Evolving programme is subject to slight change
Day 2 - Wednesday 8 July 2026
08:30 Registration and exhibition hall open
09:30 Conference begins
09:40 AI, the future of work and the role of the board
Artificial intelligence is transforming the corporate world, forcing it to enter into new technological realms. But it’s also reshaping jobs, decision-making, productivity and the structure of work itself. For many directors discussions remain narrowly focused on the technical risk. This session explores the board’s expanding responsibility in governing AI as a workforce and organisational issue. As companies automate tasks, redesign roles and rethink hiring, boards face difficult questions around accountability, skills, corporate culture, resilience and responsible employment. In the age of AI, how should boards balance efficiency gains with being ethical employers? How should companies adopt AI while managing its consequences for the workforce and the future of the organisation itself?
Speaker: Anjli Raval, Management Editor, Financial Times
10:20 What’s keeping your board awake?
This panel brings together experienced governance professionals and industry leaders to explore best practices for engaging with boards, managing complex issues, and building trust.
Gain practical tips on framing discussions, anticipating challenges, and ensuring alignment between leadership teams and board priorities.
Moderator: Justine Blakesley FCG, Founding Partner and CEO, Blakesley Consulting
10:55 Refreshment break
11:25 Leadership, Legacy, and the Power of Diversity
Explore how young leaders and diverse teams are shaping the future of governance and organisational success. This session brings together students and early-career professionals eager to step into leadership roles, alongside governance experts who recognize the transformative power of diversity in leadership.
Moderator: Kayla Schembri, Head of Policy, The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland
Speakers:
- Gary Ford, Co-founder, Men for Inclusion
- Kako Mavalla ACG, Deputy Company Secretary
- Eileen Mullan Cdir, Director, Strictly Boardroom
12:05 Demystifying the next generation of governance
What does the future of governance look like? This panel explores how to support emerging leaders, maintain inspiration, and create space for new voices and how shared insight and experience can build a stronger, more dynamic profession.
Speakers:
- April Skipp FCG, Company Secretarial SME and Compliance Advisor, Diligent
- James Wickham ACG, Head of Corporate Governance, Aviva plc
12:40 Lunchtime lowdown
A five-minute recap on this morning sessions
12:45 Lunch break
Lunch and refreshments for all, taking place in the exhibition space
13:45 Ministerial address
Speaker: Blair McDougall MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business and Trade
14:00 Breakout sessions
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BREAKOUT 1 – Turning Crisis Into Composure |
As a governance professional, having to tackle a crisis in your organisation isn't a case of “if” but “when”. When it does happen, how do you rebuild, and how do you know what to prioritise in crisis management? This session will look at what steps organisations have taken to successfully rebuild after failure, and how to foster trust, transparency and accountability during times of crises. Moderator: Richard Young, Editor – Governance & Compliance, The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland Speakers:
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BREAKOUT 2 – The Accidental Company Secretary |
Speaker: Bradley Boyle FGIA FCG, General Counsel & Company Secretary, Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA) |
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BREAKOUT 3 - Data Driven Governance: Rethinking Entity Management for Strategic Impact |
Session sponsored by Vistra |
14:45 Refreshment break
30-minute break before heading back to your next breakout session
15:15 Breakout sessions
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BREAKOUT 1 – Creating a governance career that's right for you |
This session explores pathways within governance roles, the skills boards and organisations value most, and how to position yourself for long-term success. Gain insights into building a career that aligns with your strengths and the evolving governance landscape. Speaker: Rachel Tranter, Nurole
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BREAKOUT 2 – Composure in action: Strategies for consistent calm |
Following on from our earlier session on crisis management, this practical session will look at how crisis can inform the construction of robust risk assessment frameworks and mitigation strategies that encompass ethical leadership and the fostering of public trust. Moderator: Richard Young, Editor – Governance & Compliance, The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland Speakers:
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BREAKOUT 3 – Governing Cyber Risk in an Era of Deep Fakes, Fraud and New Regulation |
Speakers:
Session sponsored by Barnett Waddingham (part of Howden) |
15:50 Movement break
Head back to the main auditorium
15:55 Closing Keynote - Psychological Safety: The Hidden Driver of High Quality Governance
In this energising 35 minute session, Tracey explores psychological safety not as a ‘soft’ cultural ideal but as a core governance capability that directly shapes financial and non financial risk, strategic alignment, wellbeing and the quality of organisational decision making.
She demystifies and shines a light on what psychological safety is - a climate where people can speak up, challenge assumptions and surface risks early, and what it is not - including the common misconception that it means being endlessly polite or lowering standards.
Drawing on compelling real world examples and the latest neuroscience, Tracey explains how a lack of psychological safety in the workplace triggers the brain’s threat response, shutting down the very cognitive functions leaders rely on for sound judgment, creativity and ethical reasoning.
The session offers practical, actionable ways leaders can create environments where candour thrives and early warnings are welcomed, while also highlighting the unintended consequences when organisations get this wrong. Attendees will leave with a renewed understanding of why psychological safety is fundamental to effective governance, and how every leader can strengthen it through small, deliberate acts of courage and clarity.
Speaker: Tracey Groves ACA, Director and Founder, Intelligence Ethics
16:30 Closing remarks
Linda Ford CEO, The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland