The 6-day “The Board of Directors in the Financial Sector” program is an executive program on corporate governance, organised in collaboration with GUBERNA. The objective is to train incisive directors to work in the financial business sector.

The objective of this training course is to:

• provide insight into the operation and responsibilities of a Board of Directors and directors;
• provide levers that allow the role of director to be optimally fulfilled;
• provide a comprehensive understanding of the organisation, operation and challenges of a financial institution.

CONTENT

Module 1: The financial landscape and regulatory outlook - day 1 (duurtijd: 6 uur) 

Guest speakers: Hans Geeroms, Koenraad De Backere, Nicolas Strypstein, Els De Keyser & Isabelle Le Grand

• How current macro-economic and geopolitical trends are impacting the financial industry
• The financial system and financial intermediation in our society
  • Architecture and governance of the financial system
  • Focus on the role and evolution of banks 
  • Focus on the role and evolution of insurance companies 
  • Focus on the role and evolution of other financial intermediaries 
  • Regulation 
  • Strategic challenges for financial intermediaries : the new risks/opportunities
• Keynote : The role of the regulator in the Belgian & European context with a focus on Fit & Proper (NBB)
• Keynote: The role of the regulator in the Belgian & European context (FSMA)

Module 2: Governance of the Financial Institution - day 2 (duurtijd: 6 uur)

Lecturers: Sandra Gobert & Caroline Veris

Guest speaker: Bart De Smet

• Interactive workshop on governance
• A summary of the reference framework for governance in the financial sector 
  • Applicable regulations and guidelines of the supervisors
  • Important trends and impact on the board
  • An optimal composition of the Board of Directors
  • Basic principles and best practices
  • Specific requirements for the financial sector
• Keynote: Corporate Governance for Insurance Companies - case study Ageas

Module 3: Role of Board of Directors - day 3  (duurtijd: 6 uur)

Lecturers: Saartje Verbeke & Caroline Veris

Guest speakers: Daniël de Clerck & Christophe Hamal

• The role of the board of directors : finding the right balance 
• Interactive session based on dilemma’s in relation to 
  • Committees 
  • Independent control functions 
  • Executive management 
  • Supervisors 
  • Shareholders (incl. relevant points for attention within the group structure) 
  • Handling conflicts of interest
• Keynote: Functioning of a board of directors and Role of a board member
• Keynote: From Risk to Resilience: Insurance in a changing world

Module 4: Operation of a financial institution - day 4 (duurtijd: 6 uur)

Lecturer: Alexandre Deveen

Guest speaker: François Lecomte

• Introduction
  • Financial institutions within the Eurozone (MFIs, IFs, FVCs, PSRIs, ICs)
• The foundations of banking and insurance
  • Expected return and risks
  • Supervision
• The Banking Model
  • Balance sheet
  • Income statement
  • Regulations and challenges
  • Products and services
  • Points for attention
• The insurance model
  • Balance sheet
  • Regulations and challenges
  • Life insurance
  • Non-life insurance
  • Pension plans
• Banks versus insurance institutions
  • Interest Rate Risk
  • Product Risk
  • Balance sheet Risk
  • Balance sheet immunization
• Conclusion: the future of financial services
• Keynote : Interaction with subcommittees and stakeholders

Module 5:  Risk Management of a financial institution - day 5 (duurtijd: 6 uur) 

Lecturer: Carole de Vergnies

Guest Speakers: Eric Pulinx, Khatleen Pauwels & Julien Radart

• Interactive workshop on Risk management
  
  • Risk management: definitions and concepts
  • Identification of the different risks
  • Important risk-related concepts 
  • Period of reflection for board members, probability and impact of risks
  • Recovery planning
• Keynote : Setting the scene on risk-management in the boardroom
• Keynote : The three lines of Defence: What the board should expect from compliance
• Keynote: Crisis Management

Module 6:  The Board’s legal and societal responsibilities - day 6  (duurtijd: 6 uur)

Lecturers: Sandra Gobert & Saartje Verbeke

Guest speakers: Alain Flas, Ruben Olieslagers, Leen Van den Neste & Jeroen Delvoie

• The impact of sustainability in risk management :
  • How to manage ESG in Board of Directors
  • Sustanability risk mapping and reporting for Board of Directors in a governance framework
• Keynote : Values-Driven Leadership for a Sustainable Future
• Roles and responsibilities of directors in the financial sector: the legal perspective
• Interactive workshop: the evaluation of the functioning of the Board of Directors
  • Which process?
  • What is the content?
  • Framework based on basic principles and best practices as well as relevant legal provisions

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

• Duration: 6 days of training (6 x 6 class hours) 
• Hours: 12:30 to 18:30, followed by a dinner
• Location: Febelfin Academy: Phoenix building, Koning Albert II-laan/Boulevard du Roi Albert II 19, 1210 Brussels
• Language: This training will be given in English
• Registrations: To encourage interaction and learning experiences, we limit registrations to a maximum of 5 participants from the same organisation.  If more persons wish to enrol, this training can also be organised within the company.  Feel free to contact : Ingrid.Goris@febelfin-academy.be.

You follow a ‘Classroom training’ face-to-face in a group. You, the other participants and the teacher are all present in the same classroom at an agreed time. There is an opportunity for interaction and feedback, both from the participants to the teacher and vice versa. The teaching material consists as a basis of a presentation via the MyFA learning platform, supplemented with various other items (such as digital syllabus, presentation, audiovisual fragments, etc.).

• Acquire knowledge from top experts
• Learn in a group, in a motivating and targeted way
• Deepen your knowledge and obtain recognized continuing professional development hours

• Be on time for the training. It’s best to arrive 10 minutes before it starts.
• Unexpected delay? Inform your on-location contact.
• Febelfin Academy’s reception desk can be reached at +32 (0)2 507 69 61.
• We recommend to review the learning material in advance and prepare your questions.

• To receive your (CPD) participation certificate for a classroom training, your presence and active participation are required throughout the entire session. Interaction is key to our trainings.
• Your (CPD) participation certificate will be published on your MyFA account the day following the course.
• Febelfin Academy wishes you a great learning experience.

The programme can be followed by the following target groups:

• candidate directors;
• experienced directors from other sectors;
• existing directors (CEOs, COOs, CFOs and other senior executives).