MasterClass | Strategy for Directors

BritCham Shanghai cordially invited you to attend the three-day ‘Strategy for Director’ course, delivered by the Institute of Directors (IoD) on 12—14 June in the office of British Chamber of Commerce Beijing.

The Institute of Directors (IoD) was founded in 1903 in London and within three years we were awarded a Royal Charter to support, represent and set standards for business leaders nationwide. We are the oldest business membership organisation in the world, and we have about 20,000 members, including over 3,000 international members. We are also the only organisation that awards ‘Chartered Directors’ across the world.

A recent survey of directors in the UK asked ‘How much time do you spend on strategy?’.

The results were that 90% said they spent less than 10% of their time thinking about this critical topic. All too often directors admit that they spend more time ‘in the business’ than ‘on the business’. However, without a clear strategy, or knowing where you are going and why, then the effort of directors can be almost entirely wasted!

Directors need to ensure that there is high-quality strategic thinking at the heart of their business around the boardroom table. Developing a strategy is one thing, but most strategies fail through poor implementation.

The key role of the board is to define the strategy but also to ensure that it can be implemented, against clear goals and with specific milestones.

We can support you to not only develop clear and actionable strategies for your business but also ensure that they can be measurably delivered. 

The course will give you the knowledge and skills to: 

1. Identify the components and explain the process of planning and implementing an effective strategy
2. Carry out analysis that will reveal areas of strategic opportunity or threat
3. Use strategic concepts and models to generate, evaluate and assess strategic option
4. Deliver your current strategic objectives while future-proofing your organisation

These deliverables will be set in the context of the board and associated conflicts and challenges connected with the effective running of a business.

We were immensely proud to deliver the first Certificate module ‘International Role of the Director and the Board’ course twice in China during 2023. We had the privilege of hosting distinguished delegates from renowned international corporations and institutions, representing diverse cultures and perspectives. The working approach we use never fails to ignite dynamic, energetic and robust conversations.

“After 20 years of practical experience working for and serving on several boards, it was great to finally sit through a formal course that explained the theory, common practices, as well as regulatory and legal context of how directors and their boards should operate. 

I can wholeheartedly recommend the programme to both aspiring and veteran board members.”

Adam Dunnett

Secretary General, European Union Chamber and Commerce in China

“I highly recommend the ‘International Role of the Director and Board’ course. It helped me to refresh, consolidate, and expand my knowledge and provided me with practical knowledge essential for my role. 

The course materials were comprehensive and designed to reflect real-world scenarios. This enhanced my understanding of the concepts and how they are applied in practice. Paul Munden’s expertise as a commercial law barrister and his experience in chairing and working with boards of different types of organisation also brought an invaluable dimension to the course. His ability to blend strong technical knowledge with experience in the practical application of the concepts made the learning experience both engaging and highly relevant.

The course is a must-attend for anyone aspiring to or currently serving on a board, seeking to deepen their understanding and enhance their effectiveness.”

Vaughn Barber

Chair, China-Australian Chamber of Commerce

“I have not found any similar program as this one in China yet… It was a rather inspiring two-day studying environment which I have not experienced since a long time ago. I would like to highly recommend this course to my colleagues and friends.”

River Xi

Business Management Officer, CFO Office, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

“While I have been a member of and supported several boards in my career, I have never done this from the position of legal knowledge or best practice. Good and effective governance is so fundamental for organizational success as well as for regulatory compliance. The course was a great opportunity to strengthen my knowledge, spend some time with others from different industries, and reflect on operating within the context of China. 

The IoD International Role of Director course is a great stepping stone component into the other three courses to become a Chartered Director which I now aim to pursue too.”

James Birkett

Registrar, University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC)

“As a director focused on governance, this IoD program proved very valuable. 

Discussing challenges frankly with fellow board members from diverse industries sharpened my skills. Key learnings centred on risk oversight, compliance practices, and ensuring transparency and accountability as regulations rapidly change. Modules reinforced governance fundamentals that protect shareholders regardless of scale. The international with China-specific insights allowed me to continually strengthen my governance knowledge benefiting my companies.”

Mirko Turrina

GM, Goglio (Tianjin) Packaging Co. Ltd

Being a strong believer in lifelong learning, I embraced the opportunity to join IoD’s International Role of the Director course in Beijing. Having worked with boards and currently sitting on two boards in China, I wanted to enhance my knowledge of best practices of the board’s role in corporate governance and risk management. The course struck the right balance between a board member’s duties and legal responsibilities and the practical day-to-day application in China. The course’s open and hands-on exchange with other international and Chinese directors and senior executives made the experience highly valuable and worthwhile to me. I wish the new China Chapter of the IoD all the best and look forward to joining future courses.

Mike Hofmann

Managing Director, Melchers China Beijing 

Chairman of the Board, Koehler Pharmaceuticals Beijing

I achieved the two objectives I set out in taking the IoD’s International Role of the Director course in Beijing, which:

• As a senior communications consultant, the IoD’s courses have given me a crucial understanding of company decision-making, helping me to tailor advice directly to boards’ needs. This gives me a ‘step up’ over others.
• Enabled me to ‘speak the language’ of the board. As a senior public affairs consultant, much of my work relates to corporate reputation and risk, largely board responsibilities. Understanding the process of how boards direct this and related issues helps me to tie my work to that of company boards, making me a better professional.

Mark Pinner 

 Head of Communications, BE Education

The standard tuition fee for course training is GBP 3,600.

For attendees who want to join the course, please register your interest with BritCham Shanghai by clicking here or the ‘Register your interest’ buttons on the top and bottom of the webpage.

The Chamber staff will check your details and connect you with a dedicated IoD staff, who will then guide you through the enrollment and complete your payment.

For BritCham Shanghai Members, upon successful sign-up, you can enjoy 2 years of IoD international membership for FREE

For non-members, upon successful sign-up, you can enjoy 1 year of IoD international membership for FREE