The DCRO Institute

Congratulations to Curtis Stephens, QRD?, a board member of Carter Bankshares, Inc., who authored an article in Directors & Boards Magazine on Resilience in the Boardroom, part of their What Directors Are Thinking series. "It is crucial for boards to be resilient to minimize impulsive decisions and increase the opportunity to capture significant upside gains amid uncertainty in a rapidly changing environment. The challenge we face as directors is to respond and adapt to emerging issues that impact our company. We must recognize that while expectations for board risk oversight continue to grow, so does the board's role in resilience. Boards must be proficient and be able to adapt, navigate and recover from disruptions that occur. Companies will face many challenges that test the resilience of corporate values, strategies, operations and enterprise risk management frameworks. Boards can improve their companies' resilience by having appropriate systems, processes, succession plans and governance frameworks in place." You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eTex8_Yg #risk #leadership #governance #QRD #resilience

We are pleased to announce today that Christopher Tapererwa (MBA, Msc Risk, FIISA, QRE, SMDP, CQRM) of Zimbabwe has received permission to use the Qualified Risk Expert designation. Christopher is the group risk manager of First Mutual Holdings Limited, a financial services group listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, working across insurance, re-insurance, wealth management, and microfinance, among other areas.?Prior to his role with First Mutual, he served as the head actuarial/ISO management representative for NicozDiamond Official and a risk officer for then Eagle Insurance, a subsidiary of Zurich Insurance SA. Christopher was recognized as Risk Leader of the Year in 2022 by the Enterprise Risk Management Institute of Zimbabwe and received the Top Student Directors Award in the same year from Stellenbosch University. He also holds the Certificate in Risk Governance? from the DCRO Institute. #risk #leadership #governance #QRE

We are pleased to announce today the award of the prestigious Certificate in Risk Governance? to Ana Dutra, JD, MEcon, MBA, in the United States. Ana has over three decades of governance, P&L, and operational leadership experience, building businesses organically and via M&A across 25+ countries in both public and privately held companies. She is an independent director for Pembina Pipeline Corporation and CarParts.com, where she serves on the Audit and Nominating/Governance Committees. She served on eight public company and a dozen privately held company boards, including Lifespace Communities, Inc., ELJ, Jelmar, and others. Ana is a former board member for Amyris, where she chaired the Nominating/Governance Committee; CME Group, where she served on the Risk, Market Regulatory, and Compensation Committees; First Internet Bancorp, where she served on the Audit and Nominating/Governance Committees, and on the boards of Harvest Health & Recreation, Inc. and Eletrobras. She is the former CEO of Korn Ferry International’s Korn/Ferry Consulting and The Executives' Club of Chicago; a Global Managing Partner of Accenture, and has held executive roles with Mercer Management Consulting and Marakon Associates. She began her career with IBM. Ana is the Vice-Chair of the board of directors of the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA), Chair of the BOD Initiative for the Women’s Business Collaborative, and a board member for the Global Sustainability Development Forum. She holds an MBA from the Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, a Masters in Economics from Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, a JD from UERJ, and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. “We are thrilled to have a director of Ana’s stature engage in and advocate for our programs,” said David R. Koenig, QRD?, president and chief executive officer of the DCRO Institute. "She has established herself as a global leader, committed to success wherever she serves, and an advocate for advancing the performance of boards. We are proud to count her among our credential holders.” "The DCRO’s Certificate in Risk Governance? course is an incredibly comprehensive, professional, and well-designed program,” said Ms. Dutra. “Whether you are an aspiring, new, or a very experienced director, this program will provide you with cutting-edge knowledge and insights on enterprise risk. The global nature of the speakers and perspectives makes the content relevant across the world. Finally, the balance between lectures, discussions, and case studies provides participants with the science behind risk, useful frameworks, and very pragmatic discussions. Overall, a great program," she continued. #risk #leadership #governance

In times of uncertainty, effective board members don’t just discuss risk; they Learn to Embrace Risk strategically—aligning risk governance with opportunity and leading their organizations with confidence and resilience. Here’s how: Understand Your Risk Personality: Recognize how "risk" impacts your decision-making, individually and as a group. Align Risk with Strategy: Ensure risk governance frameworks support innovation and achieving long-term goals. Foster a Culture of Value Creation: Bring your board to view risk as a catalyst for growth, not just a challenge to mitigate. Explore these steps in detail with the Certificate in Risk Governance? program—including a personalized risk personality assessment to help you lead with clarity and impact. Ready to take the next step? Enroll in the Certificate in Risk Governance? course today: https://lnkd.in/epBccMgt Questions? Request more information: [email protected] #Risk #Leadership #Governance #RiskGovernance #StrategicLeadership #BoardExcellence #GovernanceInnovation #CertificateInRiskGovernance

Yesterday, we hosted our first joint event with Alex Sidorenko, founder of RISK-ACADEMY, and organizer of RISK AWARENESS WEEK - largest virtual risk education platform. Qualified Risk Directors? Yvonne Stillhart, QRD?, and Eric Mai, QRD?, joined Alex in a discussion of Why Board Members and Risk Managers Speak Different Languages. Alex, Yvonne, and Eric are all DCRO Exemplars. You can view a replay of the event here: https://lnkd.in/e8SMpuyN #risk #leadership #governance #QRD

We are pleased to announce today that Marc Groz of Stamford, Connecticut, in the United States, has received permission to use the Qualified Risk Expert? designation. Marc is an inventor with many issued patents and?the founder and CEO of Right Risk LLC, a risk advisory boutique working globally with a wide spectrum of organizations to address complex risks. He has decades of experience in C-level risk, compliance, and technology roles for financial institutions.?Marc is the author of Forbes? Guide to the Markets, many articles on risk and technology, and a chapter in the World Scientific Encyclopedia of Climate Change. Two of his patents have led to startups that he founded, serving as chief scientist for one (CCX.tech) and chief executive officer for the other (AllometricsLLC.com). He serves as Regional Director of PRMIA - Professional Risk Managers' International Association Stamford chapter, and has served as a member of their global education committee and as chair of their cyber risk subcommittee. Marc earned his A.B. in mathematics and psychology from Columbia University, where he did extensive graduate work in mathematics (beginning while still in high school) and where he was awarded the William W. Cumming Prize in Psychology. An adjunct faculty member at the University of Connecticut, he has taught at New York University and given lectures at Yale University, The City University of New York, and the University of Cambridge. Marc holds the Certificate in Risk Governance? from the DCRO Institute. #risk #leadership #governance #QRE

We are pleased to announce that Paul van Brenkelen 溫寶林 CESGA? GCB.D ISB? of Shanghai, China, has been given permission to use the Qualified Risk Director? designation. Paul is director & co-founder of EQOLOGIC?, an ESG advisory joint venture with offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and acts as executive director for FirstCapital Advisers, a global offshore advisory firm based in Hong Kong. He is the former general manager China /global director ESG and traceability for Clean Energy Associates (CEA), a technical engineering and advisory firm for renewables, and the former regional holding chief executive officer for TüV Asia Pacific Ltd. Paul serves as a non-executive director at Foria (HK) Ltd. and an advisory board member at IASE International Certifications Body Asia. He is a candidate-DBA at the SBS Swiss Business School, from which he earned his Master’s in Applied Business Research. He holds an MS in Agronomy from Wageningen University & Research and a BS in Agricultural Science from Aeres University of Applied Sciences Dronten. Paul is a graduate of the FT Board Director Program from the Financial Times and Competent Boards - Sustainability & ESG Designation (GCB.D) and Certification for Business Leaders program. #risk #leadership #governance #QRD

Please take two minutes for a quick news update about members of our community at The DCRO Institute, including Rachel Sandoz, QRD?, Eneni Oduwole QRD, QRE, FCRM, FICRS, Alina Ursache, QRD?, QRE?, Mutisunge Zulu, QRE?, Sadig Hajiyev, QRE?, Bigboy Mazhandu MSc Risk Mgt and Insurance, ACCA, ICSA, Marie-Louise Skafte, Robert Graves Shertina Mawuenyega, Helaine Suval, and Susan Holliday, QRD?. You can watch the video at https://lnkd.in/g_gjZnJr Read Susan Holliday, QRD?'s article at: https://lnkd.in/ejzsVnyC Follow us on LinkedIn at https://lnkd.in/gEjGvY3s and visit our website at www.DCROI.org #risk #leadership #governance #QRD #QRE

We are pleased to announce today that Sadig Hajiyev of Istanbul, Türkiye, has been given permission to use the Qualified Risk Expert? designation. Sadig is the risk and compliance group director for SOCAR Türkiye, the Turkish subsidiary of State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). He leads the strategic planning and implementation of comprehensive risk management and compliance frameworks, working closely with the board of directors, senior leadership, and external regulators. In prior roles, he served as the risk manager for STAR Rafineri in Izmir, Türkiye, and as the lead specialist in the risk management department for the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company – ASCO. He holds an Executive MBA from IMD, a Master’s degree in international business from the International Institute in Geneva, and a Bachelor’s degree in international law and legal studies from Baku State University. He also holds the Certificate in Risk Governance? from the DCRO Institute. #risk #leadership #governance #QRE

We are pleased to announce today the award of the prestigious Certificate in Risk Governance? to Robert Graves of Washington, D.C., in the United States Robert has over four decades of experience in national security, intelligence, law enforcement, and security operations for military, civilian, and nonprofit organizations. He is the deputy director – strategic operational development for Secure Community Network. Prior to this, he served as a subject matter expert in counterintelligence and cybersecurity for the MITRE Corporation. Robert spent two decades with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a special agent, supervisory special agent, and in various leadership roles focused on counterintelligence, national security, and risk. Prior to his time with the FBI, he was a military intelligence officer, including time as the chief security officer for US Army units and facilities in Germany and at Ft. Bragg. He earned his BS in Political Science and Government from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and various professional credentials from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, the University of Virginia, Georgetown University, and the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. He has published multiple articles, including his latest, Pushing Left of Flash – The Art and Science of Early Risk Assessment for West Point Press. “The importance of service like Robert has committed his life to cannot be overstated,” said David R. Koenig, QRD?, president and chief executive officer of the DCRO Institute. "He brings a depth of experience in fields of growing importance, and a keen eye towards risk that is not found in many places. We are proud to count him among our global community of credential holders.” “The Certificate in Risk Governance? program has helped me broaden the scope of my understanding of risk, its governance, and the equities of the board and other stakeholders,” said Mr. Graves. “I commend this program to all risk professionals seeking to increase their impact and effectiveness for their organizations.” #risk #leadership #governance