What really happens on the Company Directors Course?

The Company Directors Course (CDC) — the world’s leading governance course — celebrates 50 years of world-class boardroom education this year. We asked recent participant Scott Gordon to diarise his experiences during the five-day residential course in Byron Bay, NSW in May.

At the age of 36, Scott Gordon MAICD has cultivated a career that blends executive acumen with a commitment to social impact. 

As chief operating officer of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, he plays a pivotal role in leading one of Australia’s most respected not-for-profit organisations, dedicated to safeguarding children and young people from violence and trauma. His leadership extends further as board chair for both One Girl — a feminist organisation breaking down the barriers girls and young women face accessing education in Sierra Leone — and Surfers for Climate — a grassroots movement uniting the surfing community around positive climate action. 

His global perspective has been shaped in part by nearly three years in Sierra Leone, where he held senior finance roles with Partners In Health, a social justice organisation delivering high-quality healthcare to the world’s most vulnerable.

Yet, despite his impressive trajectory, he views the CDC, which he recently completed, as an essential “ticket to play” at the next level of governance and impact.

“The course is universally recognised for upskilling directors — providing them with the tools they need to add value to boardroom conversations,” says Gordon, who is committed to finding innovative ways to stretch social investment and elevate performance in the for-purpose sector.

“Strengthening society through contribution to community is what energises me and governance has a really important role to play.”

It’s a philosophy shaped not just by his professional background, including time as an auditor for KPMG, but also by a personal legacy. He says his father, Michael, a political journalist known for his social justice reportage, instilled in him a deep commitment to equity and impact.

Byron bound

It was with this ethos — and his surfboard in hand — that Melbourne-based Gordon joined a cohort of ambitious leaders for the CDC immersion at the Crystalbrook resort in Byron Bay.

Located in 45 acres of subtropical rainforest, the resort combines a coastal vibe with modern sustainability. Complimentary daily morning yoga, a heated infinity pool, rainforest boardwalks, a restaurant boasting 80 per cent local ingredients, a luxury spa, and treetop and rainforest suites, mean course participants have the chance to unwind in situ. Even the class setting adjoins a terrace with an abundant green view.

What followed was a transformative and rejuvenating week, where a fairly evenly split male and female cohort enjoyed what Ronwyn North GAICD, a lecturer on the topic of legalities, describes as “the privilege of being a learner away from the job”.

Here, Gordon shares his experience.

Day 00

One day to go until the start of the CDC and there are three emotions I’m sitting with. The first is curiosity. I’m really honest with the boards I chair that I don’t feel we’ve cracked the nut on what a truly high-performing for-purpose board looks and feels like — one that propels the organisation forward, moving the needle on the issues we exist to solve. So, I’m extremely curious to learn about different approaches and perspectives to unlock value and enhance impact.

I’m also feeling a huge sense of gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the residential AICD course and sit in a learning space for the week. As I’ve grown older, it’s become more apparent to me that engaging in structured learning is a privilege. Finally, I’m excited to meet new people, hear their stories and find common ground. For me, there’s no greater joy than learning from and working with like-minded people on issues that I believe matter.

Day 01

Arriving at Crystalbrook, I’m blown away. It’s such an incredible sanctuary, surrounded by rainforest and only minutes from my favourite beaches in beautiful Bundjalung Country. Any pre-course nerves are immediately washed away by the relaxed energy of the place. In the conference room for a 9am start, I’m greeted with warm smiles and friendly faces. There is a healthy mix of backgrounds in the room with representations from both for-profit and for-purpose organisations.

The theme of the day is a broad-brush look at governance and directorship. Time flies as we lean into thought-provoking discussions and interesting case studies with facilitator Barry Rafe FAICD. I particularly like the way he weaves in real-world examples alongside hypothetical case studies. Truth be told, I haven’t quite managed all the pre-course reading — there’s a lot — but the material is presented in such an accessible way you don’t feel left out if you haven’t read it cover to cover.

As soon as the day finishes at 4.30pm, I head five minutes down the road to Broken Head for a sunset surf. This is where I consolidate my thoughts. For me, the ocean has always played this role — the ultimate leveller and place for reflection. Out in the waves, as the sky turns pink, I’m content — exactly where I need to be.

I join the group for a 6.30pm dinner. This is scheduled every night, although some people have other commitments. It’s a chance to understand everyone’s unique experiences and stories, with the chatter lasting until about 8pm.

Although it’s suggested we later go over the case histories we’ve looked at during the day, this requirement is pretty loose.

“Being able to head straight out into the ocean at the end of the day to reflect on key takeouts is beyond invaluable.”

Day 02

I start the day with a sunrise surf at Broken Head. The waves are pumping and local groms are hooting and hollering as dolphins breach the unbroken waves. Today will be a good day.

Back at Crystalbrook, we pick up where we left off, jumping straight into juicy conversations focused on the legal environment. I’m seated with a new group of smart, insightful professionals, each with their own perspectives stemming from backgrounds in education, defence, banking and the arts. There’s a healthy mix of passion and mutual respect in the room. Strong ideas, all loosely held, as we break down topical real-world examples where the legal framework has raised questions of directors, such as Star Casino and Centro.

The day is broken up with delicious food — morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea featuring  mostly locally sourced produce — and stimulating conversation. Then I’m back out in the waves with a sense of excitement to see what tomorrow will bring.

Day 03

After more saltwater, we’re into risk and strategy with an awesome facilitator, Sharon Winks GAICD (an executive consultant and NFP director in the public and private sectors). This becomes my favourite day so far. While the legal framework has given us necessary framing of the fiduciary relationship between a director and their organisation, by nature it is more about what could go wrong, as opposed to risk and strategy. We look at what needs to go right to advance purpose. This is the good stuff, where there isn’t a right or wrong answer, rather a set of choices that define success and outline where the organisation is willing to take on risk to get themselves there.

We spend time unpacking a case study on the AFLW (Australian Football League Women’s) which, as a passionate fan, I love. Sitting at a different table each day means you can connect with different ideas from different people. By day three, there is a good rapport among the group, allowing us to raise the heat and go a bit harder in the simulation exercises.

Today started with a surf and a beautiful sunrise and finishes with a surf at Broken Head, together with a rainbow and plenty of dolphins. Being able to head straight out into the ocean at the end of the day to reflect on key takeouts is beyond invaluable.

Day 04

As a qualified accountant, I’m in my element with Financial Literacy and Performance. The facilitator, Nicole Tannock GAICD — finance director for Asia Pacific and Australia New Zealand at ERM: Environmental Resources Management — is awesome.

It’s a valuable refresher and helpful to consider the for-profit perspectives that  I’m not as familiar with in my day-to-day work. There’s a lot of technical discussion as we work through several case studies, including businesses such as Godfreys and Nick Scali. The way they are presented — focusing on the story and implications rather than the numbers themselves — makes them very accessible, even for those who are less comfortable with accounting.

Day 05

On the last day, we’re greeted by David Shortland MAICD, who facilitates Achieving Board Effectiveness. I love his energy and passion. He is an absolute legend, bringing all our learnings from the week together in a practical and tangible way.

We spend most of the day in board simulation exercises. These are my highlights of the week. One of the hypothetical scenarios is very close to home. It relates to an NGO operating in Africa, where the board is faced with all manner of challenges including political unrest and ethical questions surrounding funding sources. I love that the week culminates in a complicated for-purpose scenario, which, given my experience working in Sierra Leone during the Ebola epidemic, I felt well-positioned to contribute to.

After wrapping up for the day, we share a drink as a group, toasting the incredible week and committing to stay in touch.

Reflections

Back in Melbourne, winter has set in and the tranquil energy of Crystalbrook feels a million miles away. Unlike some of my colleagues, however, I’m not feeling the beginnings of a mid-year slump coming on. I’m energised and inspired. We’ve got important work to do. The buzz from my time in Byron hasn’t worn off.

I noticed real clarity of thought re-entering the day-to-day in Melbourne after a week in AICD’s immersive learning environment. I had new ways to tackle old problems and a refreshing sense of perspective about what the big issues actually are.

At the start of our week at Crystalbrook, I shared that my motivations for doing the course revolved around cracking the nut on what a truly high-performing for-purpose board looks and feels like. At the end of the week, I don’t feel I have. But I’ve come to realise that might just be the point.

The course taught me that there’s no silver bullet to best practice governance, the kind that helps us strengthen society and create positive social change. Barry Rafe, our facilitator on the first day, joked that the answer to everything on the course is “it depends” and it does. The case studies taught me that every boardroom scenario has its own nuance and complexity. And so, to add value, there’s no playbook, rather a useful set of considerations to be applied with context and judgement. Therein lies the challenge and the opportunity ahead of all of us seeking to use governance as a way to advance the organisations we care about.

Other participants reflect:

“I sometimes felt stuck in the weeds in management roles. I want to contribute more at board level, which is why I did the CDC. I was also interested in diving into the NFP sector.”

- Regan Forrest, cultural sector leader, SA

“I advocate lifelong learning to my community and consider it good role modelling to undertake the course and step into the director space with courage. You can get very insular in education, but the CDC is a chance to get the bigger picture. Doing a residential also means you can sit and talk together with other professionals. It’s collaborative, not competitive.” 

- Nicola Forrest, principal Cornish College, VIC

“I’m already on a couple of industry association boards and I was interested in understanding how to make a board better, to add more value. In my own business, I’m also implementing a growth plan. On the CDC, I have the opportunity to meet other people doing interesting things and hear about their challenges. People have been really open and encouraging about sharing information.” 

- Jason Tait, general manager Level Plumbing Canberra, ACT

“I undertook the CDC to strengthen my skill set and reinforce my knowledge in governance and board effectiveness. The course refined my ability to support fellow directors in maintaining a strong, culturally grounded, community-controlled organisation. It allowed me the space to fully immerse myself in the material and focus deeply on the learning experience.” 

- Miko Smith, director Many Rivers Housing, NSW

“I spend a lot of time in front of the board. Learning their mindset will help me present more effectively, including writing better papers. During the course, I have definitely had big ‘aha’ moments, such as, ‘Oh, that’s why they want that information’. It has also given me the chance to hear many different experiences.” 

- Shanyn Payne, chief people officer Netwealth, VIC

Class of 2025: CDC Byron residential

Anna Brownell MAICD, Michael Burke MAICD, Zane Conroy MAICD, Dipayan De MAICD, Andrew Eastwood AAICD, Janine Fletcher AAICD, Nicola Forrest MAICD, Regan Forrest MAICD, Wendy Forster-Smith MAICD, Scott Gordon MAICD, Graham Hooper MAICD, Henrietta Jukes MAICD, Lara Kostakidis-Lianos AAICD, Matthew McCourt MAICD, Shanyn Payne MAICD, Katherine Richards MAICD, Vera Sallen MAICD, Mike Scott MAICD, Miko Smith MAICD, Jason Tait MAICD, Troye Wallett MAICD, Justine Wilkie MAICD, Steve Williams MAICD

This article first appeared under the headline 'What really happens on the Company Directors course' in the August 2025 issue of Company Director magazine.