Exclusive program for Chairmen with SLID and IFC

The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) has partnered IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, to conduct a chairing skills workshop exclusively for company chairmen on 27 April. 

The program is a collaboration between two international institutions. The Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London, brings its unparalleled experience in conflict resolution and negotiations skills, while IFC has extensive experience in promoting good corporate governance practices worldwide. The workshop’s participants will learn how to use these skills in a boardroom context.

The program will be conducted by CEDR director and lead trainer James South and head of IFC’s Corporate Governance Dispute Resolution Practice Group Alexey Volynets.

SLID CEO Lilani Perera said the program was in line with SLID’s vision to contribute to the professional advancement of directors of Sri Lankan companies and foster a culture of leadership among them. This program is the first of its kind in the country and offered Sri Lankan company chairmen a unique opportunity to attend a program that is normally only available overseas.

An effective chair is absolutely essential to manage a board’s business and to act as its facilitator and guide. While conducting meetings, the chair should maintain control of the proceedings without dominating discussions, treating all directors equally and facilitating decision-making by stimulating focused debate, drawing on all contributions and encouraging constructive discussion.

It is necessary to ensure that genuine disagreements are aired and resolved, while steering the board towards consensus. A good chair will aim for a consensus decision, not just one based on majority vote and ensure that the decisions that are made are properly understood and recorded. Effective facilitation is an enabling process in which the facilitator assists the group or individual to generate ideas, explore possibilities and make decisions about future action. 

The participants at this highly interactive session will be exposed to:

nThe step-chairing model to ensure meetings are properly prepared and conducted. 

nIntervention styles to deal with difficult people and situations. 

nStyles of business-meeting facilitation to ensure effective deliberations; their advantages and risks. 

nTypical dysfunctions in board deliberations and how to deal with them. 

nKey chairing competencies. 

nCase studies to practice skills. 

The speakers at the sessions are James South (CEDR) and Alexey Volynets (IFC). James is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.  He has over 10 years’ experience as mediator in a wide range of disputes in different contexts and jurisdictions; the first four years spent as a government-employed mediator for the New Zealand Ministry of Justice during which time he mediated over 500 disputes. 

In 2000, James became a full-time CEDR employee and accredited mediator.  He now mediates regularly.

As director of and lead trainer of CEDR training faculty, James has extensive experience in the training of mediators, lawyers, judges and other business professionals both in the United Kingdom and many other jurisdictions.

He holds a Master’s in Law (Distinction) in dispute prevention and resolution from the University of Westminster, London and is currently a lecturer on the International Commercial Mediation module of the Master’s program at University of Westminster. He wrote and lectured on the Negotiation/Mediation Course for undergraduates at the University of Westminster and has taught ADR at Birkbeck College, University of London, Southbank University, and Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, and University of San Francisco.

Alexey is a knowledge management officer at IFC Corporate Governance Group. He leads the IFC Corporate Governance Dispute resolution practice group, and has been instrumental in the development of the group’s training programs and materials. 

Alexey has extensive experience in designing knowledge sharing and capacity-building programs and products, including lessons learned and good practice guidance, training programs, and knowledge sharing events. For the last five years, he has been responsible for coordinating knowledge outputs of the IFC Corporate Governance Forum, recently merged into IFC Corporate Governance Group.  

The intake for this program is limited. Chairmen interested in participating should communicate with the SLID Secretariat on 0112301646-8 or email [email protected].