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16.07.2020 6 INTERVIEW What is Get Governanz? We set up Get Governanz in collab- oration with the American Anti-Cor- ruption Institute (AACI) and the International Due Diligence Organ- isation (IDDO) to offer training and advisory services on good governance to individuals and commercial and non-commercial organisations. These certified training programmes and ad- visory services focus on anti-corrup- tion, fraud awareness, due diligence, and anti-money laundering matters and they are all delivered by local and international experts, officially ac- credited by the American Anti-Cor- ruption Institute. Why did NOUV feel the need to embark on this initiative? Companies are today moving be- yond the concept of corporate social responsibility, a shift that is taking them towards more pressing issues such as the environment, society and governance. We decided to focus on governance because we form part of the financial services sector and we wanted to do something more tangible from which this sector stands to gain a lot in the long term. We have built our business and reputation on providing local and international clients with trusted, eth- ical and professional financial, adviso- ry and IT services. erefore, we are fully aware that real corporate responsibility starts when businesses operate ethically and respon- sibly. erefore, we decided to make it our mission to promote good govern- ance by setting up Get Governanz. So, you think CSR is on its way out? CSR refers to those actions which al- low companies to not only meet their legal obligations but also to go beyond and invest in human capital, in the environment, and in strengthening relations with their stakeholders. But real commitment to address today's more pressing issues has long become absent and CSR activity has been con- veniently reduced to PR exercises that reap very little long-term dividends. CSR is on its way out not because companies no longer need to be so- cially responsible but because they must do so more effectively and more responsibly; where their actions and the respective outcomes can be tru- ly monitored and measured. There- fore today, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) have claimed their place as the new qualities defining so- cial responsibility. They have become the best criteria with which respon- sible businesses operate and define themselves. What mostly makes this shift meaningful? Perhaps the most meaningful aspect in this important shift is the inclusion of governance and its heightened role in defining companies, how they op- erate and whether they truly seek to be good corporate citizens. It is an important development especially in the light of huge financial and envi- ronmental scandals around the world. Within this context, the idea of corpo- rate governance as an active and tan- gible commitment to the values of so- cial responsibility is an idea which is being increasingly studied, discussed, proposed, and implemented. So we are essentially talking about values. Yes in fact, one of the key shifts we've seen in recent years is a move toward "values." A company's approach to the way it wants to impact its commu- nity is a reflection of that company's values, the values of its customers, employees and increasingly of its in- vestors. It's a shift that has been ac- celerated by the current political cli- mate, in which companies have had to publicly stand up, both individually and collaboratively, for values like in- clusion, empathy and environmental preservation in the face of questiona- ble policy decisions in the recent past. What is your personal interpretation of Good Governance? A lack of good governance comes at a very hefty price. The American An- ti-Corruption Institute (AACI) with whom we have set up GetGovernanz, states that many countries do not have formal corruption prevention policies and that the average annual corrup- tion costs as a percentage of gross rev- enues is 15% in developing countries and 7% in developed countries. We firmly believe that Good Govern- ance is a key principle to be embraced by all - private and public institutions Good governance as corporate Multidisciplinary firm of certified and experienced public accountants, auditors and company service providers NOUV recently launched GetGovernanz, a new corporate initiative to promote good and sound corporate governance amongst the private and public sectors. BusinessToday caught up with MARK AQUILINA, Managing Partner of NOUV about this latest initiative in favour of good governance PAUL COCKS We have built our business and reputation on providing local and international clients with trusted, ethical and professional financial, advisory and IT services

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