The Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday of a new AI Safety Institute to explore the risks of AI developments is a very welcome step forward, as is the announced funding for a super computer and quantum computers which will be available to businesses. However, UK corporate boards must get a move on to prepare for the challenges ahead.

The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland is a division of The Chartered Governance Instititue which is incorporated and governed by Royal Charter. Our Royal Charter was granted in 1902 and continues to signal the vital role that we play in developing and supporting governance professionals.

In this podcast Susan Stenson, a partner at Independent Audit, discusses the impact that environment, social and governance (ESG) issues are having in the boardroom. She outlines the importance of linking these areas back to the overall purpose and strategy of the organisation to enable directors to understand which issues they should focus on and how they should communicate their approach to their stakeholders. Susan outlines how governance lays the foundations for a strong response to ESG issues from boards of directors. She also argues that if the board is honest about how it has decided its ESG priorities, its approach is much more likely to be successful.

A survey of FTSE 350 companies published today finds that the UK’s largest companies are tentatively more optimistic about the global and UK economy – and that every single one of them has taken action to support employees through the cost-of-living crisis.

The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland – Isle of Man Branch is delighted to announce the names of those students who have achieved the highest marks at branch level in the Institute’s November 2020 examinations. Students were recognised for their success in the autumn exam sessions for the Institute’s Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme (CGQP) and its International Finance and Administration (IFA) qualifications.

In light of Moneyval’s new emphasis on the effectiveness of a company’s systems and controls in its fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland is holding a seminar for the Isle of Man’s governance professionals that will consider ‘Why good governance is the board’s secret weapon’.

In this podcast James Beasley, Senior Director at Nasdaq Governance Solutions, discusses the boardroom of the future. He considers how its directors will use what are currently emerging technologies to fulfil their duties and carry out their responsibilities more effectively. James contemplates the potential for improving board effectiveness through using virtual assistant technology or chatbots in the boardroom, as well as taking into account the potential risks this functionality poses. James believes today’s boards are ready to embrace technology but warns against solutions for solutions’ sake, highlighting that the use of technology shouldn’t be at the expense of overall board effectiveness.

Meet Boglarka Radi as she tells us what its like to be an Assistant Company Secretary at Aveva

In this podcast, Sharon Constançon discusses different tactics a company secretary or governance professional can use to help their board identify any unaddressed issues that are making it ineffective. Once it has been identified, Sharon outlines tactics to address and overcome the elephant in the room. The conversation covers how to get the unspeakable topic on the table, how to address disputes and bullying among directors and how to make sure critical risks are really being addressed. It looks at how the company secretary or governance professional can empower the board through coaching directors and facilitating governance improvements on behalf of the chair.