Governance 2022 – day two highlights

Riding high on the success of day one, we launched into the second day of Governance 2022 with a hot topic – ESG in the board room. A real challenge for boards is the effective implementation of ESG strategy, but this session provided practical steps that governance professionals can take to make sure they’re taking the right action on ESG for their organisations.

This was followed by a session on governance learning across sectors. CGIUKI is proud to welcome members working in a wide range of sectors and industries and it was inspiring to see those working in sport, charity and corporate environments sharing their experiences to improve practice for everyone, reducing the 'tunnel vision' that can lead to missed learning opportunities. 

Technology is an inescapable facet of the modern world of work but, for governance professionals, it can be challenging to identify the opportunities it presents to streamline processes and support boards and, with cyber security high on everyone’s watch list, sometimes it might feel like more of a burden than a blessing. This session underlined how we are only at the beginning of the digital revolution and highlighted the importance of ensuring that the processes and systems that were put in place in haste at the start of the pandemic are as secure and robust as they should be. 

Moving into the breakout sessions, there was a shift in focus towards mindfulness and wellbeing. The values stream provided insights into the benefits of having a neurodiverse workforce and board and the practice stream looked at mindfulness and the importance of an organisation taking care of its employees. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more employees working remotely, this duty of care is more important than ever, and it was great to understand how the governance function can contribute.

The lunch break once again provided an opportunity to reflect on the morning’s sessions, catch up with colleagues and make new connections. Speaking to a delegate in the break, they described their experience as having been a great opportunity to network with colleagues.

The afternoon breakout featured some big-ticket items that will have been playing on the minds of governance professionals and company secretaries, not least TCFD and climate-related disclosures. With regulations and mandatory disclosures being relatively recently implemented in the UK, it was beneficial for delegates to hear from various companies about how they had been faring, sharing the challenges they’ve encountered and the lessons they’ve learned so far.

Another big challenge in the governance industry is recruitment. Competition for talent is at an all-time high and recruitment has been proving challenging for many. The session in the values stream discussed the importance of the whole employee journey from attracting talent through to development and promotion. 

The final session of the event returned to the overarching theme of how to make an impact as a governance professional. Reflecting on the huge range of topics covered over the jam-packed two-day schedule, there can be no doubt that the scope for the governance professional to add value to their organisation is huge. 

While this may be the end of this year’s conference, CGIUKI is here year-round to support our members in their governance careers. Our website hosts a huge range of resources, from technical briefings and information on training to podcasts and blogs. Whatever the next step in your governance career, the Institute is here to provide the assistance and advice to get you where you want to be.

Also, our 2022 Award nominations are now open! Nominations will close 12 September, submit your nominations today.