd, BSc, University of Western Ontario

John Oesch

Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto PhD, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University; MSc, University of British Columbia; MBA, Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western, Ontario; MEd, BEd, BSc, University of Western Ontario
John Oesch is currently teaching Model-Based Business Problem Solving and Organizational Leadership in the MBA Programs at the Rotman School of Management. He has research interests in the areas of decision-making, managerial negotiations, and organizational justice. His teaching interests are in the areas of negotiation, decision-making, organizational behaviour, and change leadership. John is the Academic Director of our Executive MBA, and Morning and Evening MBA programs. He has received numerous Rotman MBA and EMBA Teaching Awards as well as the Roger Martin Teaching Award in 2009. His publication record includes the Journal of Business Venturing, Social Justice Research, Games and Economic Behavior, and Organization Science.
John Oesch Headshot

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