Governance North 2024

Time

Agenda

08.30

Main registration, exhibition and networking

09.10

Welcome and opening remarks

09.20

Changes to UK Company law – what’s next?

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 included some of the biggest ever changes to the role of Companies House. In this session, you'll be updated on key priorities and developments. 

• Mark Buckley, Senior Implementation Lead, Companies House

09.55

Leading with impact - Using the evolving governance environment to influence change

This panel will discuss the impact of code evolution across a variety of sectors, considering how governance professionals can stay on top of evolving regulatory developments and discussing the skills required to engage key stakeholders.

Moderator:

• Rod Findlay, General Counsel, Birmingham City FC

Panellists:

• Lizzie Oliver, Director, TGP LTD
• Sara Shanab, Executive Director of Corporate Services and General Counsel, Riverside Housing

10:35

Crisis management

In this session, the panellists will discuss crisis planning and management through the lens of organisational risk culture and risk monitoring. What is the role of the governance professional in risk management and how can they best support their board?

Moderator:

• Justine Blakesley FCG, Rolls Royce

Speaker:

• Mark Howorth ACG, Head of Corporate Governance, St Anne’s Community Services
• Robert Hicks, Company Secretary, RFL

11:10

Refreshment break

11:35

How to navigate difficult conversations in and out of the boardroom

Hard conversations and robust discussions are inevitable parts of good leadership, yet most people receive no formal training on these key skills. A recent study showed that over 50% of employees choose to sidestep difficult conversations. This session will cover the hardest conversations you will face including:

• How do I raise an ethical concern?
• How do I disagree with someone diplomatically?
• When should I speak up and when should I blow the whistle?
• How do I talk to someone about inappropriate conduct?
• How should I prepare for a tough performance review?

This session will give you everything you need to conduct the most difficult conversations in a constructive way without being sidetracked or losing your cool.

Moderator:

• Angela Alabi, Head of Governance and Board Secretary, Construction Industry Training Board

Speakers:

• Ira Jeffers, Director of People, St. Anne's Community Services
• Feroz Patel, Recovery & Transformation Programme Director (Finance), Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB)

12:15

Breakout Sessions:

1. Board diversity – Recruitment , attracting talent and retaining it

This session will discuss board recruitment and succession planning for your organisation.

Moderator: 
Laura Higgins, Founder & Director, The CoSec Coach 

• Siobhan Evans, Deputy Cosec, Co-operative bank plc
• George Hayes, Head of Governance and Compliance, Emmaus Catholic Academy Trust
  
• Paul Wilson, CEO, Nigel Wright Group

2. Career development - starting out

This session will help you to create a governance career that’s right for you. Panellists will share insights from their own careers and help participants to consider career/qualification paths.

Moderator:

• Claire Blackburn FCG, Company Secretary, Northern Gritstone, Chair of CGI NW branch

Speakers:

• Rizwana Esmail, Deputy Group Secretary, Skipton Building Society
• Robert Moorhouse FCG, Group Secretary, Yorkshire Building Society

12:55

Lunch break

13:40

Breakout Sessions:

1. Understanding the unique role of the governance professional and natural conflicts that arise

This session will focus on the inherent conflicts that arise in the role of a governance professional and the importance of developing resilience, EQ and logic.

• Sharon Constançon FCG, Chief Executive, Genius Boards

2. Achieving the optimal structure for subsidiary governance

Through case studies and discussion, the session will explore how to identify the most suitable models to achieve good oversight without compromising the local business strategies. We support a wide range of organisations so are able to share learnings and best practice across our client base, adding real value for them.

• Chelsea Chivers GradCG, Head of UK Entity Management, LawDeb
• Evon Chung FCG, Associate Director, Global Entity Management, Law Debenture

Sponsored by LawDeb

14:15

EDI Neurodiversity, the disability conversation and the fast arriving socio-economic diversity discussion

Moderator:
Peter Swabey, Policy & Research Director, The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland

• Natasha Broomfield-Reid, Founder, Diverse Matters

14:50

Managing risk; Appetite and balance

In this session, panellists will discuss risk management practices including how to set your risk appetite and maintaining appropriate balance in Board risk conversations.

Moderator:

• Lesley Ward FCG, Governance Manager, UniHomes

Panellists:

• Sarah Blake(nee Batt) ACG, Group Company Secretary, Together Money
• Femi Sobo-Allen FCG, Deputy Company Secretary, Frasers Group plc

15:20

Afternoon Break

15:45

AI Governance – Tools, opportunities and pitfalls session

How should organisations be thinking about AI in terms of efficiency vs risk management? This session will enable governance professionals to consider how to approach AI with their Board and key stakeholders.

Chair:
Kerry Round, Founding Director, Round Governance Services LTD

Panellists:

• Dr Professor Yanguo Jing, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Dean of Faculty of Business, Computing and Digital Industries, Leeds Trinity University
• Jonathan Knight, Chief Technology Officer, Board Intelligence

16:15

Closing keynote – Resilience

Patrick Stewart, former CEO, board member & General Counsel of Manchester United, will highlight the critical role that resilience plays for any leader and organisation. Drawing on 30 years of experience from the football industry & legal profession, he will lift the lid on moments which have both developed & tested his own resilience. His insights will support you & your organisation to build the resilience needed to thrive in times of change & adversity.

• Patrick Stewart , C-Suite Executive, Company Secretary & Solicitor

16:35

Closing remarks

• Peter Swabey FCG, Policy and Research Director, CGIUKI