March 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference will discuss the future for corporate governance in the UK.
The discussion comes at a time of increased focus on governance issues by regulators, government, investors, and the public.
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders, regulators, and other interested parties to discuss the working of the updated Corporate Governance Code, as firms begin reporting in line with the new requirements.
We expect discussion on how to address concerns, such as:
- Some firms failing to successfully re-configure their boardrooms to comply with the Code - including rules on separate Chair and CEO roles, and non-executive director appointments;
- Doubts that the Code will be useful in addressing long-term cultural issues and preventing future governance failures; and
- Undue burden and impact caused by the Code which could affect the competiveness of firms, particularly post-Brexit.
The conference also comes with the expected establishment of the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA) now scheduled for the end of March, and with anticipated reforms to financial reporting, as the CMA launches its Audit Market Study.
Delegates will consider:
- How the new regulator could best use its intended statutory powers to strengthen corporate governance;
- The appropriate use of these powers to ensure that businesses retain competiveness; and
- How the work of the new regulator could best be leveraged to attract international investment to the UK.
Speakers
There will be keynote contributions from:
- Sanu de Lima, Deputy Director, Corporate Governance, Responsibility & Diversity, BEIS;
- David Styles, Director of Corporate Governance, Financial Reporting Council; and
- John Heaton, President, Chartered Governance Institute.
Further speakers include: Louise Barber, Squire Patton Boggs; Professor Amon Chizema, University of Birmingham; Rowena Ironside, Women on Boards; Gilly Lord, PwC; Mark Northway, UK Individual Shareholders Society; Rocio Paniagua, Transparency International UK; Matthew Roberts, Fidelity International; Dr Anna Tilba, Durham University and Clare Wardle, Coca-Cola European Partners.
The chairs for this conference are: Jonathan Djanogly MP and Kirsty Blackman MP.
The agenda
- The establishment of the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority and strengthening corporate governance;
- The corporate governance framework - the new regulator, the Corporate Governance Code, financial reporting reforms, and the Shareholders Rights Directive II;
- Corporate governance - an international perspective;
- Good corporate governance - improving diversity, environment, social and governance (ESG), technology, and shareholder relations; and
- Next steps for corporate governance policy.
Engagement with policy officials at this conference
This Westminster Business Forum conference has attracted strong interest from policymakers. It will be an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with representatives who have reserved places from: BEIS; the Financial Reporting Council; HM Revenue and Customs; DCMS; National Audit Office; HM Treasury; UK Government Investments; Department for Transport; Government Legal Department; Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Justice; Ofwat and the Wales Audit Office.
