Afternoon Breakout Sessions

ESG has risen to the top of the board and regulatory agenda, and various jurisdictions, including Canada, have implemented, or proposed new sustainability disclosure requirements. Driven by investor demand, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) was established to develop IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards - a global baseline of sustainability standards for the capital markets.

The ICD, with CPA Canada, offered a series of webinars on the ISSB standards, that prompted important audience questions. The panel will respond to the most shared questions asked and provide insights on steps boards can take to guide successful adoption of the ISSB standards.

Executive compensation issues have seemingly not been the predominant focus for boards of directors over the past year. Issues including talent management, diversity, climate change impacts and new reporting requirements have pre-empted a focus on rewards. Has the importance of financial incentives decreased or has the nature of rewards evolved?

This panel will explore the intricate balance among culture, performance, and compensation, and how the alignment of compensation structures with key performance indicators can play a pivotal role in cultivating and upholding a healthy organizational culture.

Overseeing the organization’s executive talent has long been a key responsibility of boards. That role has traditionally been focused on CEO succession planning, but as organizations face enhanced complexities, the board must now have confidence that the organization has the critical talent necessary to execute the strategy. Does the board need deeper insight into the organization’s talent to adjust and build new capabilities as the external environment evolves?

This panel will explore the key components of the board’s role in ensuring that the talent pipeline and succession plans are aligned with strategy.