ASK A CORPORATE GOVERNANCE KEYNOTE SPEAKER: WHAT’S NEXT FOR REGULATION AND OVERSIGHT?

How come corporate governance keynote speakers are booked for meetings and conferences so frequently? It may help to consider the sorts of areas they’re often asked to address:

• Board structure and composition – The best corporate governance keynote speakers discuss optimal board size, balance of insider vs. independent directors, diversity, and recruitment of qualified directors.
• Board oversight and responsibilities – Keynotes examine the board’s role in overseeing corporate strategy, risk management, executive compensation, compliance, succession planning, ESG issues, and cybersecurity.
• Board-management relationship – Talks by corporate governance keynote speakers look at establishing open communication between the board and management, while maintaining independence.
• Board committees – Thought leaders review board committees like audit, risk, compensation and nominating committees and how they should function.
• Board evaluations and refreshment – Assessing board performance and director term limits are important. Presentations from corporate governance keynote speakers explore evaluation processes and refreshing board composition over time.
• Director qualifications and training – Key skills modern directors need and providing ongoing education/training help boards properly oversee ever-more complex issues.
• Shareholder rights and engagement – Consultants discuss shareholder proposals, proxy access, Say on Pay, and how boards should interact with and respond to shareholders.
• Executive compensation – Experts analyze trends in pay philosophy, metrics, clawbacks, disclosures, and alignment with company performance and shareholder interests.
• Compliance and corporate culture – Top corporate governance keynote speakers examine tone at the top, ethics, compliance programs, and instilling the right corporate culture.
• ESG oversight – Climate change, diversity, human capital management and other ESG factors are growing governance priorities that speakers address.
• Risk management – Identifying and overseeing existential risks like cybersecurity is a critical board function examined by corporate governance keynote speakers.
• Governance regulations and trends – Consultants review governance rules, standards, and trends across global markets.