Strategic Tutors, in collaboration with Agentia Boardroom, launches its free artificial intelligence training & education programme for governance professionals

A Shared Commitment to Support the Governance Profession

This programme began with the work of two individuals – Paul Stark and Buff Cooper. Both serve as volunteer researchers at CAIBE and have long been advocates for the future of governance. Each brings with them not only a deep interest in how AI is reshaping the profession, but also the means to turn that interest into something practical.

At the Centre for AI in Board Effectiveness (CAIBE), part of their research focuses on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the responsibilities, risks and day-to-day realities of governance professionals. Structured investigations show that AI is already entering governance environments, and many professionals are unsure how to respond.

These observations, along with feedback from the governance community, point to a clear need for structured, practical and profession-specific support. This training and education programme was developed to provide exactly that — a clear, grounded starting point for governance professionals working in corporate governance.

While other AI-related training is available to governance professionals, it varies in depth, focus and accessibility. Some are introductory in nature, others come at a cost that may limit access. That contrast was part of the motivation for this programme — to offer something freely, but grounded in data, research findings and a clear understanding of governance work.

This is the first time these findings have been translated directly into a training format. It reflects our belief that governance professionals should not be on the side-lines of this change, they should be shaping it.

From Paul came the methodology: Agentia Boardroom, a Brunel University of London spinout dedicated to building AI-native solutions for boards and governance teams. Paul's work sits at the crossroads of governance, board effectiveness and emerging technology. As a co-founder of both Agentia Boardroom and CAIBE, he conducts pioneering research into how AI is reshaping the boardroom and applies that insight to real-world solutions for regulated organisations. His approach is rooted in governance assurance, organisational change and the belief that AI should empower, not replace, the professionals at the heart of corporate leadership.

From Buff came the platform: Strategic Tutors Limited, a new training college created to support Chartered Governance Institute students through expert-led courses and modern learning methods. With a background spanning strategy, risk, finance and education, Buff brings decades of experience to this role and a strong track record of results. His students consistently exceed national pass rates, and his work across professional qualifications (CGI, ACCA, CIMA) and industry training has helped shape the careers of hundreds of professionals. Strategic Tutors reflects his belief in rigorous, relevant and results-driven learning.

Together, as individuals and through their respective organisations, they developed this education and training programme to fill a clear and growing gap. Each session is directly informed by original CAIBE research, is grounded in real governance contexts and is designed with the profession’s frontline responsibilities in mind.

This collaboration reflects a shared belief: governance professionals should have access to education and training that prepares them not just for today’s responsibilities, but for the changes already arriving – grounded in evidence and relevant to the work they do every day.

About the Programme

This training and education programme consists of three structured sessions, each 90 minutes long, delivered virtually and free to attend. It has been designed to give governance professionals a clear, grounded starting point in understanding and applying AI within the context of corporate governance.

Rather than offer a generic overview, the content is role-specific, scenario-based and focused on real governance settings. Across the three sessions, participants will build a grounded understanding of AI: what it is, how it works and how it is entering their professional space – not just in theory, but through real systems, interactions and responsibilities.

Each session builds on the last, forming a coherent pathway for developing applied literacy in AI for governance work:

Session 1 – Foundational Knowledge: AI and the Governance Environment

The first session sets the foundation, providing governance professionals a shared starting point for understanding AI’s relevance to their work and the broader governance landscape.

Participants will explore:

• The key concepts, terminology, and capabilities behind today’s AI systems

• How AI is already being used across professional roles and sectors

• The implications for risk, assurance, ethics, and regulatory environments

• How AI changes the dynamics of governance — including people, processes and technology

Session 2 – Role-Specific Interaction with AI Tools

This dual-part session examines the use of AI tools from the perspective of two governance-aligned roles.

Part 1: The Director as AI User - Explores how directors are starting to use AI in their board preparation, decision-making and insight gathering.

Participants will gain:

• An understanding of what AI usage by directors might look like in practice

• The literacy required to support or respond to director interaction with AI

• A view into prompt-based tools and conversational interfaces used at board level

Part 2: The Governance Professional as AI User - Focuses on how governance professionals can use AI tools to support their own workflows and responsibilities, spanning areas such as board governance, regulatory compliance and entity management.

Participants will gain:

• Familiarity with AI usage patterns in governance support work

• Insight into AI tools for drafting, research, reporting and analysis

• Practical considerations for control, oversight and assurance when using AI

Session 3 – Procuring or Building Governance AI Systems

This final session addresses the deeper responsibilities involved when governance professionals are tasked with introducing AI into the corporate governance environment – whether by procuring an external system or leading building an internal one.

Participants will explore:

• The practical realities of procuring external AI systems

• The governance considerations in building internal solutions

• Their role as assessors, advisors or architects of safe and effective AI use

• Core control points to ensure systems align with governance expectations

The training is not a product demo or a technical seminar. It is a structured education programme designed by governance professionals, for governance professionals, grounded in the emerging responsibilities, systems and scenarios already taking shape in boardrooms and company secretariats.

Register to Attend

If you’re a governance professional, this programme is designed for you. Delivered online across three 90-minute sessions, the training is entirely free and grounded in real governance practice. Each session blends research insight, practical guidance and applied examples from the daily responsibilities of governance professionals.

In order to register you must be a current or former student of Buff Cooper or Strategic Tutors Limited. If you do not qualify for this round of places then either register for one of our autumn 2025 courses or email us at info@strategictutors.co.uk to register your interest for potential future sessions.

Session 1 of 3 is available on any of the following dates and times:

Tuesday, 9th September 12.30pm to 2.00pm

Tuesday, 9th September 6.30pm to 8.00pm

Thursday, 11th September 12.30pm to 2.00pm

Thursday, 11th September 6.30pm to 8.00pm

Tuesday, 16th September 12.30pm to 2.00pm

Tuesday, 16th September 6.30pm to 8.00pm

Thursday, 18th September 12.30pm to 2.00pm

Thursday, 18th September 6.30pm to 8.00pm

Only register for one of the above sessions.

You can find all 8 sessions on our courses page at https://www.strategictutors.co.uk/book-online

Dates will be released in due course for Sessions 2 & 3. You must have attended Session 1 to be eligible to join Sessions 2 & 3.