Company Directors Course™

Gain a greater understanding of your duties and responsibilities with the essential course for directors.

ABOUT THE COURSE

 

You’re just one click away from becoming a world-class director.

In a rapidly changing business environment, boards need to be flexible and responsive to meet current needs and prepare organisations to face future challenges.

To become a valuable contributor to the board, directors must have the knowledge and skills to effectively perform their role.

The Company Directors Course™ (CDC) has been completed by over 65,000 directors. Designed for directors that are looking to understand director roles and responsibilities in-depth, who wish to take their boardroom performance to the next level and improve their impact in today's evolving business landscape.

For pricing details, please refer to our course calendar.


 

The course is essential learning for directors seeking to elevate their career and establish themselves as a trusted and respected board member.

If you are:

  • A new director
  • An experienced director
  • A business owner
  • A senior executive reporting to boards

This course is right for you.

Directorship requires balancing short-term volatility with long-term value. It is also important to identify strategic opportunities and promote an innovative culture for sustainable growth.

As an exemplary leader, you add value by sharing your knowledge and consideration of how emerging issues impact the success of the organisations you are governing. The Company Directors Course™ will provide you with that knowledge.

Please note: It is recommended to complete the Foundations of Directorship course or have equivalent professional experience before enrolling to ensure equal participation in group discussions throughout the course.

The Company Directors Course™ gives you an in-depth look at the responsibilities and expectations of directors. It explores issues and trends facing today’s boards and businesses. On completion of the course, you will deepen your understanding of what effective governance looks like in practice.

The course will help you:

  • Gain clarity around a director’s role, legal responsibilities and community expectations.
  • Improve financial literacy and understanding of the strategic and financial levers that can help drive performance and sustainable value in your organisation.
  • Explore the tensions between short and long-term priorities and diverse stakeholder interests.
  • Enhance future strategic discussions with the knowledge and tools needed to improve your organisation's performance and evaluate risks effectively.
  • Identify how you can make your board more effective and streamline board processes.
  • Enhance judgement and decision-making skills.
  • Improve performance as a director and deepen your understanding of boardroom dynamics.
  • Put learnings into practice through activities, real-world case studies and a boardroom simulation alongside peers.
  • Join a network of leaders: Established in 1975, the Company Directors Course™ has a proven track record. With over 65,000 graduates, our alumni include the directors of many of Australia’s most prestigious organisations.

Participants who successfully complete the (optional) course assessment will qualify for the Company Directors Course™ Award and may be eligible to use the GAICD post nominal (AICD members only).

The assessment tasks associated with the Company Directors Course™, provides an opportunity for participants to consolidate their learning and to benchmark their understanding against the standard set by the AICD.

There are three assessment tasks, the assignment, exam, and quiz to achieve the Company Directors Course™ Award. These assessments are undertaken and submitted online.

For further details about the assessment, refer to the Participant Assessment Guide.

The Company Directors Course™ Award is recognised for advanced standing (i.e. recognition of prior learning) by 23 universities and institutions.

The assessment must be completed if you are planning to use the course to gain advanced standing in an MBA program.

Learn in a way that suits you.

At the AICD we recognise the diversity of working conditions and the busy lives that many of our participants lead. As such, we offer a suite of Company Directors Course™ variations that can suit any schedule.

If you are a member of the AICD, your assigned Membership Partner (contact details in your online membership) would also be delighted to assist you in selecting the course that best matches your needs.

The Company Directors Course™ comprises online and offline resources and face-to-face facilitation. You will be supported by our teaching faculty of experienced directors and a comprehensive range of resources that will inspire learning and networking.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • Course materials written and reviewed by practising directors.
  • Course content updated regularly to ensure it remains current, relevant and reflective of good practice.
  • Six weeks pre-reading time ahead of the first day of facilitated classroom learning.
  • Highly interactive classrooms using latest techniques in education, discussion-based group work and breakout activities.
  • A teaching faculty of experienced directors, leading directors and fellow learners with diverse backgrounds to support and encourage you.
  • Expert insights to help you make better decisions and increase your impact in the boardroom.
  • A competitive advantage for securing a directorship by completing a course which is widely recognised and respected in the director community.
  • Powerful networking connections to help you take on both the course assessment and the first or next step in your director career.
  • Optional assessment, successful completion of which results in the achievement of the Company Directors Course™ Award and eligibility for the GAICD title.
  • Assessment Hub featuring support resources such as videos and practice quizzes.

Learn more about the Company Directors Course™ Face-to-Face

Company Directors Course™ - Residential 

The Residential Company Directors Course™ is ideal for experienced directors that want to give their professional development their undivided attention.

Conducted over a five-day stay at various luxurious vacation destinations across Australia, the Residential Company Directors Course™ is designed for experienced directors and executives who learn better when distanced from the demands of everyday life.

Through experiential learning activities, including in-depth case studies and the sharing of professional experiences with peers, participants will also gain an understanding of how to apply learnings to their own circumstances.

Residential Company Directors Course™ locations include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Byron Bay (NSW)
  • Bunker Bay (WA)
  • Noosa (QLD)
  • Gold Coast (QLD)

Inclusions in the cost of the course: 

  • Company Directors Course™ learning materials and five days of facilitation

  • Catering throughout the course 

  • 4 nights' accommodation including breakfast, lunch, and dinner

  • Cocktail hour on day 5

Here’s what you can expect:

  • Course materials written and reviewed by practising directors.

  • Course content updated regularly to ensure it remains current, relevant and reflective of good practice.

  • Six weeks pre-reading time ahead of the first day of facilitated classroom learning.

  • Highly interactive classrooms using latest techniques in education, discussion-based group work and breakout activities.

  • A teaching faculty of experienced directors, leading directors and fellow learners with diverse backgrounds to support and encourage you.

  • Expert insights to help you make better decisions and increase your impact in the boardroom.

  • A competitive advantage for securing a directorship by completing a course which is widely recognised and respected in the director community.

  • Powerful networking connections to help you take on both the course assessment and the first or next step in your director career.

  • Optional assessment, successful completion of which results in the achievement of the Company Directors Course™ Award and eligibility for the GAICD title.

  • Assessment Hub featuring support resources such as videos and practice quizzes.

There will be multiple sessions and dinners, providing the cohort with great opportunities to network with one another. 

For more information, make an enquiry.

The Company Directors Course™ Online has been designed to give you flexibility, so that you can become a world-class director from the comfort of your own home or location of choice. Company Directors Course™ Online will help in developing skills to facilitate sound decision-making and imparting best governance practices.

The course comprises online, and offline study components and you will be supported by our team of teaching faculty who are experienced directors and a dedicated Learning Support Executive from the AICD.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • Course materials written and reviewed by practising directors.
  • Course content updated regularly to ensure it remains current, relevant, and reflective of good practice.
  • A Course Introduction virtual session in Week 1 to meet your faculty and peers. The structure and expectations of the course will also be established in this session.
  • Two weeks pre-reading time ahead of the first day of virtual classrooms and one week duration between each day of virtual classrooms for pre-reading.
  • Highly interactive virtual classrooms using latest technology, interactive features, discussion-based group work and breakout activities.
  • A teaching faculty of experienced directors, leading directors, and fellow learners with diverse backgrounds to support and encourage you.
  • Expert insights to help you make better decisions and increase your impact in the boardroom.
  • A Learning Support Executive who will have a one-on-one conversation with you in the first few weeks of the course and keep in contact throughout the assessment period to offer support and encouragement to meet your goals.
  • Recordings of online sessions for each of the themes.
  • Opportunity to build networks with your peers using discussions and class lists.
  • Optional assessment, successful completion of which results in the achievement of the Company Directors Course™ Award and eligibility for the GAICD title.
  • Assessment Hub featuring support resources such as videos and practice quizzes.

Enquire about the Company Directors Course™ Online.

The Company Directors Course™ Self-Paced has been designed for independent learners looking to advance their director skills through our six-month online self-study course. This is the perfect opportunity to lift your director skills in preparation for a distinguished career – on your own schedule.

The self-paced course offers complete flexibility to take charge of your study schedule and pace. Working independently through the same material as other formats of Company Directors Course™, your study support resources are available on AICD’s online learning portal.

The course is scheduled monthly, with a new course commencing on the first of every month. Participants have six months from the course commencement date to review the course materials and complete the (optional) three-part assessment.

You will have access to:

  • AICD’s learning platform populated with the latest course content written and reviewed by practising directors whose insights will help you make better decisions and increase your impact in the boardroom.
  • Comprehensive course materials, including course notes, case studies and activities that allow you to apply learnings and reinforce knowledge.
  • Support resources , assisting videos, regular webinar tutorials, quizzes, and simulated board meetings.
  • Interpreting Financial Statements eLearning course.
  • The Director Mindset eLearning course.
  • A suggested study plan to help you work through the resources.
  • Online discussion forums to connect with an online tutor and peers.
  • Two online sessions each month including one content presentation and one application-based board scenario session covering each of the five themes on a monthly rotation. 
  • Recordings of online sessions for each of the themes.
  • Optional assessment, successful completion of which results in the achievement of the Company Directors Course™ Award and eligibility for the GAICD title.
  • Assessment Hub featuring support resources such as videos and practice quizzes.

Note: This course is suited for learners who prefer to learn independently and are comfortable progressing without a facilitator-led experience. If you prefer to learn in a more traditional classroom style or are looking to establish a network of peers we encourage you to explore the face-to-face or online versions of this course.

Enquire about the Company Directors Course™ Self-Paced.

Directors play a crucial role in the decision-making processes of companies and organisations, and as such, a high-calibre director is an invaluable asset to any organisation. 

However, a director is just one individual – and oftentimes they must negotiate and make compromises with other members of the board.  

This is why a holistic, whole-of-board approach can yield exponential returns for an organisation or company. Not only does each individual on a board become better equipped to unlock optimal board performance, but members learn to collaborate and coordinate with one another more effectively too – making the sum greater than its individual parts. This is why we created Board Advance.

Board Advance specialises in equipping organisations with the understanding, insight and guidance required for boards to unlock their performance. Whether your board is well established or still in its infancy, we are the perfect partner for organisations seeking to improve in the key areas of governance, planning, insights, decision making and diversity of thought.

The AICD has amassed a wealth of mission-led research and is nationally renowned for its market leading efforts in both advocacy and governance education. When you partner with Board Advance, you are tapping into an unparalleled source of information, experience and governance knowledge.

Learn more about Board Advance 

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Conducted over five weeks or intensive five days.
Conducted over a five-day stay at various destinations across Australia, it is designed for experienced directors and executives who learn better when distanced from the demands of everyday life.

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To register for this course, Please Contact your state office on 1300 739 119
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Don't Settle. Enrol in the Company Directors Course now.

The Company Directors Course™ is a world-class education for directors that wish to elevate their understanding of governance, strengthen their CV, and contribute with confidence in the boardroom.

Whether you’d like to build high-calibre connections via the face-to-face course or prefer the flexibility and comfort of doing a self-paced or online course, the Company Directors Course™ will provide you with unparalleled directorial knowledge and place you among the 65,000+ other esteemed directors that have done the same.

We did it as a team. This was a chance for us to learn our role as directors. I know for some of the elected members it was like a lightbulb moment - the Company Directors Course really outlines what our responsibility is, but also what it isn't.

Hon Albert Jacob GAICD
Mayor, City of Joondalup
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