Global investors, advisors and corporates will convene in London this month for the International Corporate Governance Network’s (ICGN) Annual Conference, taking place on 15-17 July 2024. Led by investors responsible for assets under management of around US$77 trillion, ICGN advances the highest standards of corporate governance and investor stewardship worldwide.
With a strong focus on the importance of good governance, the Conference agenda will cover how effective corporate governance, high-quality corporate reporting and audit, and strong shareholder rights contribute to long-term value creation and capital market competitiveness.
ICGN’s CEO Jen Sisson said:
“It’s great to be in London with the global governance community, convening discussion on the big issues facing investors and companies. We’ll be focusing on putting the G back into ESG, as governance is fundamental for both companies and investors. Strong and effective boards are important and governance quality is a material factor for investors in considering the ability of investee companies to generate long term, sustainable returns. Good governance is also the way companies will figure out how to solve E and S issues, such as supply chain issues, using AI and managing the climate transition.
Strong shareholder rights are a core priority for ICGN, but we see these under threat in many markets, with regressive proposals to undermine investor influence, for example though dual class share structures, removal of voting rights, or introduction of virtual only or closed door AGMs. We need to focus on keeping these fundamentals in place.
A game changer for investors that represents a big challenge for companies is the shift to mandatory reporting and assurance of sustainability related information – if investors are to be able to use sustainability-related financial information in a similar way to traditional financial reporting, to fully integrate it into investment decisions and stewardship activities, then we need companies to prepare it in a similar way. ICGN is bringing people together to discuss and learn about this important topic, including through a Conference plenary session and our latest Investor Viewpoint.”
The ‘Standards for sustainability reporting and assurance’ plenary session brings together the Chairs of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) and the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), the Vice-Chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and a representative of the Japan Financial Services Agency to talk about their work building the reliability and integrity of corporate sustainability disclosures. On 15 July, the first day of the Conference, ICGN will publish an Investor Viewpoint on the assurance of sustainability reporting. We’re delighted to be presenting ICGN Achievement Awards on 16 July, recognising and celebrating the work being done around the work to advance corporate governance and investor stewardship. The global shortlist of nominees demonstrates the depth and breadth of that work, from our early career Rising Stars, to those awarded for Excellence in Corporate Governance and Excellence in Stewardship, through to our Lifetime Achievement Award winners.
ENDS
