Our vision is that governance is a shared national strength, enabling people and organisations to make strong, ethical decisions that build trust, stability and long-term value for society.

We enable societal prosperity

We strengthen decision-making capability in people and organisations by embedding Governance Institute of Australia’s Pillars of Good Governance everywhere decisions are made.

Governance Institute of Australia is one of Australia’s oldest industry associations, founded in 1909.

We are a division of The Chartered Governance Institute (CGI), which in turn has an ancestry dating back over 125 years. CGI was founded in the UK when a group of influential company secretaries joined together to form a society that would promote their professional interests. It is now an international body, with over 30,000 members living and working in over 80 countries.

In 1909, the Australian division of CGI gained independence from its parental London body, and in 1947 all the Australian branches merged under the single name Chartered Institute of Secretaries.

In 2013, that organisation became Governance Institute of Australia. Reflecting the key role good governance plays in the performance of every Australian organisation, we expanded our remit to incorporate governance professionals from every part of an organisation — from company secretaries, to chief risk officers, directors, CEOs and other senior leaders.

Governance Institute of Australia is the leading association for company secretaries, governance professionals, directors and risk managers. Our membership is open to professionals with qualifications and experience in the field of governance or risk management. Being a member is the ideal way to advance your career, expand your network and build on your skills. Find out more.

• Upcoming events & networking opportunities
• Governance guides, resources and educational tools ​

As Australia’s leading independent voice on governance, Governance Institute of Australia is an active participant in the reform process. We engage with the government and public sector groups to contribute our expertise on proposed legislative and regulatory reform and contribute to the national discussion around good governance. Read more.

One of our key advocacy mandates is to improve governance practices nationwide, and this includes helping to improve the standard of governance reporting by Australia’s journalists. We contribute our own analysis and commentary on industry issues to help lead the discussion on best practice corporate governance. Learn more.

• The Chartered Governance Institute 
• Corporate Secretaries International Association

We are committed to embracing differences, encouraging all perspectives, and uniting individuals and teams. We encourage our community of employees, members, customers, and partners to embrace their identities and cultures so that together, we can create an inclusive and enriching environment that values diversity.

Diversity and Inclusion – What it means to Governance Institute of Australia
Diversity is reflected in an inclusive environment that embraces many cultures, backgrounds, values, and ideas offered by individuals, teams, and stakeholders. We are strengthened by the differences in our community and what makes each person unique, including experience, education, ability, ethnicity, culture, faith, gender identity, age, sexual orientation and language.

Inclusion is about continuing to value and embed diversity in our daily practices and organisational culture, for which we have individual and collective accountability. It’s a commitment to ensure everyone feels safe to express their diversity within our governance community.

Our Inclusion and Diversity Mission
The pillars of our strategic purpose and values are to influence, inspire and support. These principles have driven our mission to promote an inclusive and diverse environment. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are foundational principles of good governance, and as an organisation that advocates for excellence in governance, are therefore directly connected to our purpose. At Governance Institute we are committed to harnessing the unique contributions of our people and to value every idea. It is our belief that an inclusive culture powers our results and motivates our people to grow and thrive. We believe in promoting equality, and our position allows us to serve diverse customers and guide the communities we serve.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion – why it matters to us
Governance Institute is committed to a diverse and inclusive corporate culture. We embrace diversity because it is the right thing to do for our people and it is beneficial to the society we serve. Diversity is at the core of our ability to serve our customers and members, and it strengthens our reputation as the provider of choice.

Individual differences create a dynamic workplace at Governance Institute, which supports us in delivering the best solutions for our customers. We harness the energy, creativity, innovation, talent, and insights of our diverse workforce. As with all Governance Institute business practices, we want to ensure our diversity and inclusion initiatives are transparent. Awareness and engagement benefits everyone – our customers, current and prospective employees, and the broader community.