Transparency in Governance – Saskatoon Session

Amid the rising expectation that boards and CEOs go beyond simply providing oversight and setting parameters for CEO performance, proactive transparency is coming to the forefront – in both corporations and not-for-profits. As Chapter 8 of Charting the Future of Canadian Governance notes, not behaving badly is not the same thing as behaving well. This speaks to demonstrating a high level of accountability and adherence to values. It means going beyond compliance or a basic “code of conduct” that sets minimum expectations and moving toward a healthy culture that supports a positive reputation and encourages the right behaviours.

Demonstrating proactive transparency is one behaviour that boards and management can encourage, support and reward as part of overall strategy. This will be the topic of discussion.

Discussion topics will include:

• Why does proactive transparency matter, and to whom?
• What does transparency look like in a corporate culture?
• Can proactive transparency positively or negatively affect an organizations’s reputation and ultimately affect investor value, or stakeholder trust and support?
• What are the risks associated with a proactively transparent culture?