The Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) is proud to announce that Atty. Teodoro Kalaw IV, an independent director at the Gothong Southern Group of Companies, has become the first Filipino to be granted the prestigious Qualified Risk Director® (QRD®) designation by the DCRO Institute, the world’s leading authority on risk governance training and credentials.
Atty. Kalaw holds a prominent leadership role within the ICD as corporate secretary, thought leadership chair, past trustee, and the Institute’s youngest Life Fellow. Amongst others, he was instrumental in launching the Institute’s Family Firm Governance, Sustainability Strategy & Reporting, and Masterclass programs. Atty. Kalaw is also president emeritus and past chair of the Philippine Institute of Arbitrators and serves as a law professor at Ateneo Law School. He is currently president of both the Fellowship of IP Counselors of the Philippines, Inc., the Philippine association of the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys, and the Institute of Philippine Real Estate Appraisers, the Philippine member organization of the International Valuation Standards Council.
Atty. Kalaw is a senior partner at Kalaw Prasad & Hofilena Law, where his practice focuses on corporate governance, intellectual property, realty transactions, commercial litigation, and public policy representation. Licensed in the Philippines, New York State, and the United States Supreme Court, he obtained Juris Doctor from Ateneo Law School and his Master of Laws from Harvard Law School. He also has an MBA jointly from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, an MPA from the National College of Public Administration and Governance of the University of the Philippines, and a Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge. Atty. Kalaw is also a Fellow of several international and national learned societies and holds numerous international qualifications, including being the first Filipino Chartered Arbitrator and Accredited Mediator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. His other professional practices include being a Chartered Surveyor of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a Project Management Professional of the Project Management Institute, and a Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional - International of the Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics. He is also the first Filipino to obtain the Certificate in Risk Governance® from the DCRO Institute.
David R. Koenig, QRD®, President and CEO of the DCRO Institute, expressed, "As we have recently launched a new partnership with ICD-Philippines, it is only fitting that the first person in the Philippines to receive permission to use our top credential, the Qualified Risk Director® designation, is someone who occupies a leadership role with the organization. We welcome him to this distinguished, global leadership group."
The Qualified Risk Director® credential equips board members with the necessary expertise to navigate complex risk environments, focusing on positive governance of risk-taking®. This strategic insight enhances decision-making and organizational resilience, fostering a culture of informed, risk-aware decision-making. Qualified Risk Directors® are instrumental in addressing regulatory complexities, driving strategic initiatives, and maintaining public trust.
ICD Chair Emeritus, Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao, commented, "I am happy to see that Teddy is the first product of our joint initiative with the DCRO Institute to advocate risk governance in the Philippine context. I am confident that he and other ICD Fellows who follow him will lead the way in enhancing corporate governance through this perspective that addresses what firms normally do not plan for."
Atty. Kalaw expressed his gratitude, stating, "I am privileged to be granted this designation, which clearly signals how much more we are refocusing our thought leadership programs to integrate the concept of risk in all that we advocate. I look forward to more of our Fellows joining me in making the Directors and Chief Risk Officers Institute our genuine partner in building risk governance capability in the Philippine business sector."
ICD Chairman, Atty. Pedro H. Maniego, Jr. added, "The Institute of Corporate Directors Philippines is proud to announce its partnership with the DCRO Institute, the global leader in risk governance education and credentialing. Through this partnership, ICD-Philippines members will have access to DCRO’s comprehensive training programs, robust peer communities, and prestigious designations at preferential rates."
"DCRO’s world-class credentials—the Qualified Risk Director® designation, the Certificate in Risk Governance®, and the Certificate in Cyber Risk Governance®—are recognized as benchmarks of excellence. These globally recognized certifications will distinguish our members by equipping them with the highest level of knowledge and skills to navigate complex risk landscapes. They will be able to serve as risk directors, officers, and consultants not only in the Philippines but worldwide," he concluded.
The fundamental Duty of Care for directors is to ensure that organizations take risks wisely in pursuit of their goals and ambitions. To earn the right to use the Qualified Risk Director® designation, candidates are assessed on their professional experience, expertise in risk governance, leadership, and educational qualifications. Those who meet these criteria demonstrate the proficiency necessary to navigate today’s complex business environment.
About the DCRO Institute – The DCRO Institute is the world's leading source of risk governance credentialing and peer communities. They are a 501(c)3 nonprofit peer collaboration among board members and C-Suite executives from around the world. The DCRO Institute is the home of the Qualified Risk Director® designation, the Certificate in Risk Governance®, and the Certificate in Cyber Risk Governance®. They work globally to bring risk expertise to the boardroom and C-suite by teaching the positive governance of risk-taking®. Graduates from their programs are leaders in boardrooms and C-suites in over sixty countries on six continents. DCRO’s goal, which is emblazoned on their logo, is to help organizations Innovate, Sustain, and Create Value. Visit www.DCROI.org to learn more.
For more information, please contact David R. Koenig at +1.612.286.1776 or by e-mail at david.koenig@dcroi.org. Visit DCRO on LinkedIn and YouTube.
About The Institute of Corporate Directors in the Philippines – The Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) is a non-stock, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the professionalization of Philippine corporate directorship by raising the level of corporate governance policy and practice to world-class standards. It is the leading institution in the field of corporate governance in the Philippines, composed of over 500 professional directors practicing ethical governance, and is the officially designated Domestic Ranking Body for the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS).
For more information, please contact the ICD Team at +63 915 848 7558 or by email at communications@icd.ph. Visit www.icd.ph to learn more.
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