This is an annual advanced-level forum designed to significantly advance the knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of people committed to developing governance excellence in our world. This is a forum that joins together advanced governance practitioners, governance scholars/practitioners, governance consultants/coaches, and others interested in studying and discussing governance at an advanced level. 

Sponsorship Opportunities

Please contact Jeremiah Dameron for sponsorship information.

Face-to-Face Virtual Advanced Practice Forum Fees:

• Affiliates $350 USD
• Non-Affiliates $400 USD

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Face-to-Face Virtual Advanced Practice Forum:  Purpose-Driven, Future-Focused. Accountable, and Real Impact Governance Approach

10:00-5:30 pm Eastern Time
PRELIMINARY OUTLINE

Session 1 - Purposeful Governance in a Transforming World
Faculty:  Karen Fryday-Field, GSP
The forum begins with an inspiring keynote on the evolving role of Boards in an era of heightened stakeholder expectations. This session will explore how Boards can align organizational purpose with global challenges, such as climate change, equity, and sustainability, to create long-term value.

Session 2 - What are Our Biggest Governance Challenges Now and Coming? How Does Policy Governance Prepare Us for These Challenges?

Session 3 - Governance in the Age of AI: Ethical Dilemmas and Strategic Opportunities
Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries and boardroom decisions at an unprecedented pace, but with this innovation comes ethical dilemmas and governance challenges. How do Boards manage the risks of AI—bias, transparency, data misuse—while leveraging its transformative potential? This provocative session will explore AI’s disruptive impact on decision-making, risk management, and accountability frameworks. Boards must tackle questions like: How do we govern what we don’t fully understand? And are we prepared to lead in this brave new AI-driven world?

Session 4 - Radical Accountability: Should Boards Be Answerable to Society, Not Just Shareholders?
As public trust in institutions declines, the notion of Board accountability is being redefined. What if Boards prioritized their accountability to society over traditional shareholder models? This session will challenge the status quo by examining how Boards can shift toward stewardship that emphasizes societal and environmental responsibility. Attendees will explore the controversial concept of “radical accountability” and debate its implications for governance practices, reporting standards, and long-term value creation.

Session 5 - Building Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice into Governance
Boards are increasingly being called to go beyond policy statements and integrate equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice (EDIJ) into their core governance practices. This interactive session will explore strategies for embedding EDIJ within Board composition, decision-making, and organizational culture. Participants will hear from leaders who have successfully advanced this agenda and discuss practical tools to address barriers to inclusion at the Board level.

Session 6 - Integrating ESG: Beyond Compliance to Strategic Value Creation
Faculty:  Ted Humphrey, GSP
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors have moved from being a regulatory requirement to a strategic imperative for Boards. This session will cover how Boards can go beyond tick-box compliance to integrate ESG into their decision-making processes, align it with corporate strategy, and communicate its value to stakeholders. Case studies and expert insights will provide actionable approaches to ESG governance.

Session 7 - Driving Accountability: Board Effectiveness and Ethical Leadership
As the call for ethical and prudent Board leadership grows louder, Boards must evaluate their own effectiveness and accountability. This session will delve into best practices for Board evaluations, using the results to drive performance improvements and foster a culture of continuous learning. Attendees will also discuss the role of ethical leadership in navigating regulatory compliance and reputational risk.

Session 8 - What Does a Board Do if Board Member Goes Rogue?

• What are the signs and symptoms of that one or more Board Members may be going rogue?
• What does it mean when a Board Member or group of Board Members go rogue?
• Are there times when rogue behaviour is appropriate or needed or acceptable?
• What are the signs and symptoms that Board Members are behaving sinisterly and swimming upstream against the Board goals, intentions, and code of conduct?
• What can the Board do if the Board Chair is under attacked by sinister behaviors?
• What can the Board do if the CEO is under attack by sinister behaviours by Board Members?
• How can the Board be proactive in this space?

Session 9 - The Future of Governance: A Call to Action
This wrap-up session will synthesize key insights from the day, leaving participants with actionable takeaways to implement within their Boards. The discussion will emphasize the importance of forward-looking governance, purpose-driven leadership, Board accountability, and getting real about a commitment to long-term organizational and societal impact.