Governance Essentials Program

About the Program

The Governance Essentials Program is an intensive two-day program taught by prominent faculty from Canada’s leading business schools and some of our country’s most accomplished directors. This innovative program will provide learning on key accountabilities and responsibilities of not-for-profit leaders by making extensive use of team-based, facilitated learning to ensure that participants learn not only from faculty but also from their peers. This program is delivered by the Telfer School of Management in partnership with the ICD and the Rotman School of Management, and with the sponsorship of TELUS and RBC Foundation.

Who Should Attend?

• Directors and board members of both small and large not-for-profits
• CEOs and executive directors of small and large not-for-profits
• Individuals who have demonstrated experience with, or a desire to become involved in, the governance of not-for-profit organizations

What You Will Learn

• A  greater appreciation of the not-for-profit sector and its importance to Canada
• An understanding of principal roles and duties of a Director
• Models of governance and the Board role in setting the vision and strategy
• How to influence and lead change
• How to manage stakeholder relations

Program Takeaways

• Clarity regarding the role and duties of a director
• Best practices and checklists for boards in the not-for-profit sector
• Tools and strategies for exercising influence and leading change
• How the Board can lead development of the vision and strategy of the organization

Program Facilitators

Richard C. Powers

Academic Director

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Richard C. Powers

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Academic Director

After receiving his MBA and LLB from Queen’s University, Richard C. Powers worked as a corporate lawyer for a national Canadian law firm.  He later served as Corporate Counsel for Honda Canada Inc., before joining the University of Toronto.  Richard served as the Associate Dean of the Rotman School of Management responsible for all full-time and part-time MBA programs as well as the Master of Finance Program.

An internationally recognized expert in both corporate and not-for-profit governance, Richard is the National Academic Director of The Directors Education Program (DEP) and the Not-For-Profit Governance Essentials Program (GEP) (in partnership with the Institute of Corporate Directors – ICD).  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 lead and taught in the DEP and GEP for over 14 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 committee member of several not-for-profit organizations and frequently comments on legal and governance issues in various media across Canada.

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