Evolving programme is subject to slight change
Day 1 - Tuesday 7 July 2026
08:30 Registration and exhibition hall open
09:30 Conference begins
09:35 Welcome address
Linda Ford, Chief Executive, Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland
09:45 A World in Flux
Geopolitical volatility has risen yet further in 2026, raising profound questions about the future state of the international political system and the global economy. As boards and governance teams increasingly grapple with impacts from growing macro volatility, this keynote provides expert insight into current geopolitical developments and their likely trajectory.
Speaker: Derek Leatherdale, Senior Geopolitical Risk Adviser, Sibylline
10:20 Ethics in cybersecurity
Cyber resilience is more than just a technology issue. Understand why cyber governance is key to becoming cyber resilient. This talk will cover:
• The Cyber Landscape
• Governing Cyber Risk
• Cyber Governance Code of Practice
• IASME Cyber Assurance Standard
• Becoming Cyber Resilient and Demonstrating Compliance
Speaker: George Quigley, Head of ICA, IASME
11:00 Refreshment break
11:20 The Future State of Entity Compliance
Sponsored by Diligent
11:55 CGI research update: governance in the modern world
In this session we will introduce ground-breaking research and guidance on managing statutory governance duties during extended leave (for example, maternity leave) and on Equipping governance professionals to lead AI conversations and in doing so support board level oversight of AI. We will also briefly cover work on AI wastage and current and upcoming consultations.
Speakers:
- Peter Swabey FCG, Policy & Research Director, The Chartered Governance Institute
- Kayla Schembri, Head of Policy, The Chartered Governance Institute
- Dr Valentina Dotto, Policy Adviser, The Chartered Governance Institute
12:35 Elevating the Governance Profession
What comes to mind when you think of "corporate governance"? As a group, governance professionals tend to be quite cautious about promoting our own importance. We sit quietly in the background, helping to ensure that the corporate wheels keep spinning smoothly whilst claiming little credit for the important work that we do.
In this session, Joshua Domb (Founder, Gen-R Law) and Kayla Schembri (Head of Policy, CGIUKI) will elevate the governance profession, with a timely reminder of the importance of our often-unseen work. They will reflect on the critical role governance professionals play in building successful businesses that contribute positively to thriving societies, and remind attendees to be bold in claiming their colleagues' attention when governance - the foundation of all successful businesses - enters the discussion.
Speakers:
Joshua Domb, Founder and Managing Partner, Gen-R Law
Kayla Schembri, Head of Policy, The Chartered Governance Institute
13:10 Lunchtime lowdown
13:15 Lunch break
Lunch and refreshments for all, taking place in the exhibition space
14:05 Breakout sessions
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BREAKOUT 1 - A World in Flux: Follow up workshop |
This interactive break-out session will bring forward insights into how other boards have evolved their approach to geopolitical risk considerations and provide those in strategic governance roles with practical suggestions on how they can support their boards in grappling with this agenda. Speaker: Derek Leatherdale, Senior Geopolitical Risk Adviser, Sibylline Ltd |
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BREAKOUT 2 - Getting the most out of your internal board evaluations |
Discover how to turn internal board evaluations into actionable insights that enhance performance and governance. Learn practical tips for making evaluations meaningful and driving continuous improvement. Moderator: Laura Higgins FCG, The CoSec Coach Speakers:
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BREAKOUT 3 - Guilty until proven adequate: Responding to the failure to prevent fraud offence |
Join LawDeb corporate secretarial experts Nicky Lambourne and Paul Tenconi for a high-stakes, interactive exercise asking the key question regarding the Failure to Prevent Fraud offences: what do we do now? Speakers:
Session sponsored by Law Deb |
14:40 Movement break
Head to your next session
14:45 Breakout sessions
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BREAKOUT 1 - Trust, culture, and connection between boards and teams |
Effective governance isn’t just about compliance, it’s built on trust, culture, and connection. This session explores how boards can foster transparent relationships with their executive teams, align values, and create a culture that supports ethical decision-making and strategic resilience. Speakers:
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BREAKOUT 2 - Board reporting: Then, now and next |
In 2018, the Chartered Governance Institute UKI worked with Board Intelligence on a project to understand the main challenges to effective board reporting, in order to identify actions that could be taken to assist organisations to address these challenges. We heard from more than 80 governance professionals representing organisations of all sizes and sectors on how board reporting (i.e. the preparation of reports and other papers that are discussed at board meetings) operated in their organisations. Much has changed since 2018, and the Institute and Board Intelligence have been working to update that report. Join us at this session to hear about the issues that (still?) create challenges and how the board pack has changed. Speakers:
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BREAKOUT 3 - AI in the boardroom: Risks, responsibilities and the role of the company secretary |
This session examines the confidentiality, data security, and decision integrity risks that unsanctioned AI usage by board members creates, setting out the practical steps company secretaries can take to get ahead of it. Session sponsored by Azeus Convene |
15:20 Tea and coffee break
15:50 Breakout sessions
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BREAKOUT 1 – When everything matters: Mindful exclusion and the new rules of boardroom prioritisation |
Geopolitics, AI, climate change and shifting stakeholder expectations are changing what boards need to discuss – and how they need to decide. For company secretaries, boardroom prioritisation is no longer just about agenda management. It is a strategic lever for decision-making capability. Drawing on the latest Mindful Exclusion survey data, this session will explore how effective boards invest time differently in issues, stakeholders and the process of decision making to engage beyond the boardroom bubble. These themes will be brought to life by anecdotes from an inspiring panel. Attendees will leave with practical insights to strengthen board agendas, board packs, discussions and evaluation in uncertain times.
Speakers:
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BREAKOUT 2 – Modernising corporate reporting |
The UK government has launched a comprehensive programme to streamline corporate reporting requirements which will, it believes, reduce bureaucracy and could save businesses around £230 million per year in administrative burdens. Tens of thousands of businesses will no longer need to produce a strategic report and, for other companies, will simplify requirements for other narrative reporting. We have already seen this in practice with the changes announced in October last year. The government will shortly publish an ambitious formal consultation to support an expanded review of the Modernisation of Corporate Reporting covering the whole of the Annual Report and Accounts which has been described as a ‘once in a generation’ review. In this session we will hear direct from the Department for Business and Trade what it is that they are proposing and how we, as members of the Institute, can support this work.
Speaker:
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BREAKOUT 3 – AI in governance: How to take the lead |
The question for governance teams is not whether to adopt AI, but how. This session cuts through the noise with a practical framework: the use cases that add most value, what good AI procurement looks like in practice, and how to bring your team and board with you. This session will provide delegates with: • A practical map of the AI landscape for governance teams - from shadow adoption and generic all-purpose tools to purpose-built solutions, and the trade-offs between them. Speakers
Session sponsored by Board Intelligence |
16:25 Movement break
Head back to the main auditorium
16:30 The Governance Market Survey 2026: The reality of the role
The governance role is evolving rapidly - but are organisations keeping pace?
Launching for the first time in partnership with the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland, the Governance Market Survey 2026 provides a unique, data-led view of how the governance profession is evolving in practice.
In this session, Jon Moores and Mariza Dimaki will share early insights from the survey, highlighting emerging themes across governance teams, structures and career trends. Drawing on responses from professionals across all levels and sectors, the session will explore the growing scope and expectations placed on governance functions, how ways of working are shifting, and whether this is being matched by structure, resource and reward.
What will be covered
• How the governance role is expanding in scope and influence
• Whether workload and expectations are outpacing resource
• The role of technology and AI in shaping the function
• What’s really happening in the governance recruitment market
• Pay, progression and recognition - are they keeping up?
• Hybrid working - what policies say vs what actually happens
• The key themes emerging from the data - and what they mean in practice
Speakers:
- Jon Moores, Founder and Managing Director, The Core Partnership
- Mariza Dimaki, Director and Recruitment Partner, The Core Partnership
16:55 Closing keynote - Connected leadership masterclass
Your digital presence is one of your most powerful tools for connection, credibility, and leadership impact - helping you reach the right people, shape the right conversations, and unlock the partnerships that drive real-world impact. This session takes a clear, practical approach to strengthening your digital presence for greater visibility, credibility, and influence.
Grounded in ImpactMatch’s work across strategy, talent, and communications, the session will explore how senior leaders use LinkedIn to accelerate impact, from building aligned networks to driving commercial and social outcomes.
Speakers:
· Leigh Smyth FRSA, Founder of ImpactMatch and Co-Founder, ActionAble
· Em Wilson FRSA, Director of Digital, ImpactMatch
17:20 Conference close
17:30 Drinks reception and networking
18:30 After party sponsored by Diligent
Location to be confirmed very soon!