To develop, regulate and promote an internationally recognized accountancy profession that upholds public interest through capacity building, advocacy, innovation and sustainable practices.
INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS OF KENYA
(Established under Accountants Act, Laws of Kenya)
THE 9TH BOARD MASTERCLASS
Theme: Agile and Future-Ready Boards: Driving Value, Resilience, and Strategic Leadership
DATE: 13TH – 17TH APRIL 2026
TIME: 09.00AM-03.30PM
VENUE: SAROVA WHITESANDS BEACH RESORT & SPA, MOMBASA
OVERVIEW
Boards of directors are the ultimate custodians of an organization’s purpose, mission, and long-term value creation. They carry the responsibility of guiding institutions through complex and often unpredictable environments while ensuring that stakeholder trust, public accountability, and organizational integrity are upheld. In today’s fast-evolving landscape, boards are confronted with unprecedented pressures that range from technological disruption, rapid digitization, and market volatility to regulatory shifts, ESG imperatives, climate-related risks, geopolitical instability, and heightened expectations from investors, regulators, and the public for transparency, accountability, and sustainable impact.
The ability to respond effectively to these multidimensional pressures requires more than technical expertise; it calls for strategic foresight, adaptive leadership, emotional intelligence, and a profound understanding of governance dynamics. Board members must make informed, forward-looking decisions while simultaneously fostering alignment, collaboration, and cohesion among diverse stakeholders within and outside the boardroom.
The role of the board chair has never been more critical. Chairs are tasked with orchestrating the board’s overall effectiveness, navigating the interplay of diverse personalities, resolving conflicts, and ensuring that governance processes are executed efficiently and transparently. They must cultivate strong, productive relationships with the CEO, Board Secretary, and management team while ensuring that directors collectively exercise their fiduciary duties to the highest standard. The effectiveness of the chair in balancing the contributions of both first-time and experienced directors can significantly influence board culture, decision-making quality, and organizational performance. Similarly, boards must actively work to establish a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous learning, while ensuring that strategic priorities are translated into actionable outcomes for the organization.
The 21st-century boardroom is no longer a ceremonial space reserved for quarterly reviews or compliance reporting. It has evolved into a dynamic and strategic arena where governance, strategy, risk management, and stakeholder engagement converge. Directors are expected to cultivate agility, enabling them to anticipate change, respond effectively in real time, and make decisions under uncertainty. Agile boards are characterized by their ability to embrace diversity of thought, encourage psychological safety, promote constructive dissent, and challenge entrenched assumptions. They are courageous and innovative, willing to rethink strategy, disrupt legacy processes, and lead organizational transformation while maintaining focus on long-term sustainability. In this environment, boards that fail to adapt risk falling behind, as stakeholders increasingly demand evidence of proactive leadership, ethical decision-making, and measurable organizational impact.
Sustainability and ESG considerations have transitioned from peripheral topics to central elements of board responsibility. Directors are expected to oversee climate action, social initiatives, ethical conduct, and integrated reporting with the same rigor traditionally applied to financial oversight. Boards must ensure that ESG strategies are aligned with organizational objectives, embedded into decision-making frameworks, and communicated transparently to stakeholders. In parallel, the rapid advancement of technology has transformed how boards operate. Digital intelligence—including AI, data governance, cybersecurity, and emerging tech—requires directors to be well-versed in tech-driven risks and opportunities, enabling them to provide strategic oversight of digital transformation initiatives. The convergence of ESG, technological innovation, and governance demands that boards operate with both strategic acumen and operational insight to safeguard the organization’s long-term viability.
The 9th Board Masterclass is designed to equip both new and experienced directors with the mindset, knowledge, and practical tools necessary to lead high-performing, resilient, and future-ready boards. Over five days, participants will engage in expert-led sessions, case studies, interactive simulations, and peer learning, exploring contemporary topics including board leadership, culture, performance, risk governance, sustainability, digital transformation, and strategic foresight. Beyond technical and strategic competencies, the Masterclass emphasizes the human dimensions of governance—interpersonal dynamics, leadership styles, conflict resolution, and cultural factors that influence boardroom effectiveness. Participants will also gain insights into practical approaches for fostering inclusive, adaptive, and agile boards capable of responding to change while maintaining ethical standards and public trust.
By the conclusion of this Masterclass, participants will have developed the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed strategic decisions, foster board cohesion, champion ESG and digital initiatives, and lead with integrity, foresight, and resilience. The program serves not only as a comprehensive learning experience but also as a leadership retreat and strategic reset. It challenges boards to reflect on their current practices, anticipate emerging trends, and adopt governance approaches that maximize value, enhance organizational resilience, and ensure sustainable impact in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
This program is divided into the following five modules covering the various aspects of Board Competence:
| DAY | MODULE | TOPICS | KEY AREAS TO BE COVERED |
| DAY 1 | A.  Strategic Board Leadership | 1. Purpose-Driven Governance 2. Board Chair Roles and Responsibilities 3. Board and CEO/Management Dynamics 4. Board Decision-Making Styles 5. Case Studies & Lessons from Exemplary Boards |
1. Attributes of an effective board chair 2. Leading with purpose, values, and strategic clarity 3. Navigating complex boardroom dynamics and interpersonal tensions 4. Role of the CEO and Board Secretary in supporting governance 5. Common pitfalls and lessons from successful board leadership 6. Board decision-making frameworks, consensus-building, and collaborative governance 7. Applying lessons from real-life case studies to enhance leadership effectiveness |
| DAY 2 | B.  ESG, Ethics & Stakeholder Engagement | 1. ESG Integration and Oversight 2. Ethical Governance and Compliance 3. Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement 4. Sustainability Reporting 5. Social Responsibility & Impact Measurement |
1. ESG as a board-level strategic imperative 2. Ethics, integrity, and regulatory alignment in board decisions 3. Engaging diverse stakeholders for long-term value 4. Board responsibility in sustainability disclosures and impact measurement 5. Evaluating social impact and ethical outcomes of board decisions 6. Setting frameworks for transparent ESG reporting and monitoring performance 7. Linking ESG initiatives to organizational strategy and long-term sustainability |
| DAY 3 | C.  Digital Intelligence & Risk Governance | 1. AI, Data & Digital Governance 2. Cybersecurity Oversight 3. Risk Appetite and Resilience Planning 4. Scenario-Based Risk Simulation 5. Emerging Technology & Innovation Oversight |
1. Board oversight of digital transformation and innovation 2. Cyber risk, data ethics, and digital literacy for directors 3. Defining and monitoring organizational risk appetite 4. Building risk-aware cultures and resilience frameworks 5. Scenario planning and crisis response strategies 6. Monitoring emerging technologies and understanding their strategic implications 7. Leveraging data-driven insights to inform board decisions and future readiness |
| DAY 4 | D.  Board Diversity, Inclusion & Performance | 1. Inclusive Governance Practices 2. Board Evaluation and Performance Metrics 3. Talent Development and Succession Planning 4. Boardroom Capital 5. Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolution |
1. Fostering diversity of thought, background, and experience 2. Conducting effective board evaluations and culture health checks 3. Director development, onboarding, and succession strategies 4. Building boardroom capital and collective accountability 5. Managing intergenerational and cross-functional board dynamics 6. Conflict resolution and constructive dissent 7. Promoting collaboration, psychological safety, and team cohesion in the boardroom |
| DAY 5 | E.  Future-Proofing Boards: Strategy, Innovation & Renewal | 1. The Future-Ready Board 2. Strategic Foresight and Innovation 3. Governance Trends and Global Shifts 4. Continuous Learning and Board Readiness 5. Scenario Planning & Adaptive Governance |
1. Anticipating emerging governance trends and stakeholder expectations 2. Embedding innovation and agility into board practices 3. Aligning board strategy with long-term institutional resilience 4. Personal development and continuous learning for directors 5. Applying adaptive governance frameworks for boards to respond to change 6. Leading transformation initiatives with foresight 7. Enhancing board adaptability and strategic decision-making for sustainable impact |
TARGET AUDIENCE:
Board Members, Board Chairpersons, Board Committee Members and Committee Chairpersons, Board Secretaries, CEOs, Senior Management supporting boards and committees, Aspiring Board Members, Business Owners, Academia and Entrepreneurs.
YOUR INVESTMENT:
This Masterclass shall be provided at a cost of KSh.95,000.
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UNITS:
Members of ICPAK and other reciprocating professional bodies will earn 20 CPD points upon successfully attending the Master Class.
ONLINE BOOKING:
We call on all participants to note that booking is available only online at www.icpak.com/events and will close 24 hours before the training session. Delegates are reminded to note that online booking for training sessions is MANDATORY and available online at www.icpak.com/events , you can also reach us through 0719074100 or email us through marketing@icpak.com
NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AUTHORITY (NITA) REIMBURSEMENT:
The Institute is registered as a trainer with National Industrial Training Authority. The Institute’s registration number is DIT/TRN/47. Participants who are registered levy contributors should apply to NITA for reimbursement of their fees. Please note that this is applicable for Kenyan citizens only and subject to NITA regulations. Remember that to qualify you should apply to NITA for approval prior to the date of the conference. Further details can be obtained from their website  www.nita.go.ke
To develop, regulate and promote an internationally recognized accountancy profession that upholds public interest through capacity building, advocacy, innovation and sustainable practices.
