The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (CGIUKI) Annual Conference focused on key governance issues such as diversity in the boardroom, board performance reviews and artificial intelligence (AI). In this blog, we break down some of the most important points to come out of the first day of the conference.

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 AI Office will implement the future AI Act at EU level and it should become a central coordination body for AI policy at EU level and cooperate with other Commission departments, EU bodies, Member States and the stakeholder community.

In the last five years, environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing has gone mainstream, and it has never been more popular. .

A survey of FTSE 350 companies out today finds that British boards are optimistic about the economy and much more focussed on climate change than was previously the case. They are also aligned on the importance of employees and corporate culture, according to the report published by The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland in association with the Financial Times.

Of general interest to all members.

The Chancellor's first budget contained much which had already been trailed over the previous days. Although there was some better news on the economy, it’s clear that we are still in difficult times.

The Irish Screening of Third Country Transactions Act 2023 (the Act) is currently expected to enter into force by 30 June 2024.