Governance North

Registration, tea and coffee

Welcome and introduction

Peter Swabey, Policy & Research Director, The Chartered Governance Institute

Keynote: Forward with purpose

The idea that profit and purpose are mutually exclusive has been challenged in recent years as the public, stakeholders and regulators alike look for greater transparency about organisations’ social and environmental impact. This is borne out by studies which show that embracing a higher purpose is indeed a good thing. Our panellists discuss how and why organisations with a strong purpose outperform those that don’t.

Keynote Speaker:

Fiona Robertson, Senior Lecturer, Leeds Beckett University, Member of The Good Governance Academy

Trust me, I’m listed: Restoring purpose in corporate reporting

For many companies, reporting is viewed solely as a statutory exercise, a complex bit of coordination that draws on multiple teams to get the final report across the finishing line. In this session, we go back to first principles and explore some of the big questions around what reporting is really for, and how companies can produce informative, authentic and effective reports which engender trust with their stakeholders, and make employees feel proud of their company. 

Moderator: 

Peter Swabey, Policy & Research Director, The Chartered Governance Institute

Speaker:

Claire Bodanis, Founder and Director, Falcon Windsor

Q&A

Networking break

STREAM 1: The company secretary forward and beyond

Do you consider yourself to be a pioneer, always moving forward, implementing new ways of working, finding innovative solutions to familiar problems and adapting quickly to new situations? Or would you like to become one?  In this session, our panellists ask: what does it mean to be a company secretary and a pioneer? How is the secretarial role evolving in the 21^st century? And what skills and aptitudes are secretaries developing to undertake that role?

Moderator:

Liam Healy, SVP & Managing Director, Diligent

Speakers: 

Susanna Pridmore Associate Director of Corporate Governance 
David Whincup Deputy Company Secretary, Provident Financial Group

STREAM 2: Workshop: Improving employee engagement

Government enthusiasm for having employee representatives on boards may have ended as quickly as it began, but recognition is growing that there is value in recognising employee interests – and that’s reflected not least in the latest iteration of the Corporate Governance Code. In this session, speakers explore how organisations can make their employees’ voice a key part of their governance best practice and consider strategies for effective employee engagement.

Workshop leader: Theodore Spyrou, Ashridge Associates

Panel: Facing up to ESG

In September 2019, millions of people around the world came out in mass protest, calling for urgent action on climate change. Along with the rising public awareness of modern slavery, it was the surest sign, if any were needed, that environmental and social governance concerns have raced to the top of the agenda for governments, individuals and organisations alike.

So how can organisations realise the importance of placing ESG at the heart of what they do?  How can governance professionals assist that and implement section 172 specifications such as how to predict the consequences of any decision in the long term run?

Moderator: TBC

Speakers:

Sam Plant Company Secretary, Pz Cussons
Alexander Simpson, Legal Director, Amazon

Networking lunch

Building a cybersecurity culture: current trends and practical guidance

Recent years have been record breakers when it comes to the number of organisations experiencing data breaches. It’s a massive problem, and one which demonstrates the urgency with which organisations generally – and their boards, in particular – need to make cybersecurity a priority. In this session, we explore the importance of cultivating a culture of cybersecurity and data protection, and offer some guidelines on how to raise awareness in the boardroom.

Speaker:

John Noble, Non-Executive Director, NHS Digital

Q&A

STREAM 1: Influencing in the boardroom

Experienced governance professionals are often called upon to play the part of trusted advisor, providing expert insight and constructively challenging and supporting the board. Their insights can be invaluable in creating an effective governance culture. But what about when toxic behaviours poison group dynamics in the boardroom? This practical and interactive session explores the critical role governance professionals can play in managing tensions at the top.

Anna Bateson FCG, Founder, Cutting through the grey

STREAM 2: Succession planning: The board’s role in nurturing talent

Recruiting new board members from outside an organisations is a good way to bring fresh perspectives onto the board, but it often means a lengthy process of search and induction, followed by a period of orientation and settling-in. In this session, we find out how organisations are investing in internal development programmes to nurture talent and create their own viable pipeline to the boardroom.

Speaker: TBC

STREAM 1: Workshop: Harnessing creativity and diversity of thought: personal introspective session

More than ever, organisations are aware of the value of diversity in the workplace, and are investing time and resources into recruiting from a wider range of social or organisational backgrounds. But what about cognitive diversity? How do you build a team of people who genuinely think differently? In this session, we explore how organisations can build and empower truly diverse teams and set up the conditions in which they can thrive. 

Speaker: TBC

STREAM 2: Panel: Ensuring an ethical chain supply

The 2015 Modern Slavery Act was instrumental in highlighting the issue of forced labour around the world and the role that organisations need to play in ensuring goods and services are free of exploitation. But with modern supply chains so complex, how can organisations ensure they are robust, stable and ethical? How do they manage those extended relationships? And do boards give them the attention they deserve?

Moderator: TBC

Speaker:

Catherine Thomas, Company Secretary,Travelodge

Break

Crisis management

All organisations will face a crisis at some point in their life. Ensuring management is ready to handle a crisis is an important part of the board’s risk oversight role, and directors may find themselves taking an active role if the situation spins out of control. Good governance means knowing where your weaknesses are before a crisis hits, and having crisis management planning firmly in place. So, is your board prepared?

Speaker: TBC

Q&A

Closing remarks from Chair