The profile of and demand for governance professionals is on the rise.

In March, I introduced our aspirations for last year’s project on the relevance of governance and the nature of the role of governance professionals in the constantly evolving work landscape.

Lauren MacIntyreLauren MacIntyre was the recipient of the CGIUKI 2021 Award for Company Secretary of the Year.

Breadth of understanding and emotional intelligence are qualities to which governance professionals should aspire.

John Cooke received an MBE for services to the English National Opera in the 2022 New Year’s Honours List. Here he discusses the unique challenges faced by the ENO during the pandemic and the topics that are likely to be high on the board’s agenda in 2022.

As we investigate the relevance of governance professionals in the modern world, we begin by establishing what we mean by governance.

In this interview we talk to Robert Lyons, Deputy Company Secretary at Marks and Spencer Group plc and one of the two winners of the CGIUKI 2021 Governance Professional of the Year Award, about what it takes to be an award-winning governance professional.

The role of the company secretary can be fraught with conflict, but impartiality and integrity will ensure that they are able to navigate these challenges with skill.

Planning ahead and knowing your rights can help to smooth the transition back to work after parental leave.