The failure of governance and management systems have been identified as a primary cause of tailings dam failures, yet much focus by industry is on the technical issues instead. The SME Tailings Management Handbook included a chapter on Tailings Management Systems, authored by D. Chad LePoudre and Kim Morrison. This webinar is a summary of that chapter, with additional information regarding governance, how governance and management systems may be defined, and how a qualified tailings practitioner can influence these processes. Finally, the webinar will provide information regarding measurement of effectiveness of governance and systems, using assurance activities such as a Tailings Governance Review.