Victoria Penrice named as new president of ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute

Previously Group company secretary at Seadrill Limited until June this year, Penrice has experience in a number of sectors, from offshore drilling, mining and engineering through to leisure. Penrice is skilled in corporate governance, project delivery and Board leadership having worked for major household names, among them Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, The British Land Company plc, Royal Mail Group plc and Mitchells & Butlers plc.

Penrice also has in-depth knowledge of the Institute by dint of currently serving as vice-president and as a member of the Institute’s Nomination and Remuneration Committees. In addition, Penrice served on the Institute’s Audit and Risk Committee from 2014 to 2019, chairing it from 2016 to 2018, and served on its Qualifications Committee and Investment Sub-Committee until December 2018.

Impressive range of experience

Commenting on the appointment, Sara Drake (CEO of ICSA) said: “I’m delighted to welcome Victoria as our new president. She brings with her an impressive range of experience and has been a vital part of the Institute’s Board for the past seven years. Victoria has helped to oversee a significant period of change at the Institute, including the disposal of its software companies in 2017, the reinvigoration of our branches across more than 60 territories, the introduction of a revised qualifying programme and the adoption of two new classes of membership.”

Drake added: “Victoria’s in-depth knowledge of governance, and the important role it plays in ensuring organisational sustainability, means that she understands completely the value that our members bring to society and how vital it is that we, as an Institute, provide the support and lifelong learning opportunities that our members need in order for them to flourish.”

Passion for good governance

Outgoing ICSA president John Heaton stated: “I’m extremely pleased to hand the baton on to Victoria who has a wealth of experience and a passion for good governance. Now, more than ever, the world needs skilled and knowledgeable governance professionals to support the Boards and management teams battling with the current health and economic crises. I know the Institute will continue to be a vital source of support and development for them as we steer a path to recovery. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as president of such a long-standing Institute.”

On her new role at ICSA, Victoria Penrice informed Security Matters: “I’m honoured to take on the role of president and look forward to representing the interests of the many governance professionals we support through our extensive branch network in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Crown Dependencies and associated territories, which include the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.”

Penrice continued: “Globally, we’re experiencing a financial downturn likely to be deeper than any seen for decades. The skills of good governance professionals will be of paramount importance to help guide businesses, the third sector and other essential parts of the economy through this turbulence. Rightly, the expectations of Boards continue to evolve and grow, with climate change and ESG being important areas of focus to ensure resilience. It’s the guiding hand of governance professionals that keeps Board attention focused on these wider issues. I’m proud to be part of a profession which holds such an influential and pivotal position within the Boardroom.”

Qualifying and membership body

Between 2006 and 2010, Penrice served on the Committee of the Association of Women Chartered Secretaries (AWCS), serving as president from 2008 until 2010, and continues to be involved with the organisation by mentoring governance professionals through the AWCS Mentoring Programme.

A seasoned writer and conference speaker on company secretarial and governance matters, Penrice has also taught corporate secretaryship to students of the Institute’s qualifying scheme at the London Metropolitan University and was a member of the GC100 Group from 2011 until 2014.

The Chartered Governance Institute is the qualifying and membership body for governance with over 125 years’ experience of educating and supporting governance professionals. With a Royal Charter purpose of leading ‘effective and efficient governance and the administration of commerce, industry and public affairs’, the organisation provides professional development, guidance and thought leadership, working with regulators and policy-makers to champion high standards.