CGI Global Webinar: ‘Introducing King V™: Code on Corporate Governance 2025’
Join CGI Global and CGI Southern Africa to explore the latest King V™ Code, effective in 2026.
For this webinar, CGI Global and CGI Southern Africa teamed up to explore the latest King V™ Code, effective in 2026. The revised code remains rooted in concepts such as sustainable development, integrated thinking and long-term value creation while simplifying language and enhancing alignment with global standards. The King Code is the world’s most prominent governance framework focused on ethical corporate governance emphasising leadership integrity, sustainability and responsible citizenship.
Beginning with an overview of the updated code, Stephen Sadie, member of the King Committee and CEO of CGISA, provided an initial insight into the structure of the code as well as the four key outcomes that King V™ is expecting, noting that these are not merely a tick-box exercise. Stephen also shared how the code features an evolution on perspectives of value creation, demonstrating how the company, society and the environment are now all in one system, impacting on each other; the company impacts on society, on the environment and both impact on the company in return, thus creating a systems value. Governance is evolving, which creates a need to adjust and move with the times. Elsabé Kirsten, Group Company Secretary at Old Mutual Ltd. further elaborated on the revised code and was of the opinion that whilst there is no specific area that one may consider daunting in its application, it instead remains to issue to ask how you tell the story properly to stakeholders. In today’s increasingly volatile world, much can change in a short period of time, resulting in a need for organisations to continuously learn and adapt the code to its reality.
Particular emphasis was given to the area of data management and digital technology, amidst lots of new innovation in the code, due to its fast-moving pace of development and the consequential risks and opportunities associated with it, calling for organisations to fully consider their strategy around its implementation. Following these key takeaways, the panel also took many questions from the live audience, providing insight into the dilemmas faced by individuals in real-world scenarios and the queries raised by application of the revised code.
This session attracted a large audience and covered a lot of ground both in the general overview provided and the audience participation, and so we thoroughly recommend you watch it on-demand below if you were unable to join us live.
On-demand recording
Speakers
Kerrie Waring FCG
Director General
CGI Global
Stephen Sadie
CEO | Member of the King Committee
Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa
Elsabé Kirsten FCG
Group Company Secretary | Technical Committee Chair
Old Mutual Ltd. | Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa
Kerrie Waring FCG
Director General
CGI Global
Kerrie Waring is Director General of the Chartered Governance Institute (CGI), the world’s premier membership body for Company Secretaries. Working with nine divisions, she leads CGI’s global strategy, advocacy and international qualifying programme, serving 28,000 members across 80 markets.
Kerrie was CEO of the ICGN for 10 years until 2024, an organization led by investors with assets of USD 90 trillion. Earlier, she was Corporate Governance Manager at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, International Development Manager at the UK Institute of Directors, and Coordinator for International Relations in Hiroshima as part of the JET Programme, a Japanese Government initiative.
Earlier in her career, Kerrie contributed to the Global Corporate Governance Forum, convened by the OECD and World Bank, helping to establish governance foundations worldwide through the creation of codes, institutes, and director training programmes. As a specialist in Japanese governance, she served for seven years as a Member of TSE-FSA’s Council of Experts advising on governance and stewardship reforms.
Kerrie was named Rising Star of Corporate Governance by the Yale School of Management in 2008. She was lead author of the IFC’s Global Director Training Toolkit (2002) and co-author of the Handbook on International Corporate Governance (2004). Kerrie is a Chartered Company Secretary and holds a BA (Honors) in International Business and Japanese.
Stephen Sadie
CEO | Member of the King Committee
Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa
Stephen is CEO of The Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa (CGISA). He is a long-standing member of the King Committee since the launch of King III in 2009. He also served on the King Committee Thought Leadership Working Group in 2022 and 2023, which prepared some of the key issues for King V. Stephen currently serves on the CGI International Qualification Programme Steering Group, which is developing a new curriculum. He previously served on the CGI International Standard Review Working Group from 2016 to 2018, which developed the current curriculum. Stephen has presented a number of papers on corporate governance at conferences. He is a prolific writer and writes a column in CGISA’s quarterly Boardroom magazine. Stephen holds the following degrees: MBA, M. Ed, BA (Hons), Post Graduate Certificate in Education.
Prior to joining the CGISA, Stephen held a number of senior positions in the education sector. He was Director: Strategic Support at the South African Qualifications Authority, one of the pioneering bodies in the world, to introduce a national qualifications framework. He was also Director: Research and School Improvement at the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance, which was responsible for training 2000 school governing bodies in the Gauteng Province. Prior to that, Stephen was Chief Education Specialist: Curriculum Delivery and Support at the Johannesburg East District of the Gauteng Department of Education, which was responsible for 120 schools.
Elsabé Kirsten FCG
Group Company Secretary | Technical Committee Chair
Old Mutual Ltd. | Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa
Elsabé Kirsten FCG is a qualified Chartered Secretary, duly registered with the Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa with 29 years’ experience in the company secretarial field. Elsabé is Chair of the Institute’s Technical Committee. She obtained a B.A., LL.B. degree from the University of Stellenbosch and completed a B.Compt. Degree through the University of South Africa. She was appointed as Old Mutual Group Company Secretary on 1 August 2013, having joined the Old Mutual Group Secretariat in August 2005. The Group was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2018. Prior to her appointment with the Old Mutual Group, she managed the Corporate Secretarial Departments of Ernst & Young (2000-2005) and Fisher Hoffman PKF (1996-2000).