Leadership: Governance and ethics

In the modern era, organisations must navigate an increasingly complex range of governance and ethical issues with respect to corporate social responsibility, sustainable development and societal wellbeing. These issues include privacy, cyber security, AI, environmental protection, climate change, labour rights, modern slavery in the supply chain, money laundering, diversity and inclusion practices, and compliance with a growing number of regulatory requirements. To safeguard an organisation’s social license to operate, modern leaders need to be equipped to anticipate and address ethical risks, as well as to take proactive steps towards good corporate citizenship. This unit considers this range of risks in more detail and explores how corporate boards and organisations approach these issues. Drawing on domestic and international case studies, the unit will explore the governance systems, best practice models and internal controls that can be used to manage and respond to these risks.