Mbabane– Eswatini Bank Managing Director Nozizwe Mulela has advised company secretaries to reposition themselves as strategic advisors capable of guiding businesses through emerging risks such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity threats and sustainability requirements, a senior corporate leader has warned.
Speaking at the first ever National Convention of Company Secretaries at Pigg’s Peak Hotel, the MD said the profession could no longer afford to be viewed solely as an administrative function focused on compliance and board procedures.
She noted that while the traditional responsibilities of company secretaries remain important, the business environment has changed dramatically over the past two decades, requiring governance professionals to take on a more strategic role within organisations.
“The company secretary of 2026 is increasingly a strategic governance advisor,” she said.
According to the Mulela, modern organisations are operating in an environment shaped by rapid technological change, heightened stakeholder expectations and evolving regulatory frameworks. As a result, boards are increasingly relying on governance professionals to provide guidance on enterprise risk management, digital transformation, sustainability reporting and stakeholder engagement.
She said issues such as cybersecurity, once considered technical matters, have now become boardroom concerns, while artificial intelligence is transforming industries and creating new governance challenges.
“Today’s Company Secretary must be able to advise boards on emerging governance trends, navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments, guide organizations through digital transformation and manage governance risks in real time,” he said.
The MD reflected on her own experience as a Company Secretary between 2004 and 2010, describing a period when the profession was primarily focused on maintaining statutory records, organizing board meetings and ensuring regulatory compliance.
While those responsibilities remain relevant, she said governance professionals are now expected to play a much broader role in helping organisations anticipate risks and build stakeholder trust.
She cautioned that despite advances in technology, the profession should not lose sight of the qualities that underpin effective governance.
“Technology can automate processes, artificial intelligence can generate reports and digital systems can store records. But no system can replace sound judgement. No software can substitute integrity,” she said.
The MD further urged governance professionals to invest in continuous learning, strengthen digital governance skills and embrace international best practices to ensure Eswatini’s institutions remain competitive and resilient.
She said the future success of both public and private institutions would depend not only on policies and regulations, but on the quality of leadership and governance advice available to decision-makers.
The convention brought together company secretaries, business leaders, academics and government officials to discuss the evolving role of governance professionals in strengthening accountability, transparency and institutional performance.
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