Membership

Membership of the Chartered Governance Institute equips Company Secretaries and Governance Professionals with professional development, expert knowledge, international flexibility, and recognised prestige — enabling organisations to unlock the value of good governance for long-term success and resilience. Membership will:

Distinguish

you with chartered governance credentials through our premier qualifying programme - the hallmark of professional excellence.

worldwide career opportunities with our Global Credentials Passport providing transnational recognition of your status.

you on latest governance related market trends and regulatory developments with exclusive guidance, research and updates.

your interests in governance related policy development and engage in public debate to promote the value of our profession.

you with a global network of governance professionals at our events and webinars around the world, at exclusive member rates.

CGI Global Passport

Membership of The Chartered Governance Institute exclusively provides you with international recognition via our Global Credentials Passport, enabling professional recognition and access to member privileges around the world.

Get started in 4 easy steps:

Download the terms and conditions and application form here.
Fill it in, scan and email it to your home Division for verification.
When verification is completed, email it to the membership officer of the Division that you are applying to by clicking on the relevant link below.
The Division you are applying to should reply to you within 3 business days on any next steps.

DIVISION	CONTACT EMAIL
Australia	membership@governanceinstitute.com.au
Canada	info@charteredgovernanceinstitute.ca
Hong Kong/China	ask@hkcgi.org.hk
Malaysia	members@maicsa.org.my
New Zealand	info@cginz.org
Singapore	members@csis.org.sg
Southern Africa	membership@chartgov.co.za
UK & Ireland	membership-journey@cgi.org.uk
Zimbabwe	cgaiz@cgizim.org

How to become a member

To become a member, or for more information on specific entry requirements, connect directly with the division most relevant to you by clicking on the tiles below.

Don’t just take our word for it

Hear from some of our recent graduates

Professional Conduct

Members, graduates and students of The Chartered Governance Institute are expected to display the highest standards of ethics and professional conduct in all of their work and professional activities.

The Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct comprises four core principles to which all members, graduates and students must adhere: (1) Integrity, (2) High standard of service/professional competence, (3) Transparency and (4) Professional behaviour.

The Chartered Governance Institute’s framework for professional conduct, approved by the Council, is comprised of:

the Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct
the Disciplinary Regulations
the Investigation Group
the Disciplinary Tribunal
the Appeal Tribunal

In some Divisions a Divisional Committee may have approved a more localised version of the Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct and if so this will be the prevailing code for members, graduates and students registered in that Division.

Should it be necessary to file a complaint against any member, graduate or student the complaint must be supported by evidence that is sufficient to show the possibility of alleged improper acts or professional misconduct committed. Complaints can be lodged with the Chief Executive or Secretary of any Division or with the Director General or Institute Secretary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Advancing your membership

Affiliated Member

If you have qualified as an Affiliated Member by taking any subjects in the Institute’s International Qualifying Programme, at some later time if you want to progress to Associate you need only pass the remaining required exams.

Once qualified you can use the post-nominals of CG(Affiliated)

Graduate

Once you’ve passed the full set of required exams in the Institute’s International Qualifying Programme you’ll become a graduate of CGI. To attain graduateship you must first register as a CGI student and formally accept GradCG status. You can then use the post-nominal GradCG.

Associate

Graduates can apply for Associate status when they have completed six years of appropriate professional experience. This can be reduced to three years should you have a relevant degree. When you become an Associate, you are then a Chartered Secretary and/or a Chartered Governance Professional and can use the post-nominal ACG.

Fellow

Associate members can become a Fellow of the Institute when they have reached a senior level and can demonstrate at least eight years’ relevant work experience. This can be reduced with relevant education qualifications in some circumstances. When you become a Fellow you can then use the post-nominal FCG.

What is a Chartered Secretary?

Chartered Secretaries are senior professionals trained in law, finance, governance and strategy. They principally work as company secretaries or in other similar governance roles. They are obliged to uphold the highest standards of governance practice and ethical behaviour.

Highly valued by employers for their CGI training, Chartered Secretaries are the primary source of advice on governance to their board. Broadly, this can span everything from legal and accounting advice, to the development of strategy and corporate planning.

What is a Chartered Governance Professional?

Chartered Governance Professionals qualified by The Chartered Governance Institute have a deep understanding of governance usually across the listed company, public and/or not-for-profit sectors. They also have a deep understanding of risk management and how to apply it across their organisation.

Chartered Governance Professionals often act as their organisation’s company secretary but also often have roles as risk managers or compliance managers. They are obliged to uphold the highest standards of governance practice and ethical behaviour.

Continuing professional development

The governance and risk management landscape is constantly evolving, presenting new challenges to companies striving for responsible performance. You ensure the actions of these organisations match the values by which they operate

This is why all members of The Chartered Governance Institute are required to complete continuing professional development hours, ensuring they are always equipped with the highest standard and most up-to-date knowledge and skills.

Continuing professional development hours can be either structured or unstructured.

Structured activity can include face-to-face attendance at personal development events (external or in-house training), and can include courses, seminars, conferences and conventions, workshops and master-classes.

Unstructured activity can include reading and studying materials from journals, podcasts, CDs and DVDs and audio tapes.

Contact your local institute to find out what is on offer in your region.

Membership

Distinguish

you with chartered governance credentials through our premier qualifying programme - the hallmark of professional excellence.

Facilitate

worldwide career opportunities with our Global Credentials Passport providing transnational recognition of your status.

Inform

you on latest governance related market trends and regulatory developments with exclusive guidance, research and updates.

Represent