Opening Remark and Keynote (10 AM - 11 AM) EST.
Keynote - Towards an Inclusive and Innovative Future of Work A convergence of forces has sharpened focus on the need for gender equality and increased diversity on Boards. The traditional “business case” has been given added urgency as COVID has exacerbated inequality at the same time demands for social justice and accountability have grown. Boards are grappling with new demands from customers, regulators, and the community to translate words into action. This session will review drivers (including emerging ESG requirements, legislation, and voluntary codes such as the 50-30 challenge as well as action-oriented strategies based on “what works” to build more inclusive and productive organizations. Speaker : Wendy Cukier, MA, MBA, PhD, DU (Hon) LLD (Hon) M.S.C. (she/her); Professor, Entrepreneurship and Strategy, Ted Rogers School of Management; Director, Diversity Institute Sponsored by: Networking Break with Exhibitors (11 AM - 11:15 AM) EST.Plenary Session: (11:15 AM - 12:15 PM) EST.
21st Century Boards and The Future of Governance – Innovation, Evolution and ResilienceThe urgency for change, innovation and rapid adaptation has reached new levels for most organizations and their Boards. The global pandemic, the racial injustice crisis, and heightened stakeholder scrutiny have put corporate governance and the role of Boards at the forefront. In one single year, many assumptions of normalcy have been upheaved and organizations now need face challenges which call for a new breed of innovation, resilience, risk management and oversight.
This session will explore the path ahead for 21st Century Governance and Boards, how these new guidelines can serve as goal posts and subsequently, how Boards, their Governance Professionals and their organizations can better equip themselves to tackle 21st century challenges. Panel: Peter Dey, Chair, Paradigm Capital, Former Chair, Ontario Securities Commission; Sarah Kaplan, Distinguished Professor of Gender & the Economy, Professor of Strategic Management and a Fellow of the Lee-Chin Institute at Rotman; Neil V. Puddicombe, Associate General Counsel, Bank Board Governance & Assistant Corporate Secretary, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Group, BMO Financial Group; Suzanne Gouin, Board Chair, Canada Revenue Agency Sponsored by: Networking lunch Break with Exhibitors (12:15 PM - 12:45 PM) EST. |
Track A: Session 1A: Compensation After Covid? Building on the 2021 Proxy Season Learnings The realities of the Coronavirus pandemic continue to unfold and refold creating a range of impacts on all aspects of business and governance. In terms of executive compensation boards, management teams and shareholders are still coming to grips with. This session will share learnings from the 2021 proxy season relating to executive compensation, including pay levels, use of discretion, incorporating ESG in pay programs. We will also cover the broader stakeholder view, with a look into the shareholder perspective, say-on-pay results, and touch on the regulatory environment. Speaker: Reanna Dorscher, Principal, Hugessen; Cheryl Fraser, CTO, Crombie REIT, Director at Concentra Bank and Mental Health Commission of Canada; Ocean Chen, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Sponsored by: Track B: Session 1B: AGMs of the Future and the Rise of the Shareholder Voice The voice of the shareholder – be it private, retail shareholders or large institutional investors – has never been so loud. And with the huge increase in the number of organizations holding virtual AGMs, it has never been easier from a technological standpoint for a shareholder to have their say.
Speaker: Richard Taylor, CEO, Lumi Sponsored by:
| Track C: Session 1C: Early-Stage Boards - Evolution and Development Early-stage boards (private, public or otherwise) that are on the path to maturity, or going public on an exchange, often start with what might be called an Advisory Board. These boards are usually comprised of highly talented individuals who come together with expert knowledge and experience that is crucial and relevant to the development of a companies' or organizations' business affairs. Speakers: Sponsored by: Track D: Session 1D: The Governance Professional as the Conscience and Governance Compass of the Organization. The role of the Governance Professional is often underestimated, and it is crucial that it becomes not only better recognized but better enabled, empowered and resourced. The GP can gain the trust of the Board and Management to facilitate their ability to be the ‘showrunner’ or ‘producer’ of governance in their organizations, to act as the guide or conscience for the Board on prevailing issues, be the conduit for management and the Board, be the creator of experiences for the Board to enhance its effectiveness and its culture of collaboration. Speakers: Edo De Vette, Founder, New Public Support and Lecturer, Windesheim University and Governance University |
Networking Break with Exhibitors (1:45 PM - 2:00 PM) EST. |
Track A:
Session 2A: Listening to the Voices of Diversity in Your Organization: Enhancing Understanding Your Diversity Through ‘listening channels’Panel members will share best practices and lived experiences regarding what organizations can do to enable their “listening channels” to hear from an increasingly diverse set of employees and stakeholders.By listening to a wider array of voices, organizations are better able to better detect, understand and mitigate an increasingly complex risk and employee engagement environment. Speakers: Joe German, Director of Strategic Partnerships, ClearView Strategic Partners; Kyle Hulme, Vice President, Strategy & Operations, BDO; Christelle Francois, President, Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce Sponsored By: Track B:Session 2B: Digital Technology as an Enabler for Future-Ready Governance
2020 witnessed a digital transformation in boardrooms with accelerated adoption of technology. 2021 is the year when the rules of corporate governance are being rewritten. The new governance environment is characterized by a complex set of demands and requirements from stakeholders old and new. What is clear is that a “Next Normal” has emerged, and governance professionals are playing a pivotal role as this new governance model takes shape. The new standards of governance require better connected, more informed, and collaborative boardrooms. Joined by experienced board room stakeholders, the session will discuss this “Next Normal” from varying perspectives and will explore various ways on how governance professionals will enable future-ready boards. Panel: Adarsh Mantravadi, General Council and Director, Business Development, Passageways; Claire Kennedy, Senior Advisor, Clients and Industries, Bennett Jones LLP; Stuart R. Levine, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Stuart Levine Associates Sponsored By: | Track C: Session 2C: The Role of the Board in Developing and Overseeing the Purpose of the OrganizationAccelerated by COVID-19, more organizations are discovering and defining the purpose of their organizations, to steer and navigate through turbulent times and unlock greater social and business value. There is also growing demand among investors, employees, and customers that they do so. Track D: Session 2D: Cutting the Waste - How EDC Streamlined its Board Information Management Process Through a “Radical Change Initiative”
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- Cyber essentials for Governance Professionals and Boards of Directors
- Business risks and potential mitigation from cyber threats
- Boards and awareness of the risk and impact to their business from cyber attackers.
- Actions that can be taken to mitigate the cyber risk.
- Understanding of cyber risk reduction steps as a competitive advantage.
Speaker: Bob Gordon, Strategic Advisor, Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange (CCTX)
Day Two:Wednesday, August 18, 2021 |
Track A:As Governance professionals, we are often engaged in deliberations about ethics. Boards often must grapple with situations and involve their corporate secretaries. Likewise, CEO’s and other senior management, as well as staff generally, may seek the advice of corporate secretaries, chief audit executives, CFO’s, human resource professionals or others who are perceived as experts and independent. In this presentation, Brian will summarize his observations from 30 years serving on boards and investigating, monitoring, and advising on ethics to provide practical lessons, with real-life examples, to assist each of us as we support our organizations in their ethics journey. Participants will walk away with:
Moderator: Brian Brown, Principal, Best Job in the Company Consulting Services Track B:Session 3B: Change and Organizational Culture in GovernanceIn this session, participants are going to learn the key theories and concepts to apply organizational change management practices from a governance perspective. Participants will learn new techniques and skills to be an effective change agent and leader within the governance framework.
Participants will also learn about new paradigms of workplace change and understand the key concepts and practices needed to position their board to be change ready and skilled in a constantly changing world. Participants will be equipped to:
Speakers: John Dinner, President, John T. Dinner Board Governance Services | Track C:Session 3C: Purpose-driven organizations: ‘actioning’ organizational values to bring purpose to lifePurpose comes to life through operationalizing values, driving enhanced relationships, decision making, effectiveness, wellbeing, satisfaction, and a sense of achievement - all of which are measurable through emotional intelligence. The most effective leadership stays true to what they say they value.
Speaker: Liana Bagworth, Founder, EQals Track D:Session 3D: Ethics and Artificial Intelligence: Business, Reputational and Legal risks
Speaker: Marc Tasse, Professor, Telfer School of Management - University of Ottawa |
Networking Break with Exhibitors (12:15 PM - 12:45 PM) EST. |
Track A:
Speakers: Louise Champoux-Paillé, Executive in Residence, John Molson School of Business; Caroline Codsi, President, Women in Governance; Joanie Coutu-Bellerose, Co-President-Certification Committee; Lisa Edwards, President & Chief Operating Officer, Diligent Corporation Track B: Sponsored by: | Track C: Session 4C: ESG – Have investors found what they were looking for?
Speakers: Thierry Dorval, Senior Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP; Caroline Moreau, Senior Legal Counsel, ESG, Governance and Treasury, Legal Affairs, National Bank of Canada; Réjean Nguyen, Director of Investment Stewardship, CDPQ; Miekela Singh, Principal, Corporate Governance - Total Fund Management, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Track D: Session 4D: Board Orientation Best Practices
Speaker: Sylvia Groves, President, Governance Studio Inc. |
Networking Break with Exhibitors (1:45 PM - 2:00 PM) EST. |
Track A: Effective Boards and Organizations
Speakers: Aaron Friedenthal, Assistant General Counsel, ATB Financial., Diane Pettie J.D., FCIS, Q.C., ICD.D, Corporate Director. Track B: ESG, Culture & Climate Governance Session 5B: This Changes Everything: How ESG is Reshaping Governance Best Practice and Redefining the Role of the Board
Speakers: Michelle de Cordova, Principal, ESG Global Advisors; Christopher Chen, Managing Director, Compensation Governance Partners; Gigi Dawe, Lead, Corporate Oversight and Governance Department, CPA Canada; Sara Gelgor, Vice President, Compliance, Concentra | Track C: Key Trends in Governance Session 5C: Board Effectiveness and Assessment Strategies
Track D: Session 5D: The Board's role in leadership transitions A new CEO or board chair is a significant change for any organization. 40% of new leaders fail in the first 18 months in the role (Fortune 2012). If that was the statistic in "normal" times, what will it be in 2021? Learn practical approaches for how the board can support their new CEO or chair even during the pandemic and economic recovery.
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- CALGARY
- EDMONTON
- ATLANTIC REGION (NF, PEI, NS, NB)
- QUEBEC & OTTAWA
- ONTARIO & INTERNATIONAL
- WEST COAST & TERRITORIES (BC,YT, NT, NU)
- PRAIRIES (MB, SK)
Sponsored by: