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Course CWS-029

Writing Board Papers and Committee Reports

Boards and committees make their most important decisions on the basis of written papers. Papers that are too long, poorly structured or unc... The outline covers Board Papers and Governance, Structuring a Board Paper, O...

  • 5 daysClassroom or online
  • 49Upcoming dates
  • 12Cities
  • €1,825Fees from
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Writing Board Papers and Committee Reports
Next online class Live virtual classroom 7 - 11 December 2026 · €1,625 + VAT Next classroom session Frankfurt 7 - 11 December 2026 · €2,175 + VAT

Your week at a glance

  1. Day 1 Board Papers and Governance
  2. Day 2 Structuring a Board Paper
  3. Day 3 Options, Risks and Financials
  4. Day 4 Clarity and Concision
  5. Day 5 Process, Committees and Continuous Improvement

Choose your format and date

  • 5 days
  • 09:00–14:00
  • Certificate of attendance

Classroom sessions

  1. 7–11 Dec 2026

    Frankfurt

    Next date
    €2,175 + VAT
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  2. 14–18 Dec 2026

    London

    €2,915 + VAT
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  3. 21–25 Dec 2026

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  4. 4–8 Jan 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  5. 11–15 Jan 2027

    Vienna

    €3,425 + VAT
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  6. 18–22 Jan 2027

    London

    €2,915 + VAT
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  7. 25–29 Jan 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  8. 1–5 Feb 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  9. 8–12 Feb 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  10. 15–19 Feb 2027

    Amsterdam

    €3,215 + VAT
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  11. 22–26 Feb 2027

    London

    €2,915 + VAT
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  12. 1–5 Mar 2027

    London

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  13. 8–12 Mar 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  14. 15–19 Mar 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  15. 22–26 Mar 2027

    Cape Town

    Lowest fee
    €1,825 + VAT
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  16. 5–9 Apr 2027

    Dubai

    €2,845 + VAT
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  17. 12–16 Apr 2027

    London

    €2,915 + VAT
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  18. 19–23 Apr 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  19. 26–30 Apr 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  20. 3–7 May 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  21. 10–14 May 2027

    Geneva

    €3,315 + VAT
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  22. 17–21 May 2027

    London

    €2,915 + VAT
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  23. 24–28 May 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  24. 7–11 Jun 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  25. 14–18 Jun 2027

    London

    €2,915 + VAT
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  26. 21–25 Jun 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  27. 5–9 Jul 2027

    London

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  28. 12–16 Jul 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  29. 19–23 Jul 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  30. 26–30 Jul 2027

    Kuala Lumpur

    €2,425 + VAT
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  31. 2–6 Aug 2027

    Madrid

    €3,400 + VAT
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  32. 9–13 Aug 2027

    London

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  33. 16–20 Aug 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  34. 23–27 Aug 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  35. 6–10 Sep 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  36. 13–17 Sep 2027

    London

    €2,915 + VAT
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  37. 20–24 Sep 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  38. 4–8 Oct 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  39. 11–15 Oct 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  40. 18–22 Oct 2027

    Paris

    €2,810 + VAT
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  41. 25–29 Oct 2027

    London

    €2,915 + VAT
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  42. 1–5 Nov 2027

    London

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  43. 8–12 Nov 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  44. 15–19 Nov 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  45. 22–26 Nov 2027

    Rome

    €2,830 + VAT
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  46. 6–10 Dec 2027

    Vienna

    €3,425 + VAT
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  47. 13–17 Dec 2027

    London

    €2,915 + VAT
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  48. 20–24 Dec 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  49. 27–31 Dec 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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Online / Live sessions

  1. 7–11 Dec 2026

    Live virtual classroom

    Next date
    €1,625 + VAT
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  2. 14–18 Dec 2026

    Live virtual classroom

    €1,625 + VAT
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  3. 21–25 Dec 2026

    Live virtual classroom

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  4. 4–8 Jan 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  5. 11–15 Jan 2027

    Live virtual classroom

    €1,625 + VAT
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  6. 18–22 Jan 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  7. 25–29 Jan 2027

    Live virtual classroom

    €1,625 + VAT
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  8. 1–5 Feb 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  9. 8–12 Feb 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  10. 15–19 Feb 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  11. 22–26 Feb 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  12. 1–5 Mar 2027

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  13. 8–12 Mar 2027

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  14. 15–19 Mar 2027

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  15. 22–26 Mar 2027

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  16. 5–9 Apr 2027

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  17. 12–16 Apr 2027

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  18. 19–23 Apr 2027

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  19. 26–30 Apr 2027

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  20. 3–7 May 2027

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  21. 10–14 May 2027

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  22. 17–21 May 2027

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  23. 24–28 May 2027

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  24. 7–11 Jun 2027

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  25. 14–18 Jun 2027

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  26. 21–25 Jun 2027

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  27. 5–9 Jul 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  28. 12–16 Jul 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  29. 19–23 Jul 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  30. 26–30 Jul 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  31. 2–6 Aug 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  32. 9–13 Aug 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  33. 16–20 Aug 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  34. 23–27 Aug 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  35. 6–10 Sep 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  36. 13–17 Sep 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  37. 20–24 Sep 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  38. 4–8 Oct 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  39. 11–15 Oct 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  40. 18–22 Oct 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  41. 25–29 Oct 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  42. 1–5 Nov 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  43. 8–12 Nov 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  44. 15–19 Nov 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  45. 22–26 Nov 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  46. 6–10 Dec 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  47. 13–17 Dec 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  48. 20–24 Dec 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  49. 27–31 Dec 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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Introduction

Course overview

Boards and committees make their most important decisions on the basis of written papers. Papers that are too long, poorly structured or unclear about what is being asked make it difficult for directors to fulfil their duties, lead to deferred decisions and frustrate both board members and management.

This Writing Board Papers and Committee Reports training course teaches participants how to produce papers that enable effective governance. Participants learn what boards need, how to structure papers around the decision required, how to write clear executive summaries, how to present options, risks and financial information, and how to meet governance requirements while staying concise.

The course also covers templates, the paper approval process and how to work with company secretaries and board chairs to improve the quality of board packs.

View full course outline

What you will achieve

Learning objectives

  • Explain the role of board papers in good governance
  • Understand what directors need to make informed decisions
  • Structure papers around the purpose and decision required
  • Write executive summaries that stand alone
  • Present options, risks and financial implications clearly
  • Address governance, legal and stakeholder considerations
  • Keep papers concise using appendices appropriately
  • Manage drafting, review and approval of board papers

Who should attend

Target audience

  • Senior managers who write board and committee papers
  • Company secretaries and governance officers
  • Chiefs of staff and executive office staff
  • Finance and strategy professionals
  • Public sector and non-profit executives
  • Committee secretaries

Methodology

Learning approach

  • The course uses real-world style board papers, governance templates and case studies. Participants analyse strong and weak papers, draft papers from source material, critique each other's work from a director's perspective and revise their drafts based on feedback.

Complete course outline

Five focused days of learning and application

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Day 1

Board Papers and Governance

  1. Roles of boards and committees in decision making
  2. How directors read and use board papers
  3. Common problems with board packs and their consequences
  4. Types of papers: decision, discussion and information
  5. Coffee break
  6. Types of papers: decision, discussion and information (continued)
  7. Director duties and the need for adequate information
  8. Feedback from board members on what they value
  9. Exercise: assessing a sample board paper

Day 2

Structuring a Board Paper

  1. Starting with purpose and the resolution sought
  2. Standard sections in board paper templates
  3. Writing an executive summary that stands alone
  4. Background that is relevant and brief
  5. Coffee break
  6. Background that is relevant and brief (continued)
  7. Logical flow from issue to recommendation
  8. Using appendices for detail and supporting evidence
  9. Workshop: outlining a decision paper

Day 3

Options, Risks and Financials

  1. Presenting genuine options rather than straw men
  2. Making a clear and justified recommendation
  3. Explaining financial implications for non-financial directors
  4. Presenting risks, mitigations and risk appetite alignment
  5. Coffee break
  6. Presenting risks, mitigations and risk appetite alignment (continued)
  7. Legal, regulatory and compliance considerations
  8. Stakeholder, people and sustainability impacts
  9. Exercise: drafting options and risk sections

Day 4

Clarity and Concision

  1. Writing in plain language for directors
  2. Reducing length without losing essential information
  3. Avoiding jargon, acronyms and internal shorthand
  4. Using tables and charts effectively in papers
  5. Coffee break
  6. Using tables and charts effectively in papers (continued)
  7. Balancing candour with appropriate sensitivity
  8. Peer review from a director's perspective
  9. Workshop: editing a paper to half its length

Day 5

Process, Committees and Continuous Improvement

  1. Board calendars and paper submission deadlines
  2. Review and approval by executives and company secretaries
  3. Writing committee reports to the main board
  4. Minutes, action logs and matters arising
  5. Coffee break
  6. Minutes, action logs and matters arising (continued)
  7. Improving board pack quality across the organisation
  8. Final drafting exercise with individual feedback
  9. Personal action plan for writing board papers

Ready to book?

Writing Board Papers and Committee Reports

Next session: 7 - 11 December 2026, Frankfurt

Register See all dates

Course FAQs

Questions about this course

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What does Writing Board Papers and Committee Reports (CWS-029) cover?

This course covers Communication and Writing Skills through a structured five-day outline focused on practical application, discussion, and implementation planning.

When is the next available session?

The next scheduled session starts on 14 - 18 December 2026. See the course schedules section for the available dates and delivery formats.

Who should attend this course?

Senior managers who write board and committee papers, Company secretaries and governance officers, Chiefs of staff and executive office staff

Is bilingual course delivery available?

Yes. All course materials and presentations are provided in English, while bilingual explanation and discussion support may be available depending on the selected location and trainer availability. For example, when attending a course in Istanbul, you may request a Turkish-speaking trainer to explain the English course content in Turkish. Arabic explanation support may also be requested at this location. Other languages are available in selected cities. You can choose your preferred language support as an optional preference during registration.

How can I register for a session?

Use any Register button next to the available course dates to open the participant registration page and submit your booking request for the selected session.

Is this course available online as well as classroom-based?

Check the course schedules section for currently published classroom and Online / Live sessions.

Where are classroom sessions delivered?

Current classroom venues include London, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Vienna, Amsterdam, Cape Town, Dubai, Geneva, Kuala lumpur, Madrid, Paris, Rome.

How long is the training programme?

The programme runs for five days from 09:00 to 14:00, which gives 25 contact hours, including a daily 30-minute break (22.5 hours of instruction).