acgp.global

The Association of Corporate Governance Practitioners

A global professional body focused on supporting governance practitioners, governance consultants, board members, and other professionals who have a responsibility for corporate governance.

Vision

We will achieve our objectives by becoming the ‘first choice support organisation for professionals and practitioners working in governance’, and the standard bearer for employers looking for employees working in this area. We will establish our courses as the recommended course for anyone who wants to complement their overall role with a specific governance qualification. We will help promote and establish the profession, of ‘Governance Practitioner’, within the UK initially, and then globally.

Mission

The association will promote the profession’s role to ensure that employers, students and regulatory bodies are familiar with the role and importance of governance practitioners. We will aim to achieve a leading status such that we are the main resource for practitioners working in large corporate organisations, SMEs, Financial Service Organisations, the IT sector, the Third Sector and the government. We will be a leading voice in the area of governance.

“ACGP is the global professional body for corporate governance practitioners”

CORE VALUES

Ethics

We will promote the highest ethical standards at all times and ensure that the spirit of adhering to honest professional standards is paramount across the application of governance.

Corporate responsibility

We will demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainable, responsible business practices. We will therefore expect our partners to adhere to a strict code of corporate citizenship and contribute to compliance with law, ethical standards and international norms.

Integrity

We believe at the ACGP that nothing is more important than our reputation, and acting with the highest levels of integrity is fundamental to who we are. The association is keen to maintain a standard of integrity for itself, the profession and all of its members.

Leadership

We see governance and the role of the board as key components of the leadership of any organisation and will strive to ensure that it is considered as such across all sectors. We will lead by example to achieve our vision and goals and we work hard to ensure our customers and partners expectations are always met.

Learning

STRATEGIC BUSINESS OBJECTIVES

To Grow our Influence

We aspire to achieve national recognition of ‘The ACGP’ and establish the Governance Practitioner’s contribution to better corporate governance practice. We do this by developing a compelling evidence base and raising the profile of governance as a discipline, acting as a voice for governance. We forge strong networks and engage with bodies in the following areas:

To Build a Strong and Reliable Brand, Synonymous with Quality

We aspire to build a strong brand for ACGP in two key areas:

Excellence in service and course content offered: We build a strong reputation for quality in our offerings by providing the highest standards in course content for our students and ensuring we are comparable to and better than our peers. We also maintain a high standard of service to our members and customers.

Our values and our contribution to the community: This directly aligns with our five corporate values—Ethics, Social Responsibility, Integrity, Leadership, and Learning. We live these values in everything we do and invite our partners, students, and members to live them with us.

To Develop the Governance Practitioner

We aspire to establish the governance practitioner qualification, membership to the body, and ongoing professional development within the United Kingdom and globally. We also increase the number of subscribers for membership with the ACGP and its certification by:

Increasing engagement with employers to promote the ACGP and its offerings
Increasing the uptake of our Governance Practitioner qualifications and programs
Broadening ACGP membership to more accurately reflect UK industry sectors
Growing participation in professional development and the exchange of best practices within the association
Engaging and developing the next generation of board leaders

The whole area of governance is clearly distinguished from the purely compliance and legal aspects of the role, and the much broader role is promoted.

Memberships

The association offers membership to a broad range of individuals, from students to professionals. Whether you are new to governance or sit on a board of directors, our range of membership ensures that there is a grade that fits anyone with a keen interest in governance. Membership grades are awarded based on a combination of experience and qualifications and are designed to support your journey to becoming a Certified Governance Practitioner. As you progress in your career, you can apply for the next grade to ensure your level always reflects your current position. Below are our types of membership

Student Membership

For students actively pursuing a qualification in governance.

Associate Governance Practitioner (AGP)

For individuals with no previous experience or relevant qualifications, who are actively engaged in, considering a career in, or have an active interest in corporate governance but have yet to demonstrate the competencies and experience required for higher grades.

Member Governance Practitioner (MGP)

For professionals who have governance as their main discipline or as the focus of their work. This also applies to professionals in disciplines such as Law, Accounting, and other governance-related roles who are seeking to further their careers in corporate governance.

Fellow Governance Practitioner (FGP)

The highest grade of professional recognition is offered by the ACGP. The Fellow, Corporate Governance Practitioner (FCGP) grade signifies that you have demonstrated substantial achievement or made a personal contribution to furthering the profession of corporate governance.

Membership Benefits

We provide you with knowledge and guidance through a regular e-bulletin, packed with the latest professional guidance and news, and a dedicated online resource library where you can search and access documents and articles, including the latest professional guidance as it is published.
You raise your profile and that of the profession by demonstrating your professionalism to employers, clients, and peers, and showing your commitment to ensuring that good governance is always practised.
Being a member of the ACGP enhances your professional reputation and development by giving you access to guidance and support for all stages of your career, enhancing your professional standing, exposing you to a network of other governance practitioners, and providing significant savings on our market-leading training courses, seminars, and events.
You gain complete access to updates in legislation, particularly governance codes, with highlights and links to the various portals that house this information.
You have access to our governance events organised in several regions across the country and hosted by professional accountancy and law practices. These events provide discussion forums for members to share knowledge, ideas, and expertise.
We have access to a wide number of recruiters in governance and non-governance disciplines. You will have access to job opportunities from our extensive list of employers.
You can use the designatory letters appropriate to your level of experience, demonstrating your competence to stakeholders you may come into contact with.
The consultant's forum, students forum, board members and employees forum, and fellows forum are unique resources available to help you in your career.

COURSES

Governance Certificate (GC) Course

This unique one-day course provides participants with a tailor-made introduction to governance and a validation of governance competence. The course content offers an overall understanding of key governance principles. By passing the examination, participants demonstrate their understanding of these key principles. The day comprises academic and practical exercises suitable for those involved in governance support. Any professional interested in governance can take this course. Those who pass the examination receive a certificate to demonstrate their achievement.

Governance Practitioner (GP) Course

This unique four-day course provides participants with a tailor-made introduction to governance and a validation of their governance competence. The course content is designed to test and challenge students, and by bypassing the examination, participants provide evidence of their competence in governance. Each day comprises academic and practical exercises suitable for those involved in governance support. Any professional interested in governance can take this course, and although it is the standard route to full membership of ACGP, it can also be taken by non-members. All who pass the examination receive a practitioner’s certificate demonstrating their broad knowledge in governance.“ACGP is the global professional body for corporate governance practitioners”

External Governance Courses

The Association strongly influences the governance syllabus used by other institutions for corporate governance and has to recommend educational institutions and training organisations that wish to deliver courses to gain the Governance Practitioner qualification.

Governance Board

The Board’s main role is to endorse and approve the body of knowledge developed for the Association. It also has a secondary, more operational role, as identified below, to set up the association.

Executive Leadership

Karl George MBE

CEO of ACGP

Governance Consultant | Speaker

Patricia McCabe

Central Consultancy & Training Ltd

Managing Director specialising in governance and human resources, Chair of the Membership Committee.

Chris Cain

Impactability Ltd

Director PASS-SBL | Certified PwC Adjunct Trainer.

Sanjeev Gathani

Better Business Governance

Expert in Data Privacy, Anti-Bribery and Corruption, Business Ethics, Anti-Money Laundering & Cybersecurity, and Trusted GRC Adviser.

Miles Weaver

Edinburgh Napier University

Associate Professor, sustainability, and circular supply systems.

Governance

ACGP’s Board serves as its supreme governing body, overseeing its activities. The Board agrees on ACGP’s strategy and budget and delegates day-to-day operations to committees and ACGP staff. The majority of the Board is elected by ACGP members, supplemented by co-opted and ex officio members, ensuring that the Board represents the main sectors and interests of the entire membership. It is supported by two other boards that oversee the main areas of ACGP activity: Education and Member Services. The executive leadership team is responsible for delivering ACGP’s operational plan and plays a crucial role in shaping the ACGP strategy.

Terms of Reference for the Board

Develop the constitutional framework for the organisation.
Consider applications for membership of the association.
Uphold and monitor the vision, mission, and values.
Supervise the CEO, including reviewing business plans, accounts, and risk management.
Consider all partnership arrangements or affiliations with other agencies.
Ensure that all policies within the organisation are approved and reviewed regularly.
Establish all committees and operating structures for the association.

Contact us

Reach out to ACGP for access to our expert networks, tools, and resources that empower governance professionals to excel in their roles.

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