Case studies

Peter Sharpe
Governance expertise pays off for public sector accountant

As company secretary of a government-owned corporation, Peter Sharpe is full of praise for Chartered Secretaries Australia’s (CSA’s) Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance.

‘It’s certainly opened another avenue that I didn’t have. Now I am not just an accountant,’ Dr Sharpe said.

Dr Sharpe, who is a company secretary and financial accountant, was virtually thrust into the company secretary role soon after joining Gladstone Ports Corporation in Queensland.

‘I was initially appointed here as financial accountant with the Gladstone Ports Corporation, supporting the chief financial officer.

‘We had a change of chairman within a month of my starting and he wanted a qualified accountant as company secretary,’ explained Dr Sharpe.

As the existing company secretary was not a qualified accountant, he relinquished the role. As part of the appointment, the chairman requested that Dr Sharpe undertake the Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance.

‘If ever there was the accidental company secretary, it was me,’ he said.

Because he was located an hour’s flying time from Brisbane and had two children under the age of three, he completed four units by distance learning — which included online support — over a 12-month period, graduating last July.

As entry into the Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance is open to university graduates, Dr Sharpe obtained exemptions for prior studies.

‘From my point of view, it was very useful having been thrown into the deep end,’ Dr Sharpe said.

‘There was some reinforcing of the knowledge acquired from being a Chartered Accountant from the overlap between my accounting training and the graduate diploma.’

However, Dr Sharpe found the training in the principles and practical application of corporate governance especially rewarding.

Even if the course was demanding, he insisted that he was certainly glad that he completed the internationally recognised postgraduate qualification.

‘I’d never dealt with a board before so, it was good to get some insights into their operation. It got me thinking about the way we do things.’

Since completing the graduate diploma, Dr Sharpe has said he is able to make a more positive contribution to the corporation’s corporate governance function.

Last July, the government-owned organisation converted to a company, placing additional responsibility on the organisation under the Corporations Act.

However, Dr Sharpe said that the course included instruction on meeting compliance requirements, including ASIC obligations under the Corporations Act and key governance guidelines.

‘As a government-owned corporation, the philosophy and processes of the Government Owned Corporations Act often follow the Corporations Act. Consequently the change to a company was not a huge one for me in my company secretary role.’

Asked if he would recommend the course to other professionals contemplating a move into a company secretary position, Dr Sharpe said, ‘Absolutely’.

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Stephen Phillips
Managing risk is part of government business

In the current tough economic environment where governments are under intense scrutiny to justify the investment of taxpayers’ dollars in both existing and new infrastructure, forward-thinking public sector professionals are upgrading their corporate governance skills as an essential risk management tool.

‘In discussions with other executives and senior public servants it seems that the need for public agencies to embrace more rigorous governance arrangements has accelerated in the past decade,’ said Stephen Phillips, Company Secretary and General Manager for Customers and Commercial Development at Hunter Water Corporation (HWC).

Stephen, who recently enrolled in Chartered Secretaries Australia’s (CSA) Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance — Public Sector, is responsible for maintaining effective corporate governance strategies and policies for HWC’s board.

He is also responsible for reviewing the corporation’s corporate governance guidelines, policies and procedures as well as ensuring that HWC’s compliance keeps in step with relevant legislation and regulations.

Other tasks include administration of the corporation’s agreements, constitutional amendments, board and committee charters, codes of conduct and keeping statutory records current.

‘In recent years the demands upon government have been increasing, which in turn means that government agencies have to be even more accountable to taxpayers. For government-owned enterprises like HWC, not only must the external processes which customers deal with be robust, but so must the internal processes,’ Stephen said.

‘If I have learned anything from my board responsibilities that have straddled both the private and public sector, it is that you can never stop learning; never stop improving your skills. Throughout these experiences I would often contemplate the strong similarities and benefits of good corporate governance practice within each sector.

The reason I undertook CSA’s public sector governance Graduate Diploma was first, to build on my existing skills and knowledge; second, so I could gain a better understanding of best practice governance in the public sector; and third, because it seemed to me to be one of the few programs of its type on offer.’

As governments demand more rigorous governance arrangements, Stephen is satisfied that the Graduate Diploma will help him to meet those challenges.

The course will assist him to provide further support in the risk management area by developing systematic solutions to the management of potential risks and to improve the monitoring and review of risk control systems.

‘Ultimately, this means improved reporting to stakeholders, including the HWC board and management, on compliance, governance and performance,’ Stephen said.

He chose to undertake CSA’s Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance — Public Sector, because he considered the diploma more relevant to his existing position and the sector he works in.

‘Despite corporate governance having origins in the public sector, it might seem odd to think that public sector organisations are perhaps relative newcomers to some of the more sophisticated corporate governance arrangements being developed within the private sector. And as such, I wanted a course that addressed the issues my sector faced while at the same time covered issues common to both the private and public sectors.

‘This course meets all of the above and more. And should I ever decide to move back into the private sector, the skills and knowledge I have gained I think will remain highly relevant.’

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Lance Oswald
Manager helps company perform at its BEST

As a member of the senior management team at BEST Employment Limited, Lance Oswald recognises that good governance drives good organisational performance.

With its role in helping the unemployed and disadvantaged in New South Wales’ New England region to find work and training, Lance is conscious that livelihoods depend on BEST Employment performing at its best.

‘My responsibilities are connected with many governance activities including risk assessment and management, compliance, systems and procedures improvement and reporting,’ said Lance.

‘And as we provide work placement services on behalf of the Commonwealth government, we also have significant accountability and transparency requirements.’

Lance undertook Chartered Secretaries Australia’s (CSA) recently launched Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance (Public Sector) to gain a better understanding of public sector governance requirements as well as to be more effective in his role.
‘We deal with many government bodies in the course of our work as a government contractor. I felt that doing CSA’s course would give me new insights into how these bodies operate.

‘I also believe that governance is a learned skill.  By doing this course I will be able to provide more valuable and informed input to the senior management team,’ he said.

Lance considered other governance courses offered by major universities but settled on CSA’s course because of its strong practical focus.

‘The course appealed to me because it’s been developed and is taught by respected governance practitioners and public servants with real world experience. What you gain are skills you can immediately apply in the workplace.

‘The course also focuses on emerging issues such as industrial relations which keeps you on the front foot with new governance risks. Regulatory change is a given in the current environment so it’s essential for all managers to understand the impacts and respond appropriately,’ he added.

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Kirrin Ryan
School manager hones governance skills as government ramps up stimulus spend

The federal government’s multi-billion dollar school building program has raised the level of accountability for many school executives.  But for some executives, corporate governance was already uppermost in their career planning even before the government committed more than $15 billion to their sector.

After being promoted to business manager at Sutherland Shire Christian School from her previous position as accountant, Kerrin Ryan quickly became aware that she needed assistance to gain a better understanding of her corporate governance responsibilities.

Through her professional body, the Association of School Business Administrators (ASBA), she learnt of the Certificate in Governance Practice and Administration offered by Chartered Secretaries Australia (CSA).

'I’m new to the role of being a business manager so I thought it would give me exposure to the areas I needed to be aware of,' said Ms Ryan, who undertook the Certificate in July 2009.

The federal government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) program has figured in Ms Ryan’s tasks this year, and was one of many reasons for undertaking CSA’s course. 

Currently Sutherland Shire Christian School is about to commence construction of two new buildings.  'There are governance issues the whole way through from having to observe proper tendering procedures, to meeting tight project timeframes,' Ms Ryan said. 

'While CSA’s course will certainly help me manage the challenges of the BER program, I was just as interested in the benefits I’ll achieve from having a better understanding of governance issues overall,' said Ms Ryan, who is secretary of the school board.

The courses she found especially useful for her job dealt with practical skills for company secretaries, the legal framework of governance, and risk assessment for officers and directors.

'We are a company as well as being a school.  Our governance issues focus around risk management and ensuring the school has the proper policies and processes in place to run effectively and to meet its responsibilities to students, parents and teachers.  We also have to juggle our responsibilities to government because it funds us to a large extent.'

Ms Ryan, who chose to complete the Certificate in a three-day intensive format, found that one of the benefits of the course was that it brought together business managers from various schools.  In partnership with CSA, ASBA had offered the course to its members at a subsidised rate on successful completion.

'While the course was not delivered specifically for schools, it was beneficial to have others from my sector attending as well.  It was encouraging to learn that, regardless of school size, all school administrators are facing similar governance issues,' she said.

Ms Ryan is now thinking of joining CSA under its new Certificated membership program that launched in October 2009 and is open to students who have completed CSA’s Certificate course. 

Successful completion of the Certificate course now paves the way to a deeper ongoing relationship with CSA via a membership program which provides ongoing benefits.  These include greater professional development opportunities and access to up-to-date governance knowledge, guidance and practical tools to help manage the continual challenges of a governance or management role.

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Jeni McDonough
Governance professional climbs up the ranks

You can almost hear the hustle and bustle of Jeni McDonough’s changing job responsibilities, as the newly appointed company secretary for the Red Cross gets the documentation ready for an upcoming board meeting.

Ms McDonough, who completed Chartered Secretaries Australia’s (CSA) Certificate in Governance Practice and Administration last year, had previously worked extensively in either acting or assistant positions for the well-known charity.

But that deputy role changed following a decision this October to merge her existing position into the company secretary role that she has assumed.

'I have taken over the secretary role which includes preparing all the papers, taking the minutes, making sure the work of the board is spelt out and people are doing what they have been asked to do,' she said.

While Ms McDonough is familiar with some of these duties, as she was often called upon to deputise for the former board secretary when he was on leave, she acknowledged that learning on the job can only take a governance professional so far.

'There were always additional corporate governance matters that I needed clarification on. I also wanted material I could refer to and more knowledge about what the role as a whole involved,' she said.

The former board secretary recommended that Jeni undertake CSA’s Certificate course, advice she is glad she followed, especially now that it paves the way for her to become a CSA Member.

Ms McDonough gives the thumbs up to CSA’s decision to open membership to students who have completed the Certificate, rather than confining it to those who have finished the more demanding Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance.

As a CSA Member she receives CSA publications directly and has access to best practice governance guides and other useful practitioner tools.

Membership also gives her access to CSA’s seminars, often at a discount. 'It’s good to keep in touch with what’s changing in governance,' she said.

One of the features that she appreciated about the Certificate course was its flexibility of study and that it did not detract too much from her personal time. Usually she spent half a day on each module at CSA’s offices, although she completed the final module online.

'I liked the chance to gain more knowledge without have to spend hours on it and also seeing how people in other industries dealt with corporate governance matters,' she said, adding that the modules on minute taking and confidentiality issues were of significant value to her work.

'Another benefit of the new Certificated membership is that I’m able to keep in contact with other professionals that I met while doing the Certificate in Governance Practice and Administration,' she said. 'That’s invaluable, because I can chat with them about how they are handling a particular problem or issue.'

Ms McDonough recommends the Certificate for anyone starting out as a governance professional. And she goes even further, recommending that even managers for whom corporate governance is not a direct part of their job should also complete the course. 

'A lot of people don’t understand governance or its importance. But those who do know that it’s critical for any well-run organisation, particularly one like mine, which depends so much on a good reputation and having the public’s confidence.'

As for further study, she has not dismissed the idea, but at the moment is focused on the challenges of her new role. 'I will probably do more in the future but for the moment my priority is to master my new job.'

All Certificate training programs are written and presented by a wide range of professionals, including expert practitioners in governance and company secretarial practice, and leading law and business academics.

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Victoria Sweetman
Senior counsel backs own advice

As the senior legal counsel in a business unit of a large financial institution, Victoria Sweetman found that, increasingly, she was taking on company secretarial roles and providing advice on corporate governance.

'I was constantly attending meetings and forums where I was also expected to read a balance sheet and profit and loss statement, and be able to understand the financial impact of certain decisions,' Ms Sweetman said.

Faced with these evolving responsibilities, she considered a number of courses that would provide the necessary skills to enhance her career.

On her list was Chartered Secretaries Australia’s (CSA) Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance, the Australian Institute of Company Directors diploma, an MBA and a Master of Law. She selected the Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance.

'I thought that its curriculum was very relevant to someone who was an in-house lawyer working in a corporate environment, especially as I didn’t have undergraduate accounting qualifications.'

'I had studied economics and economic statistics but I didn’t have any postgraduate accounting or finance qualifications, so the diploma was very appealing to me.'

While CSA’s graduate diploma covered financial subjects, Ms Sweetman was also drawn to the formal study of corporate governance.

'Understanding corporate governance and corporate responsibility, and how that impacted on an organisation, was important for me.'

She also found the secretarial practice subject to be very helpful.

'It was excellent to understand good corporate governance, running company meetings and compliance with the Corporations Act.'

Unlike most students, Ms Sweetman completed two subjects by correspondence and two by classroom learning.

'I found the correspondence course and teaching materials first-rate,' she said.

Besides obtaining credit from her law degree, she also valued the professional networking opportunity the course provided.

Following completion of the graduate diploma, she undertook a Master of Law degree, for which she received credit for the diploma.

Professionally, she has moved to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu where she works as a lawyer in its Forensic practice as well as being the company secretary of The Deloitte Foundation, the firm’s charity.

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