Belinda Lee Freeman is an accomplished corporate governance professional and Companies House-registered Company Secretary with over 25 years of experience spanning internal audit, risk management, and strategic corporate administration.
She currently serves as the Company Secretary for RSM International Ltd, an eight-billion-dollar global accounting and advisory network. In this role, she reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and manages constitutional, board, and compliance matters across international jurisdictions. Her strategic oversight extends to the Diligent Strategic Advisory Board, where she has served as an appointed member since September 2025.
Key Career Highlights:
- Corporate Governance & Secretarial Practice: Appointed Company Secretary at RSM in June 2024, she directs statutory board preparations, maintains board minutes, and facilitates global committee operations. She has been instrumental in supporting multiple major constitutional revisions for the global network as part of a wider team
- Risk Management & Internal Audit: Spent over a decade as an internal audit client manager, specialising in public sector and NHS healthcare trust auditing. She has also facilitated high-level enterprise risk management (ERM) workshops and provided specialist training to international banking and governmental delegates
- Public Sector Foundations: Built her early career in public sector compliance, serving as a Senior Internal Auditor for the former UK Office of Fair Trading and the Durban City Council in South Africa
Belinda holds a Certificate in Corporate Compliance and Governance from the CGIUKI, undertaken with KCB. She is an active affiliate member of the Global Institute of Internal Auditors, certificate holder for the Institute of Risk Management and a professional subscriber to The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland.
1. Did the Certificate in Corporate Compliance and Governance change how you see your long‑term career path in governance or compliance?
The course has definitely shifted my focus from day-to-day operational execution of activities, such as minute taking and statutory filings, to a more strategic approach of engaging with and supporting high-level board dynamics, structural compliance and global governance frameworks. Gaining formal, accredited knowledge in governance reinforces my skill and capability to support international boards through complex regulatory shifts. The certification formally unites my long-standing career in public sector internal audit and risk management with modern corporate compliance.
2. How did the Certificate help you connect the dots between your day-to-day responsibilities and wider governance practice?
Successfully completing the Certificate in Corporate Compliance and Governance has substantially enhanced how I view the relationship between my day-to-day operations and global governance practices through providing a meticulous, logical framework that transforms repetitive corporate secretarial duties into strategic avenues of the organisation’s architecture. By bridging the gap between daily operations and high-level compliance theory, the qualification enables me to deliver high-value, risk-based guidance to the international board and my immediate colleagues.
3. Was there a particular module or topic that you found unexpectedly engaging and helpful to your job?
I enjoyed all four modules of the learning experience but module 1 in respect of The Company, and more specifically the role of the Company Secretary, has broadened my thinking and understanding of my role as a CoSec. What was really interesting was how the training reframed the Company Secretary role not merely as a minute-taker, but as an objective critical sounding board for the chairperson, CEO and COO. It gave me the theoretical backing to lean more confidently into my role as an independent advisor on corporate governance required processes and implement best practices.
4. What benefits did you notice early on that made you feel the course was worth the investment?
The immediate returns on the course investment became apparent from the outset as we navigated through the course work module by module. I felt an increased professional confidence, including my seat at the Boardroom table supporting the chairperson as meetings took place. I also participated in discussion at the Boardroom table, contributing to agenda items with confidence and purpose.
The writing of the assignments was particularly helpful to challenge me on my preparation of board packs, briefing papers and the approach to understanding and interpreting the set of articles. In addition, having the opportunity to learn alongside and network with other like-minded governance professionals has broadened my thinking and understanding from different perspectives.
5. How did you find studying alongside working?
Honestly? Balancing homelife, work and study was challenging. It required careful planning, investment and discipline. But it wasn’t just on me. I must acknowledge the support from my family, my employer and KCB too; I know I couldn’t have completed it without their encouragement and backing.
While it was challenging, there was also a strong benefit; by working alongside study, I was able to apply aspects of a governance framework to my current workload and activities. This was helpful in ensuring that the application of the theory was instant and put into practice immediately.
6. What would you say to someone who is thinking about enrolling for the Certificate this October?
Do it!! If you are a governance or compliance professional seeking to increase and elevate your role from simply being operational to a strategic boardroom advisor, my advice is simple: Enrol now! The governance landscape is rapidly changing and by enrolling on this course, you are keeping up with changes, but more importantly you will be able to lead with these changes!
Our next cohort starts on 5 October, and lasts 9 months. If you’re interested, enroll today while spaces remain.