In the recent economic crisis, failed risk management and risk governance are two factors that contributed to the loss of value by shareholders, debt holders and stakeholders. However, taking risks and facing uncertainty are an essential part of doing business and effective oversight of such risk-taking is one of the board’s key responsibilities. However, risk and uncertainty management are complex and dynamic activities and often directors lack the knowledge and risk vocabulary to effectively engage and oversee the executives.

The Corporate Governance Unit (COACG) of the International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group in association with the Mona School of Business, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and Jamaica Stock Exchange will host a workshop in Jamaica on March 30-31, 2012 for participants from Jamaica and other Caribbean countries.

This IFC/ MSB/ PSOJ Risk Governance Program is intended to provide the participating directors with the tools needed for effective oversight of the risk-taking in their firms. It seeks to enhance the risk oversight structures, processes and competence of boards. The program will consist of a series of training workshops and the publication of a handbook, both addressing risk governance in emerging markets.

Registration to the programme is open to all directors, corporate secretaries, CEOs, and other senior executives of public and private companies, as well as public sector (statutory) corporations. Legal practitioners, regulators, accountants, chartered secretaries and other professional corporate advisers, as well as persons aspiring to directorships are also invited to participate.

Target participants are:

• directors of non-financial institutions;


• directors of financial institutions;


• risk management executives;


• CEOs, CFOs, corporate Secretaries; senior accountants, senior finance officers, senior managers and senior auditors, and other senior executives with relevant professional backgrounds, who are positioned to form the pool of future directors; and


• regulators from central banks, securities commissions, stock exchanges, and other supervisory authorities