On 1 May 2025, the prestigious CGIUKI Annual Lecture was held at the London Business School. The lecture brought together senior governance professionals including the Chartered Governance Institute’s Global Council, the Institute’s board, and distinguished friends of the Institute to explore one of the most vital qualities in board leadership: independent judgement. The discussion was led by our esteemed speaker Sir Andrew Likierman.

Once criticised for its governance shortcomings, the London-based digital bank has transformed itself following scrutiny over its compliance practices and corporate culture.

In the wake of recent cyberattacks on high-street names such as M&S and Co-op, it’s increasingly clear that no organisation is safe from cybercrime. But while major retailers often have the resilience to absorb such crises, membership bodies and not-for-profit organisations face a far greater set of vulnerabilities.

The government’s recent announcement that it will build more data centres highlights the demand for technological infrastructure. As data centres expand, the discussion around their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) implications grows.

The UK is changing its listing rules to attract high-growth companies. These reforms aim to make the market more appealing while ensuring investor protection.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) recently reviewed the first mandatory Climate-related Financial Disclosures (CFD) prepared by AIM-listed and large private companies.

This year’s lecture emphasised the significance of experienced and confident leadership, informed and inquisitive boards, and a culture of openness.

The theme for the March meeting of the Next Generation NED Network, a network which hosts quarterly events for aspiring and existing non-executive directors, was ‘agreeing to disagree well’ – an issue that has relevance to almost everyone in the workplace.

Highlighting practical advice for boards, senior leaders and governance professionals when considering if and how to use AI in their organisations.