AICD CDC / GAICD study guide
AICD CDC / GAICD · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The GAICD (Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors) is a professional designation associated with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a body whose stated purpose is "Strengthening society through world-class governance." Candidates typically come from board and executive roles - new directors, aspiring directors, company secretaries, and senior managers preparing for their first non-executive appointment - and pursue the credential to demonstrate a structured grounding in directorship practice. The AICD's flagship Company Directors Course is the best-known pathway toward the designation, and the AICD also offers Foundations of Directorship for newer directors and Boardroom Mastery for experienced ones. The AICD CDC / GAICD study guide has 5 sections and about 1,603 words.
01Governance and the Role of the Director
Directors govern, management operates. The board sets direction, appoints and oversees the CEO, approves strategy and budget, monitors performance and risk, and ensures compliance and ethical conduct.
337 words, about 2 min02Board Operations and Effectiveness
Board effectiveness rests on structure, process and behaviour. Key elements include the right mix of skills and diversity, a clear charter and delegation framework, well-designed committees, quality papers, efficient meetings, and regular evaluation.
318 words, about 2 min03Strategy and Risk Management
Strategy defines where the organisation is going and how it will win; risk management identifies what could derail that journey. The board approves strategy and risk appetite, monitors execution, and ensures a risk framework is embedded.
340 words, about 2 min04Financial and Performance Oversight
Financial oversight is not accountancy; it is the board's ability to interrogate performance and solvency. Directors must understand the budget, cash flow, balance sheet, key ratios, and the assumptions behind forecasts.
321 words, about 2 min05Ethics, Culture and Stakeholder Engagement
Culture is what people do when no one is watching; governance is how the board shapes it. Directors set expectations through behaviour, codes of conduct, whistleblower protections, and how they respond to misconduct.
287 words, about 1 min