Governance Ireland Conference 2025

Time

Agenda

08.30

Conference opens, registration and tea/coffee

09.15

Quick welcome and housekeeping

Conn Cleary, Regional Development Manager, CGIUKI

09.16

Welcome & opening remarks

Nadine Conlon, President, Irish Region, The Chartered Governance Institute

09.20

Keynote Address

Tim Nelson, chief executive of Hope for Justice and Slave-Free Alliance, will speak about practical steps to mitigate the risk of labour exploitation and modern slavery in business operations and global supply chains. He will discuss the role of strong corporate governance in ensuring all relevant parts of a business play their part in this agenda and in protecting a business’s workforce, reputation and ethical practices, as well as looking at recently passed and upcoming legislation that imposes new obligations around due diligence.

Tim Nelson, CEO, Hope for Justice

10.00

Panel Session: Sustainability in Corporate Governance

Join us for an insightful panel session exploring how boards boards can integrate sustainability into governance. Our experts will discuss the impact of ESG criteria on decision-making and strategies for aligning corporate goals with sustainable development. Gain insights into enhancing governance for long-term resilience.

Aedin O’Leary, INED and ESG Consultant

10.40

A choice of breakout sessions 

1) Charity Session

This session will cover the Charity Amendment Act 2024 a landmark legislation aimed at strengthening the charity sector through enhanced transparency, clarity, and fairness

Jon McBride, Governance & Compliance Manager, The Wheel

Claire Colfer, Solicitor, Mason Hayes and Curran

2) Board Performance Review – Arthur Cox

Ciaran Flynn, Head of Governance and Consulting, Arthur Cox

3) Sponsored session - Onboard

11.15

Networking tea and coffee break

11.35

Companies Registration Office 

An update from the CRO

Moderator: Jillian O’Sullivan

David McFadden, Legal Advisor, Companies Registration Office
Maureen O’Sullivan, Registrar, Companies Registration Office 

12.15

Leveraging Generative AI: Transforming the Role of the Company Secretary

Martin Duffy, Head of GenAI, PwC

12.45

How Good Governance Can Save The World: Business and Biodiversity 

Join us for an insightful panel session exploring how boards boards can integrate sustainability into governance. Our experts will discuss the impact of ESG criteria on decision-making and strategies for aligning corporate goals with sustainable development. Gain insights into enhancing governance for long-term resilience.

Iseult Sheehy, Head of Operations at Business, Biodiversity Ireland

13.15

Networking lunch

14.00

Cosec Coach – Laura Higgins Afternoon Opening Session 

14.45

AI in the Boardroom: Navigating the Pros and Cons

Join us for an insightful panel session exploring the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in the boardroom. This discussion will delve into the advantages and challenges of integrating AI technologies in corporate governance, focusing on its impact on decision-making processes and efficiency. We will also examine the use of AI in drafting meeting minutes, highlighting the potential for increased accuracy and time-saving, while addressing concerns around data privacy and the need for human oversight. Our expert panel will provide diverse perspectives, offering valuable insights for organisations considering AI adoption in their boardroom operations.

Moderator: Christine Quigley, Simmons & Simmons

Sean McKeon, CoSec and Head of Risk and Compliance, Dalata
Tracey Brady, Vice President Corporate Services, Diligent

15.10

Networking tea and coffee break

15.45

A choice of breakout sessions:

  
1) Governance Session - Corporate Governance Code - Euronext

Niall Jones
Aisling Mcardle

2) Cosec Technical Session
Back to Basics with Board Changes

3) Sponsored Session

16.05

Closing Keynote

Gerry Hussey

16.45

Closing remarks

16.50

Conference close