Tell us about your professional experience before discovering The Corporate Governance Institute.

With over 25 years of operational, financial and leadership experience, including my current role as Senior Director at IRIS Software Group and Founder at GRO Consulting, my work focuses on value creation, operational excellence, customer engagement and fostering high-performing teams. At IRIS, I lead a £25 million managed payroll operation with over 200 employees across the UK, Ireland and India, ensuring seamless operations and aligning corporate strategy with business objectives to deliver superior client outcomes.

Alongside my corporate role, I bring my expertise to GRO Consulting, empowering organisations to optimise performance through tailored coaching and mentoring solutions. Accredited as a Senior Practitioner Coach by EMCC, I am dedicated to driving transformative growth by leveraging leadership, organisational development and customer-centric strategies to achieve measurable results.

I hold board positions as a Non-Executive Director and Trustee, where an awareness of the importance of strong governance first took root.

What challenges or opportunities were you facing in your career or on your board before taking our course?

As my career evolved beyond operational leadership into board-level roles, I wanted to ensure my governance knowledge matched my practical experience. I had strong financial and strategic instincts but lacked a formal framework for thinking about board effectiveness, director duties and governance best practice. I wanted to address this gap properly.

Why did you choose to study for the Diploma in Corporate Governance with us to help with these challenges/opportunities?

The Corporate Governance Institute offered the most credible and practically focused qualification available. As someone who values rigorous professional development – holding an FCA designation and an MBS in Business Practice – I was drawn to a programme with real-world application at its core. The flexibility of online study suited my demanding executive schedule and the curriculum’s relevance to both Irish and UK governance contexts aligned perfectly with my board experience across both jurisdictions. TCGI’s strong professional reputation gave me confidence that completing the Diploma in Corporate Governance would be meaningful and genuinely recognised within senior leadership and board circles.

Can you describe any particular elements of the course that stood out to you or made a significant impact?

The modules on director duties and board dynamics gave me a clear, structured lens through which to view governance decisions I was already facing in practice. The ESG and AI content was particularly timely, thought-provoking and directly applicable to board-level conversations about long-term accountability, stakeholder value and organisational sustainability

How has completing this course influenced your career, leadership approach, governance or ESG skills?

The Diploma in Corporate Governance has meaningfully sharpened how I show up at board level. I now engage in governance discussions with greater authority and structure, drawing on a solid understanding of director responsibilities, risk oversight and stakeholder accountability. It has changed how I challenge executive decisions constructively and how I think about long-term organisational sustainability. On ESG specifically, I am now a more informed and proactive voice in those conversations. More broadly, the Diploma has reinforced my identity as a governance professional and strengthened my credibility when contributing to board discussions – not simply a senior executive who happens to serve on boards.

What did you find most beneficial about studying with The Corporate Governance Institute?

The immediately applicable, practice-led content was the standout benefit of the Diploma in Corporate Governance. Every module connected to real challenges directors face today rather than abstract theory. The quality of the materials, the flexibility for busy senior professionals and the sense of joining a respected community of governance practitioners made it a genuinely worthwhile investment.

What advice would you give future learners wishing to pursue the Diploma?

Treat it as a professional investment rather than a box to tick. Actively connect each module to governance situations you are already navigating. That reflection is where the real learning happens. The more honestly you engage with the content, the greater the confidence and clarity you will carry into the boardroom.

How likely are you to recommend our certifications to a colleague?

5/5