KUCHING: The Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (SCOPE) has embarked on a strategic leadership development initiative to strengthen the governance and leadership capabilities of selected senior leaders of the Sarawak Civil Service (SCS), with a view towards preparing a strong pipeline of future leaders for board and strategic organisational responsibilities.

According to a statement by SCOPE, the SCS Leaders – Advanced Programme, held from 17 to 19 August 2026, is organised by SCOPE in collaboration with the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM).

“The programme brings together a carefully selected cohort of SCS leaders who have demonstrated leadership potential and may, in due course, be considered for broader governance and board-level responsibilities, including appointments to the boards of Sarawak Government-Linked Companies (GLCs),” it said on Monday.

Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki in his opening remarks emphasised that the programme should not be viewed as an ordinary training programme, but as part of a broader effort to prepare the next generation of Sarawak leaders.

He highlighted that the participants had been carefully selected based on their leadership capabilities, experience and potential, and that some may eventually be entrusted with board and strategic leadership responsibilities.

“We want our future board members and senior leaders to enter the boardroom prepared, confident and conscious of their fiduciary, governance and leadership responsibilities,” he said.

He also stressed that being identified as having potential was not a guarantee of future appointment, but an opportunity accompanied by greater responsibility for continuous development, professionalism and integrity.

The three-day programme focuses on three critical areas of leadership and governance, namely ‘Immersive Boardroom Simulation: Experiencing It Live’, ‘Corporate Finance for Non-Finance Directors’, and ‘From Crisis to Credibility: Managing Reputation, Integrity & Public Confidence’.

“The programme is designed to go beyond conventional classroom learning by exposing participants to practical boardroom situations, strategic decision-making and real-world governance challenges.

“Through the immersive boardroom simulation, participants will experience realistic scenarios involving strategic dilemmas, ethical considerations, differing perspectives and decision-making under pressure,” the statement said.

SCOPE added that the exercise is intended to strengthen their ability to exercise independent judgement, manage disagreements constructively and contribute effectively to board discussions.

“The financial component will strengthen participants’ understanding of corporate finance, financial performance, risk and return, capital investment and shareholder value, enabling senior leaders to make better-informed strategic decisions.

“The final component focuses on crisis and reputation management, equipping participants with the ability to respond with integrity, clarity and composure during high-pressure situations while safeguarding stakeholder confidence and institutional credibility,” it said.

Meanwhile, SCOPE Chief Executive Officer Joseph Lim said the programme represented an important step in developing leaders who are not only operationally competent but also capable of understanding the wider responsibilities associated with governance and strategic leadership.

“As Sarawak’s organisations and GLCs become increasingly complex, we need leaders who can think beyond their immediate roles. They must understand governance, finance, risk, reputation and stakeholder expectations, while having the confidence and courage to exercise independent judgement,” he said.

He added that SCOPE would continue to develop programmes that support leadership development across different levels of organisations, including senior management, C-suite executives, middle management and future board-level leaders.

The programme is delivered with the expertise of ICDM, which promotes excellence in governance and professionalises directorship through capacity building. -UKASnews