Graduation Ceremony 2025

The GCC Board Directors Institute (GCC BDI), in partnership with The Financial Academy, has marked a breakthrough year in board development across the region - conferring Chartered Director status for the first time and certifying 148 professionals through its flagship programmes. The Financial Academy serves as the official Awarding Body for all GCC BDI certifications.

This year’s achievements go beyond numbers. GCC BDI’s first Chartered Directors have now completed the full journey from Certificate to Chartered status. This end-to-end pathway equips leaders with the skills and insight to drive board effectiveness across the region. In Oman, GCC BDI delivered a bespoke in-house Director Development Programme for the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), making it the first organisation in the country to undertake this level of board training with the Institute.

Strengthening Corporate Governance in the GCC

GCC BDI’s certification programmes are designed to equip future board leaders with the skills and knowledge to:

• Strengthen governance practices: Apply leading board governance principles to enhance effectiveness and accountability.
• Enhance strategic oversight: Develop sharper judgement in decision-making, risk management, and long-term planning.

• Build financial competence: Interpret and evaluate financial information to ensure transparency and sustainable performance :
• Lead with integrity: Champion ethical leadership and cultivate responsible, future-ready boards.

This year’s achievements mark a clear step-change in scale and impact. Building on 129 certified in 2024 and 25 in 2023, 148 professionals have been certified in GCC BDI’s programmes in 2025 to date - reflecting growing demand for structured board development and a deepening commitment to governance across the region. The class of 2025 to date includes 130 Certified Board Directors, 5 Diploma awardees, 3 Chartered Directors and 10 Certified Board Secretaries. Since its inception in 2019, GCC BDI has certified a total of 374 Board Directors, 54 Board Secretaries, 22 Diploma holders, and 4 Chartered Directors.