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Centre Public Governance

The GUBERNA Centre for Public Governance promotes good governance in public enterprises. Driven by the strong belief that raising awareness and fostering good public governance is a 'must,' the GUBERNA Centre for Public Governance encourages an open debate on public governance.

We achieve this through academic and field research, as well as by organising expert groups, roundtable discussions, and events. This is made possible thanks to the support of our partner, Eubelius.

Quick Overview

Public

For whom?

The GUBERNA Centre Public Governance is aimed at all state owned enterprises in the large sense of the word. This means all business enterprises where the government or state has significant control through full, majority, or significant minority ownership with the pursuit of public policy objectives. 

Go to publications 

Different ways to engage with us

The Centre Public Governance of GUBERNA has developed extensive expertise in public governance. As a result, we have become known as a reference and as a high-quality partner for topics related to public governance. We offer board evaluations, in-company trainings, remuneration benchmarks, reviews of governance documents, and support state owned enterprises in their board composition. We also respond to specific requests. 

Activities

The Centre Public Governance understands the need for networking and information exchange between public companies. Through our Yearly Event Public Governance, services, expert groups, and other activities, we promote the exchange between peers.

  • Board

    Remuneration Benchmark Board Members

    GUBERNA supports companies to develop an adequate remuneration policy policy for their non-executive board members.
    Work has value! That is why the codes advise good governance organisations to compensate their non-executive board members. However, determining the right compensation is not one-size fits all.

  • Board mandates

    As part of our mission, we are happy to support you in this challenging quest. GUBERNA distributes your candidacy free of charge within our member network. With more than 3,000 governance actors (directors, shareholders, entrepreneurs and decision makers) the visibility of your vacancy will increase significantly!

  • Board

    I am available for a board mandate

    Do you possess the required experience, knowledge and drive to assist companies on their growth path? Are you excited to take the next step in your career or would you love to share your on-the-job experience?

Frieda Brepoels
GUBERNA was the first to translate the principles of corporate governance to the public sector and today still has a unique and diverse expertise in this field. It is an important knowledge centre offering not only a range of accessible publications, but also a number of useful practical tools and checklists
Frieda Brepoels
Chair , VRT

Highlighted publications

The Centre Public Governance of GUBERNA studied someconducted research on important public governance topics over the years. They can be summarized as follows: 

  • The role of the state as shareholder and its relationship to the board of directors, management and other stakeholders 
  • The role of the board and of board members in state owned enterprises 
  • The composition and functioning of the board of directors, taking into account the specifics of the political context  

The publications of the Centre Public Governance on these topics can be found below. The are listed in chronological order.   

  • 9 priorities for governance of impactful state-owned enterprises - Memorandum 2024

    GUBERNA presented on 6 March its 9 priorities for the governance of impactful state-owned enterprises. This memorandum should encourage political parties ahead of the 2024 elections to create a professional and transparent framework for the governance of Belgian SOEs. GUBERNA's involvement in the public governance debate goes back several legislatures and resulted in the implementation of several recommendations on several occasions.

  • Update van de OESO richtlijnen voor het bestuur van overheidsbedrijven

    Tussen oktober 2022 en maart 2024 ondernam ‘The Working Party on State Ownership and Privatisation Practices een nieuwe herziening van de OESO-richtlijnen voor het bestuur van overheidsbedrijven om rekening te houden met de bijna tien jaar van ervaring en de zich ontwikkelende beste praktijken sinds de vorige herziening in 2015. De herziening versterkt de richtlijnen voor overheidsbedrijven, met een focus op duurzaamheid, economische veiligheid en integriteit. Het doel is om wereldwijd gelijke kansen te waarborgen en hoge normen voor 'business conduct' te handhaven. De update zorgt ook voor consistentie met de G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance en de OECD Guidelines on Anti-Corruption and Integrity in State-Owned Enterprises.

  • Modelcharter voor de bestuurder van overheidsbedrijven

    Als kenniscentrum voor goed bestuur houdt GUBERNA er aan om steeds “one-step-ahead” te zijn. Toen GUBERNA hoorde over de ambitie van de federale overheid om een charter voor de bestuurder van overheidsorganisaties te ontwikkelen (cf. Federaal Regeerakkoord oktober 2014), namen we dan ook meteen het initiatief om een dergelijk modelcharter te op te stellen. Wij waken erover dat onze leden op de hoogte blijven van de evoluties inzake goed bestuur en betrokken worden bij de governance van morgen. Dit modelcharter is dan ook ontstaan met de hulp van leden-experten ter zake.

Publications for Public Governance organisations

Intercommunities and the Local Government Decree: a step in the right direction

Vorig jaar deze tijd bevonden de intercommunales zich in het oog van de storm. Zeer grote raden van bestuur, een ondoorzichtige kluwen aan participaties en enkele schandalen rond vergoeding zorgden voor een hevig debat. Biedt het nieuwe Decreet Lokaal Bestuur een antwoord op dit debat? Dat zal de toekomst moeten uitwijzen, maar het staat vast dat het Decreet de intercommunales uitdaagt op vlak van ‘goed bestuur’. GUBERNA licht er enkele uitdagingen uit.

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Governance practices at Flemish intercommunities

Mede in het licht van de gemeenteraadsverkiezingen van 14 oktober 2012 en de eraan gerelateerde aanpassingen in de samenstelling van raden van bestuur van intergemeentelijke samenwerkingsverbanden, de intercommunales, organiseerde GUBERNA, met de steun van haar partners Belfius en Deloitte, een diepgaande bevraging rond de bestaande bestuurspraktijken in deze organisaties in Vlaanderen. 

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Partners

  • eubelius

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