25th Anniversary of International Governance Initiative

PETERBOROUGH, U.K. - Feb. 21, 2020 - PRLog -- Prof Colin Coulson-Thomas has completed 25 years of leading the International Governance Initiative of the Order of St Lazarus which has traditionally been concerned with leprosy. The initiative he leads has contributed to board and governance related events, activities and projects: to improve standards and levels of competence; encourage inclusion, good governance, sustainability and ethical conduct; and benefit and/or protect people, communities and the environment, particularly in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, but also in North and South America. In leading the initiative, Colin has visited some 40 countries, including in certain regions to areas of active conflict. An anniversary summary just delivered shows he has given over 300 speeches to national and international events, including conferences for business leaders.

The initiative was started in 1994 following publication in 1993 of Colin's two McGraw-Hill books Creating Excellence in the Boardroom and Developing Directors and a lecture he gave in London on the impact of inadequate governance on intended beneficiaries of aid. At the time, according to European Commission estimates, the Order was the number one provider of food and medical aid to CIS and Eastern European countries. Colin stood down as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Order's England and Wales jurisdiction to establish and lead the organisation's International Governance Initiative. His subsequent publications on issues relating to governance and the concerns of directors and boards have included 27 books and reports, some 70 book chapters and several hundred articles.

Initiative activities aim to improve standards of governance, promote more responsible leadership, and benefit disadvantaged and excluded communities. New approaches have been developed and adopted by many organisations in a variety of contexts. Those addressed have included Government Ministers, business, thought and professional leaders, and officials and Parliamentarians concerned with good governance and reducing corruption, favouritism and nepotism. Colin is also chairman of Adaptation, president of the Institute of Management Services and holds other international roles.  Details of his recent publications can be found on: https://www.adaptation.ltd/policy-publications/