Restoring trust in audit

In March 2021, following the work of the Kingman and Brydon reviews, amongst others, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy issued a white paper, “Restoring trust in audit and corporate governance”, which framed a series of proposals for enhancing the quality of corporate governance, corporate reporting and internal controls. On 31 May, the Government response was issued. What will the future of audit look like?

Moderator

• Peter Swabey FCG, Policy & Research Director, CGIUKI

Speaker

• Miranda Craig FCG, Director of Strategy & Change, Financial Reporting Council
• Mark Holmes, Deputy Director, Corporate Governance, Audit Reform and Shareholder Rights

The four P’s - Purpose, Profit, People, Planet 

Most consumers would agree that in the 21st century, the value of a brand is contingent upon a number of very crucial factors. More than just a matter of profit, it’s about brand purpose, how the brand treats and engages with its workforce, suppliers and customers, and its impact on the planet as a whole. Our panellists discuss how the ‘four Ps’ approach is a must in building a sustainable future. 

Moderator

• Erika Eliasson-Norris FCG, CEO, Beyond Governance

Panellists

• Simon Gardiner FCG, General Counsel a Company Secretary, United Utilities plc
• Simon Blackburn ACG, Deputy Company Secretary, John Lewis Partnership plc
• Fahrin Ribeiro FCG, Company Secretary, actis

Perspectives on best practice in governance

What constitutes best practice in governance? There are many possibilities. It might be about effective reporting and transparency – or having a high-performing leadership team. Perhaps it’s about engagement with stakeholders – or perhaps, simply, about doing what’s fair, what’s ethical. A common thread is communication and culture. We hear from two organisations about what best practice in governance means to them.

Moderator

• Louise Thomson FCG, Head of Policy (NFP), CGIUKI

Panellists

• Nabil Jamshed, Head of Corporate Governance, Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

• Pamela Coles FCG, Chief Governance Officer, Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

Review of 2022 AGM season and what to expect for 2023

In this session, we will take a look at what has been a pretty extraordinary AGM season so far, with activism often taking centre stage in the news.

But is this really representative of the season as a whole?

In this session, Pete Fowler will offer an overview of the 2022 season so far, and at what issues have been keeping governance professionals up at night. Coupled with Lumi’s unique global view of the world markets, this session will also offer some practical guidance to balance the rights of shareholders with the need for a constructive, ordered and seamless AGM.

Pete Fowler, Managing Director, Lumi UK

Through a looking glass – a future-focused lens on governance

As we emerge into the post-pandemic world, how can governance champions make an impact and accelerate a more integrated governance model for the future? In this session, we explore what modern governance requirements organisations will need, not just to survive but thrive in this ever changing world. Touching on compliance, compassionate leadership, digital, agile governance, trust and inclusion; join us to find out more about the ‘Six C’s’ of governance. 

Speakers

• Lauren Osman CG (Affiliated), Company Secretary & Corporate Compliance Manager, Avenues Group
• Tesse Akpeki FCG, Podcaster and Founder, Wellbeing and Leadership Resilience Initiative

Emotional intelligence

Technological change has made it easier than ever to connect with people around the world, but it has also created new challenges. One key to effective communication is emotional intelligence, the ability to understand and effectively manage your own and others’ emotions. More than being able to read micro expressions or body language, it's about having a deep understanding of emotions and how they influence behaviours. Our speakers discuss.

• Kim-Adele Randall IMDb, CEO, Director, Authentic Achievements
• Sharon Constançon FCG, CEO, Genius Methods

Building financial resilience for employees

As well as being proven to increase a company’s productivity, employee share plans produce a more engaged and focused workforce and, crucially as we start to feel the full impact of a cost of living crisis, one which is more financially resilient. The case for wider rates of employee share ownership is compelling, but what other financial education initiatives can be put in place to help employees' financial wellbeing?

• Murray Tompsett, Head of ProShare
• Sarah Long, Head of New Business, WEALTH at work

Getting your subsidiary governance framework right

Robust subsidiary governance frameworks are often complex beasts. Companies need to balance risk appetite against administrative constraints when ensuring that things are working as they ought to across the group. But without the right processes, controls and flexibility, parent companies could be left with legal, regulatory, and reputational exposure. In this session, we discuss the importance of getting the framework right, the value of information flows and oversight, the challenges when things don’t go to plan and – how to stay flexible and operate effectively.

Georgina Milis, Director, Computershare Governance Services

Kate Graham, Director of Governance and Operations, Aviva plc

Francesca Todd, VP Corporate Secretariat, Aveva Group plc

Update on Companies House reform

Companies House is a cornerstone of the UK’s business regulatory framework. In recent years, however, concerns have grown that the system is open to manipulation, and with it the potential for such things as money laundering, fraud and identify theft. In February, the Government issued its final White Paper on Corporate Transparency and Register Reform, the culmination of a series of consultations on reform. We look at what’s proposed.

• Stuart Morgan, Head of Policy, Companies House
  

What are organisations doing on modern slavery?

Taking action on modern slavery is not just a social issue – it is increasingly recognised that this is a governance and compliance matter, and organisations should be taking the problem seriously. In this session, we look at a recent survey on members from the Chartered Governance Institute addressing how modern slavery risk is tackled and reflected within the organisation.

• Colleen Theron, Director, Ardea International 

Organisational resilience and business continuity

If anyone thought that the world would return to “normal” as COVID-19 receded, they’ve been in for a rude awakening. For many organisations and the people who work in them, change has become a permanent feature of life. Adapting to change requires creativity, imagination – and above all, resilience. For many organisations, the ability to learn, to adapt and to lead in the face of change is at the core of resilience.

Moderator

• Carolyn Clarke, Founder, Brave Consultancy

Panellists

• Kim Clear FCG, Company Secretary, TUI Group
• Victoria Hart ACG, Head of Secretariat, Shawbrook Bank

Forward-looking boards: succession Planning

There is a broad consensus that effective succession planning is of utmost importance, but few leaders feel their organisation does it well. Progress has been hampered further by the pandemic. But in uncertain times, succession planning can build resilience and contribute to sustainable value creation. In this session we will consider some real-life good practices and common challenges and their causes.

Nasdaq Governance Solutions

• James Beasley, Senior Director, Nasdaq Governance Solutions
• Alistair Peel, Company Secretary, Arthur J. Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited
• Dana Christie, Deputy Secretary, Principality Building Society

Investor relations and governance

Investor relations have long been as important an issue for company secretaries and governance professionals as it has been for IR professionals. That’s especially true now as investor expectations are changing in the wake of society’s interest in ESG, sustainability, diversity and other issues. Our panellists discuss how governance professionals are paying more attention to IR issues than ever before. 

Moderator

• David Gracie FCG, Director, Indigo Governance

Panellists

• Andrew Ninian, Director, Stewardship and Corporate Governance, The Investment Association
• Will Pomroy, Head of Impact Engagement, Federated Hermes
• Jen Sisson, EMEA Head of Stewardship Goldman Sachs

The value the company secretary

Recent work from the Institute considered the relevance of governance in the 21^st century and the value brought by company secretaries and governance professionals. The company secretary, the research found, can wear many hats – compliance and governance, but also at times such things as insurance, accountancy, procurement, legal and risk. So are company secretaries valued for the range of skills they bring? Our panellists discuss.

Moderator

• David Mortimer, Head of External Affairs, CGIUKI

Panellists

• Connie MacCurrach, Company Secretary, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
• Steve Moulton-Brady ACG, Executive Director, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co

Reporting with impact

Each year, Glass Lewis review more than 1,500 annual reports, from which (amongst other things) they shortlist for several categories of the CGIUKI Awards. This session examines some of the key aspects of a great report and draws on practical examples to discuss what does and doesn’t work when it comes to describing company actions and progress during the year. We also look at disclosure trends and best practice in disclosure at FTSE listed companies on executive remuneration, board diversity, and ESG reporting.

• Troy McKeown, Senior Analyst Associate, Glass Lewis
• Eanna Kelly, Lead Analyst, Glass Lewis

Navigating a complex world: The Global Business Complexity Index

Managing cross-border operations, or expanding into new jurisdictions, can pose many challenges for businesses especially in the current climate. The Global Business Complexity Index brings clarity to the complexities of corporate compliance, wherever you operate. It provides an authoritative overview of the complexity of establishing and operating businesses around the world. Join us to discover this year’s trends and which jurisdictions rank as the most complex – or simple – based on their business environments.

TMF Group

• Yvette van Loon, Head of Sales Global Entity Management EMEA, TMF Group