This course examines the corporate governance function in a cooperative organisation and its importance to a cooperative’s success. The course will focus on how the Board is structured, how it is governed and a range of matters linked to the Board and its internal functions. Some of these topics include the Board’s role and responsibilities, leadership and Board development and training. It will also look at the appropriate division of responsibility between the Board and management. Other topics include the Board’s role in developing policy and monitoring cooperative performance. The course examines the role of Directors including conduct and due diligence, conflicts of interest and preparing for meetings. This course will be of interest to all directors, committee members, managers and members. Topics include: - The Cooperative organization and its principles - The legal framework of the cooperative - The Board’s role in cooperative corporate governance - The typical structure of the Board in cooperatives - The duties and responsibilities of the various Board officers - The prime functions of a cooperative’s Board - The responsibilities of the cooperative’s management, employees and members - The role of various Board committees - The Board’s role/relationship with the management team and some of the potential problems that can occur in that role - The relationship between the Board and the Supervisory Committee - The importance of a code of conduct and ethics for directors - What is meant by a conflict of interest for directors - The importance of leadership by the Board - Skills used by effective directors - Assessing Board performance - The importance of Board training and development - Introduction to Strategic Planning for Cooperatives