Become an ESG Certified Director ESG.CD.
A Multi-Level Certificate for Current and Aspiring Executives and Board Members. Upon completion, the certificate acknowledges the individual's expertise and commitment to driving ESG excellence at the highest levels of corporate leadership.
"The GIGS micro-certificate on ESG Analytics was a game-changer for my career. It opened doors to new opportunities and significantly boosted my professional credibility.”
Delivered by top scholars and executives teaching at:
ESG Certified Director Program (ESG.C.D)
For Individuals, Businesses and Government
Module 1: Foundations of ESG
The module lasts 20 hours, delivered online, covers the basics of ESG principles, including the historical evolution, core concepts, and the importance of ESG in modern business practices. All sessions involve lectures, class discussions, cutting-edge case studies and guest interventions from high-profile senior executives in ESG.
All sessions will be recorded. Participants will be given access to all recordings and educational material.
Course Schedule:
📅 Duration: June 7 – July 23, 2025
🕘 When: Every Saturday, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM (Online, Live)
Who Should Enroll?
This course is ideal for business professionals, investors, students, policymakers, and anyone looking to deepen their expertise in ESG and integrate sustainable practices into their organization.
Meet the Instructor
Dedicated professionals driving our success
Professor Samir Trabelsi
CPA Ontario Distinguished Professor of Accounting and Governance
Past-President, Canadian Academic Accounting Association
Samir Trabelsi is the CPA Ontario Distinguished Scholar & Professor of Accounting and Governance at the Goodman School of Business at Brock University. He holds a PhD in Accounting from HEC Montreal. He teaches corporate governance, external reporting, and research methodology at both undergraduate, graduate and executive levels.
In Spring 2022, Professor Trabelsi was elected President of the Canadian Academic Accounting Association, a key stakeholder in the accounting discipline and the owner of two of the most prestigious accounting journals in the world.
Professor Trabelsi’s research expertise is in the area of corporate governance, sustainability, corruption, XBRL filings and risk management. Trabelsi’s research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Professor Trabelsi is the recipient of Brock University Award for Excellence in Teaching (2017), the Departmental Researcher of the Year Award (2019) and Goodman School of Business Distinguished Researcher (2021).
Professor Trabelsi has organized and spoke at many international conferences and seminars. These events have brought together academics and practitioners from across the province, Canada and internationally. He has been a frequent speaker and commentator on issues in the areas of governance and sustainability reporting for various news outlets, including TV, radio, and print media.
In 2024, Professor Trabelsi was selected by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) as the AACSB Influencial Leader.
Frequently asked questions
While our instructors have very busy and valuable schedules, we are committed to a 100% satisfaction guarantee. At anytime during the module enrollment, candidates are eligible to request a refund for their payment, providing that they have attended their enrolled modules. Candidates who did not attend may request a full credit so that they can take the course with another cohorts.
You can reach our GIGS Institute support team by emailing us at esgcd@gigs-initiative.ca or calling +1 888 747-8066. Our dedicated teaching assistants are available to assist with any inquiries or issues, and may escalate your requests as needed.
A designation candidate must:
- Graduate from the ESG CD Program offered by our Institute;
- Successfully pass the ESG.C.D online examination;
- Successfully pass the ESG.C.D. Designation Agreement, which requires holders to commit to a minimum of 10 hours ongoing ESG education annually.
Upon completion, the certificate acknowledges the individual's expertise and commitment to driving ESG excellence at the highest levels of corporate leadership.
ESG.C.Ds are encouraged to use their designation where deemed appropriate, such as updating your business card and e-signatures with the ESG.C.D. following your name and any other designations you may have, for example:
Jane Doe, MSc, ESG.C.D
Albert Belk, CPA, ESG.C.D
ESG Certified Director (ESG.C.D)
ESG.C.D. is our most popular professional accreditation designed for current and aspiring board members, corporate leaders, and senior executives who seek to deepen their understanding and application of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in corporate settings. Upon completion, the certificate acknowledges the individual's expertise and commitment to driving ESG excellence at the highest levels of corporate leadership.
Comprehensive Expertise
Gain in-depth knowledge of ESG principles, equipping you with the tools to implement effective, sustainable strategies in your organization.
Career Advancement
Enhance your credentials and stand out in the competitive job market with a certification that demonstrates your commitment to governance and sustainability excellence.
Sustainability Leadership
Position yourself as a knowledgeable leader who can guide organizations through the complexities of ESG implementation.
ESG.C.D. Program Structure
This certificate program covers a comprehensive range of topics, from the fundamentals of ESG to advanced strategies for integrating these principles into organizational governance and decision-making processes. Participants will learn about sustainability challenges, ethical leadership, ESG reporting standards, and stakeholder engagement, all aimed at enhancing the sustainable performance and social responsibility of their organizations.
Part I
- Module 1: Foundations of ESG Starting June 8, 2025 Covers the basics of ESG principles, including the historical evolution, core concepts, and the importance of ESG in modern business practices.
- Module 2: Advances in ESG and Corporate Governance TBA Focuses on integrating ESG into corporate governance and addresses board responsibilities, policy development, and strategic ESG integration.
- Module 3: Sustainability Management TBA Delves into sustainability issues, focusing on environmental responsibilities, sustainable business practices, and risk management in the context of ESG.
Part II
- Module 4: Social Responsibility and Ethics TBA Emphasizes is on the social dimension of ESG, including labor practices, community engagement, ethical leadership, and stakeholder management.
- Module 5: ESG Reporting and Compliance TBA The final module covers ESG reporting standards, compliance, and effective communication strategies for ESG initiatives to stakeholders.
- Module 6: Board Simulation TBA This comprehensive module offers a hands-on, experiential learning opportunity where a group of up to five participants engage in simulated boardroom scenarios, focusing on applying ESG principles. Following the board simulation, each candidate receives a one-on-one interview with one of the instructors
-
ESG.C.D Final Online Examination
The ESG.C.D examinations evaluate the skills and knowledge acquired in the course and covering all modules. The exam is administred through multiple-choice online examination. This assessment is aligned with the GIGS’s key competencies for an effective ESG-informed director.
Program Enrollment Fees
Module-based Pricing
This pricing is ideal for candidates who are retaking one or more modules, or who wish to take modules one at-a-time.
- Access to each training module
- Complementary GIGS Membership for first-year.
Full Program
Comprehensive tools for growing businesses. Optimize your processes and productivity across your team.
- Full access to all materials for all modules
- 10% enrollment program discount
- Final Examination Waiver ($199)
- Complementary GIGS Membership for first-year.
ESG.CD. Scientific Team
We are proud to have a high-calibre international team of accomplished academics, senior administrators and government officials. They posess extensive experience in designing and implementing successful governance and sustainability business solutions.
Deborah Rosati, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D
Chairwoman, Profound Impact Inc. & CEO, Women get on Board Inc.
Deborah is an award-winning entrepreneur and corporate director with more than 35 years career as a corporate governance champion, catalyst for change and community builder. Deborah was listed in WXN’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2021.
Robert Wood, PhD
Professor of Behavioural Decision Making, Macquarie Business School
Robert is an experienced director, consultant & academic. His work focuses on adaptive thinking processes, culture change and leadership. He obtained his PhD in Organizational Psychology from University of Washington (USA)
Ines Chaieb, PhD
Professor of Finance, Swiss Finance Institute and the University of Geneva
Ines is an outstanding professor specialized in international asset pricing, global investment, emerging markets, risk management, and financial intermediaries. She obtained her PhD from McGill University (Canada).
Nadia Massoud, PhD
Ian Potter Professor of Finance, Melbourne Business School
Nadia is an internationally acclaimed Professor of Finance known for her research, teaching and expertise especially on financial intermediaries, Blockchain and Digital Currency. Nadia holds a PhD in Finance from Queen’s University (Canada)
Peter van Dijk, MBA, LLM, ICD.D
Chief Sustainability and Financial Officer, Canada Forest Trust (CFT)
Peter is an accomplished senior financial services and public policy executive. He was a Partner at PwC, Senior Vice President, Finance at TD Bank Group and the International Tax Partner at EY. He holds an MBA from Western University & ICD.D Designation.
Samir Trabelsi, PhD, CPA
CPA Ontario Distinguished Scholar and President, Canadian Accounting Association
Samir is an expert in the areas of corporate governance, sustainability, corruption, XBRL filings and risk management. He served as the President of the Canadian Accounting Association. He is a CPA (Ontario) and PhD in Accounting from HEC Montreal.