In a rapid regulatory environment defined by shifting cybersecurity threats and ESG mandates, “on-the-job training” is no longer an acceptable governance strategy. The 2025 Globe and Mail Board Games evaluation places strict parameters on Criterion 6 (Director Orientation and Continuing Education). To score full points, your board cannot simply state that education is offered; you must disclose the specifics of the training and, crucially, track the attendance of individual directors.

The Problem with Educational Untraceability

Many Corporate Secretaries suffer during proxy season because educational attendance isn’t integrated into their core governance workflows. If a third-party cybersecurity consultant presents a 45-minute deep dive during a standard audit committee meeting, tracking who was in the room—and who actually downloaded the follow-up briefing materials—often relies on scattered notes.

When this data is siloed across emails, Zoom logs, and paper sign-in sheets, drafting the proxy circular becomes an exercise in forensic accounting. Consequently, many companies omit the attendance logs simply because they lack the data, sacrificing their Board Games score.

Closing the Loop with the Skills Matrix

Best-in-class TSX boards do not execute continuing education randomly. Instead, they use the gaps identified in their annual Board Skills Matrix to commission specific educational sessions.

For example, if the Skills Matrix reveals that only two out of ten directors possess advanced AI risk oversight capabilities, the Governance Committee will schedule an enterprise AI framework session. By utilizing a centralized portal, the Corporate Secretary can map the attendance data from that session directly back to the Skills Matrix, proving to analysts that the board is actively bridging its competency gaps.

Tracking Education: Manual vs Digital

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