Good Governance Academy

What Good Governance Academy does

Good Governance Academy (GGA) is a global non-profit organization founded in 2021 and headquartered at Wits Business School in Johannesburg, South Africa, with operating reach across 135 countries. It is led by Founding Patron Prof. Mervyn King, a former Judge of the Supreme Court of South Africa who chaired the King Committee on Corporate Governance, the Global Reporting Initiative, and the International Integrated Reporting Council. GGA's purpose is to amplify voices promoting good governance, ethical leadership, sustainable value creation, and transparent reporting, aligned with UN SDGs 4 (Quality Education) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

The organization's product portfolio is structured as a multi-format education and thought-leadership ecosystem rather than a single technology platform. It comprises (1) endorsed training programs and certifications, including the ISO 37000 Certification, ESG for Boards, Climate & Nature Designation (CCB.D), Sustainability & ESG Designation (GCB.D), Corporate Governance and the Law, Behind Closed Doors: The Boardroom, and the 21st Century Director Mentoring Programme; (2) the Advances in Corporate Governance open-access journal published with Wits Business School and AOSIS; (3) the GGA Webinar Series (free year-round) and GGA Colloquia Series (bi-annual high-profile events); (4) the Good Governance Research Forum; (5) the GGA Book Lounge; and (6) community initiatives such as The ESG Exchange and Women on Boards. The CEO, Carolynn Chalmers, edited ISO 37000:2021 and ISO 37004:2023, lending GGA privileged association with the leading international governance standard. No proprietary technology platform, app, or AI model is disclosed; core technology is the convening platform and curriculum.

GGA distributes through a Support Member Network of more than 250 educational institutions and professional associations (including AICPA, SAICA, CIMA, ICAEW, IoD UK, IoD India, ACCA, IIRC, JSE, and Deloitte-linked entities), which collectively extend reach to 4.5+ million directors, executives, professionals, and academics. Revenue is generated through paid training programs (one-time fees ranging from approximately $550 to $4,100 per participant), in-house training delivered by accredited trainers, preferential sponsorship opportunities, and likely benefactor contributions consistent with its non-profit structure. The organization operates with 1-10 employees and is governed by a Board led by Chair Alan Johnson (immediate past President of IFAC).

Name

Good Governance Academy

Legal name

Good Governance Academy

Website

https://goodgovernance.academy/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Good Governance Academy is a Education Management agency.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Governance Education and Training

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Higher Education Governance & Quality Policy Research (EDADADAI), IT, Information Security & Digital Governance (EDADAKAJ)

Keywords

• Corporate governance training
• ESG board education
• Governance certification programs
• Board effectiveness training
• Governance thought leadership

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership/Support Member Network: The Support Member Network provides services to members at no cost. Revenue may be generated through sponsorship, reduced event participation fees for non-members, and preferential sponsorship opportunities.
2. Training and Education Programs: Endorsed training programmes and courses offered through partners, with various pricing structures for different programs including certifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Good Governance Academy is a global non-profit that delivers corporate governance education, training, certification, and thought leadership through endorsed training programs, webinars, colloquia, and an open-access journal. Its offerings cover ISO 37000 governance, ESG and climate competence for boards, board effectiveness, governance and the law, mentoring for directors, and research, distributed through a Support Member Network spanning 250+ organizations across 135 countries.

Product overview

Good Governance Academy is a global non-profit organization that offers a portfolio of education, research, and thought leadership products focused on corporate governance, sustainability, and ethical leadership. The offering is structured as a multi-product ecosystem rather than a single unified platform. Core products include: (1) Training & Certification Programs — endorsed courses and certifications including ISO 37000 Certification, ESG for Boards, Climate & Nature Designation (CCB.D), Sustainability & ESG Designation (GCB.D), and various board effectiveness programs; (2) Publications — the Advances in Corporate Governance open-access journal and the GGA Book Lounge featuring curated governance literature; (3) Events — the GGA Webinar Series (free year-round webinars) and GGA Colloquia Series (high-profile bi-annual conferences); (4) Research — the Good Governance Research Forum with specialized forums on CAPIA, Boardroom Dynamics, and Integrated Organizations; and (5) Community Initiatives — The ESG Exchange and Women on Boards programs. The products are distributed through the Support Member Network, which extends reach to 4.5+ million professionals across 135 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The ESG Exchange: An initiative of the Good Governance Academy focused on ESG governance and sustainability.
• Women on Boards
• Advances in Corporate Governance Journal

Products and services

• ISO 37000 Certification Course An internationally accredited digital foundation course on organizational governance based on ISO 37000:2021, delivered by Fluidrock Governance Academy, covering governance principles including purpose, value generation, strategy, oversight, and accountability. Designed for board members, executives, and governance professionals.
• ESG for Boards Competence Program A three-module competence program for board directors on the impact of the ESG agenda on boards' role, composition, and work processes, delivered by Future Boards with DNV certification upon completion.
• Leading with AI Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 250+ support members across 135 countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AICPA-CIMA (Association of International Certified Professional Accountants)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAICPA and CIMA formed the Association representing 580,000 members, candidates, and registrants in more than 150 countries. GGA collaborates with them on webinars including the 'Accounting in a Fractured World' event on 14 July 2026, exploring how global instability reshapes the finance and accountancy profession.
• Wits Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for the Advances in Corporate Governance journal, collaborating on thought leadership bridging business and academia.
• AOSIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJournal provider and publisher hosting the Advances in Corporate Governance open-access journal.
• Support Member Network (250+ organizations)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork comprising educational institutions, professional associations including SAICA, ICAEW, IoD UK, IoD India, and others. Support members extend invitations to GGA colloquia and events to their networks, distribute memoranda, and participate at no cost. Benefits include reduced event fees, access to GoGovern portal, and co-branding opportunities.
• Institute of Internal AuditorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional association partner supporting governance thought leadership and training programs.
• The ESG ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGA initiative focused on ESG governance, bringing together ground-breaking ESG initiatives and supporting sustainability-focused governance education.
• Women on BoardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGA community initiative supporting gender diversity in corporate governance.
• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGA Patron Prof. Mervyn King chairs GRI, and the organization promotes transparency and transparent reporting through alignment with international frameworks.
• International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGA Patron Prof. Mervyn King chaired the IIRC (now part of IFRS Foundation), and the organization promotes integrated thinking and reporting.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte (Global Governance / IFRS practice): Deloitte's Global IFRS and Corporate Reporting practice (led by GGA NED Veronica Poole) operates governance advisory and training offerings that overlap directly with GGA's curriculum and corporate audience.
• KPMG Governance Institute: KPMG's governance advisory practice produces proprietary board-effectiveness research, training, and certifications that compete with GGA's curriculum, particularly for audit committee and ESG training.
• Diligent: Diligent provides board governance software, education, and insights to corporate boards — adjacent to GGA but combines technology tooling with governance education and benchmarking.

Direct peers

• Institute of Directors (UK): IoD UK is a long-standing member of GGA's Support Member Network and is the UK's premier director training and governance certification body — directly comparable mission of board effectiveness education.
• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): NACD is the largest US director education and certification organization with comparable board-effectiveness, governance, and directorship credentialing offerings aimed at corporate directors.
• Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA): IoDSA is a Support Member of GGA and provides director certification and governance training in the same South African market where GGA is headquartered — direct peer in mission and geography.
• International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN): ICGN is a global governance standards and investor-led body focused on corporate governance principles — a comparable international convening and thought-leadership organization for governance professionals.
• INSEAD Corporate Governance Centre: INSEAD's Corporate Governance Centre produces research, executive education, and director programs — directly comparable academic-practitioner governance education format and audience.

Regional players

• African Corporate Governance Network (ACGN): ACGN is a pan-African governance advocacy body closely aligned with GGA's regional focus and King IV lineage; comparable convening and governance education mandate across African markets.

Others

• World Benchmarking Alliance: WBA, chaired by GGA Board Advisor Paul Druckman, focuses on corporate sustainability benchmarking — thematically adjacent to GGA's ESG Exchange and integrated reporting work, with overlapping leadership.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/goodgovernanceacademy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Good Governance Academy