ICGN-Hawkamah Dubai Conference

Speakers

Agenda

• 28 November 2023 - Day One

  08:00 - 09:45

  Registration & Morning Coffee

  09:30 - 10:00

  Keynote remarks

  ​​​​​Dr. Ahmad Al Sheikh,Chairman, Hawkamah, UAE 

  10:00 - 10:15

  Opening remarks

  Kerrie Waring, CEO, ICGN, UK

   

   

  10:15 - 11:30

  Plenary 1: National Visions towards sustainable economies in the MENA region

  As global investors, companies and capital market stakeholders convene in Dubai for COP 28, MENA countries will demonstrate progress towards achieving net-zero carbon neutrality by 2050. Many have articulated ‘National Visions’ aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Strategies focus on a post oil future that embraces the knowledge economy, tourism, and global investment. Robust governance oversight is imperative for Nation Visions to be successfully achieved.
  
  What are the unique governance characteristics of MENA based markets? How do governance expectations align with internationally accepted standards such as the ICGN Global Governance Principles or the G20  Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles of Corporate Governance?  How is corporate control, power and accountability managed to ensure long-term value creation, contributing to sustainable economies, society, and the environment?

  • Habiba Al Marashi, Co-Founder & Chair, Emirates Environmental Group, UAE
  • Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director, Earthna, Qatar
  • Hamid Sultan Hamed Al Busaidi, Executive Director, Oman Centre for Governance and Sustainability (OCGS), Oman
    
    Moderator: Fianna Jurdant, Senior Policy Analyst, OECD, France

  11:30 - 12:00

  Refreshments

  12:00 - 13:15

  Plenary 2: The corporate board’s role in the governance of sustainability

  Climate change, biodiversity loss, geopolitical challenges, access to water resources: sustainability challenges abound. What is the board’s role in the creation and oversight of a company’s sustainability journey in meeting rising global investor expectations? How can companies become more resilient and drive long-term strategies to deliver sustainability results? Are boards fit for purpose in terms of director skills and experience, committee mandates, and commitments to board training?

  Global investors and companies will talk about their approaches to sustainability and the solutions they are creating. This session will provide an opportunity to learn from others, to share knowledge and to discuss ways to tackle global sustainability challenges.

  • Karina Litvack, Member of the Board, ENI, Italy
  • Saker Nusseibeh, CBE,  CEO, Federated Hermes, UK
  • Mak Yuen Teen, Professor (Practice) of accounting, National University Singapore , Singapore
  • Nadia Zainuddin, General Manager and Head of Corporate Governance, Securities Commission Malaysia, Malaysia
    
    Moderator: Philip Armstrong, Board Member, Hawkamah, South Africa

  13:15 - 14:15

  Networking Lunch

  14:15 - 15:30

  Plenary 3: The human dimension: optimizing a company’s most valuable asset – the workforce – for corporate productivity and growth

  The proper oversight of human capital management (HCM) is a key determinant to a company’s long-term strategy for value creation. Post Covid, home-based working is increasingly accepted alongside a greater appreciation for mental health and scrutiny on supply chain relationships to address forced labor and modern slavey practices. Good HCM leads to higher productivity, helping companies innovate and remain competitive in a global economy. Conversely a weak corporate culture with poor HCM has featured prominently in corporate failures.
  
  How do corporate boards ensure managerial due diligence, disclosure, and accountability around HCM?  How can companies demonstrate the impact of HCM on performance, productivity, and value creation? What are examples of best practice?

  • Sophie L’Helias, Founder and CEO, LeaderXXchange, France
  • Chirag Mehta, Chief Investment Officer, Quantum Asset Management Company, India
  • David Styles, Director, Corporate Governance and Stewardship, Financial Reporting Council, UK
  • Ali Abdulla AlShimmari, International Assets Manager – GCC, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, UAE
    
    Moderator: Sandra Guerra, Board Director, Founding Partner at Better Governance, Brazil

  15:30 - 15:45

  Break

  15:45 – 16:30

  Hosted Sessions

  Session A: The Rise of ESG litigation as an engagement tool for responsible investors – challenges and opportunities, hosted by Pomerantz

  With the increasing global focus on ESG concerns, including greenwashing, active engagement in litigation is being viewed and used as a means of bringing about corporate governance reforms which otherwise might not have been achieved. When used effectively, securities litigation is also about future-proofing the companies in which pension funds invest, and acting as a deterrent to other companies who might be tempted to pursue a path which is not in their shareholders’ or stakeholders’ interests.

  • Daniel Summerfield, Director of ESG and UK Client Services, Pomerantz LLP, UK
  • Anne-Marie Jourdan, Chargée de mission Direction Juridique Groupe, Caisse des Depots, France
  • Greg Dulski, Chief Regulatory Officer & Head of Government Affairs, Federated Hermes Limited, UK

  Moderator: Jennifer Pafiti, Partner, Head of Client Services, Pomerantz LLP, USA
  
  Session B:  Maximizing the Impact of Board Evaluations, Hosted by Independent Audit Limited (IAL)

  This session delves into the crucial board evaluation process, a cornerstone for enhancing governance and organisational effectiveness. During this session we will explore key aspects, including The Why -  Board evaluations are essential for assessing collective board performance, individual director effectiveness, and overall board processes; Expectations - The primary goal is to gain insights into communication dynamics, decision-making processes, and alignment with organisational goals, identifying areas for improvement in board composition, diversity, and governance practices to guide the board's evolution; and Planning - Successful board evaluations necessitate clear objectives, suitable methods (self-assessment, peer assessment, or expert online tools), confidentiality, and a well-structured timeline. Engaging an impartial facilitator ensures accurate results. Don't miss this opportunity to supercharge your board's impact!

  • Susan Stenson, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Audit Limited, Republic of Ireland

  Session C: Actioning & Governing Climate Transition Finance, Hosted by MSCI 

  Join MSCI’s in practice workshop with industry leaders who will share their approach to climate transition finance. Learn from a leading Corporate, Bank and Investor on how they’re accessing and providing climate financing to meet net-zero targets and other climate commitments.

  Please note: This session will be held under the Chatham House rule.

  • Beth Byington, Managing Director, Global Head of Corporate ESG & Climate Solutions, MSCI, USA
  • Kevin Giersch, Executive Director ESG Advisory, Standard Charted Bank, UAE
  • Shahad Nejaim, Business Sustainability Director, Al-Dabbagh Group, Saudi Arabia 
  • Franziska Zimmerman, Director for Sustainability & Climate Change Strategy, Temasek, Singapore

   Moderator: Jasmine Mehta, EMEA Lead for ESG Issuer Communications, MSCI, UK

  16:30 – 17:00

  Refreshments

  17:00 – 17:45

  Biodiversity as Systemic Risk: Investors Taking Action

  Biodiversity has jumped to the top of the global agenda, joining climate change and   wealth inequality among the top three systemic risks facing investment institutions. What are the investment risks presented by biodiversity loss? How is this issue connected to climate change? What are the main challenges for addressing biodiversity loss? And what are the 'game-changing' initiatives that will drive meaningful action?   

  • Lauren Compere, Managing Director & Head of Stewardship and Engagement, Boston Common Asset Management, USA
  • Seiji Kawazoe, Senior Stewardship Officer, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust, Japan 
    
    Moderator:  Severine Neervoort, Global Policy Director, ICGN, Italy

  17:45 – 19:30

  Networking Cocktail Reception

• 29 November 2023 - Day Two

  08:30 - 09:00

  Registration

  09:00 - 09:30

  Hawkamah Certification Ceremony

  09:30 - 09:45

  Keynote Address: Introducing the Revised G20-OECD Principles of Corporate Governance

  Daniel Blume, Corporate Governance Head and Senior Policy Analyst, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), France

  09:45 - 11:00

  Plenary 4: Reaping the benefits of intangible assets as a key driver of long term corporate value

  The global economy has experienced profound change over the past 30 years transitioning from an industrial based economy to one which now thrives on intangibles. This is acutely evident in the MENA region known for a commitment to innovation, technology, and know-how. Companies that identify and embrace the value of intangible assets such as research and development, intellectual property, branding, and goodwill have a competitive edge. Yet whilst intangibles increasingly drive economic and corporate performance, they rarely feature on company balance sheets. How are companies and auditors taking account of these important value drivers? How are intangibles defined, measured, and monitored?  To what extent do corporate boards adequately oversee this? What questions are investors asking?

  • Nadia Boumeziout, Head of Sustainability & Information Governance, Zurich Insurance, UAE
  • Sue Lloyd, Vice Chair, International Sustainability Standards Board, UK
  • Shane Phillips, CEO, The Phillips Group, UAE
  • Dr. Waddah S. Ghanem Al Hashmi, Chairman, Platform for Connected Leadership (PCL), UAE

  Moderator: Stephen Davis, Senior Fellow, Harvard Law School Program on Corporate Governance & Chair of the Hawkamah International Advisory Board, USA

  11:00 - 11:30

  Refreshments

  11:30 - 12:45

  Hosted Sessions

  Session D: Translating ESG integration into Investment Strategies in the Middle East, Hosted by S&P Global

  • Maya Beyhan, Senior Director, ESG Specialist, Index Investment Strategy, S&P, UK
  • Anthony Sassine, CFA, Senior Investment Strategist & Head of MENA, KraneShares, USA

  Moderator:  Charbel Azzi, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Turkey, India & CIS, S&P, UAE

  Session E: Revolutionizing Corporate Governance: Unleashing the Power of Artificial Intelligence in Boardrooms, Hosted by DiliTrust
  In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the role and functions of boards of directors. AI is not just a technological tool; it's a strategic asset that can help boards make informed decisions, enhance governance, and drive business success. Let's delve into the pivotal role of AI in the boardroom.

  • Cyril Godet, Head of Legal Expertise & Alliances, DiliTrust, France
  • Gibran Freitas, Sales Business Development, DiliTrust, UAE

  Session F: Masterclass / Cultural Competence and Strategic Competitiveness, hosted by PCL Learning  

  Combining experience and reflection, this session addresses concepts of organizational cultural competence as an internal differentiator and source of competitive advantage. Most organizations approach differentiation as an external feature of product and/or service delivery. Whereas these are open to imitation, cultural competence, as the internal DNA of an organization, is much more difficult, if not impossible, to imitate. The speakers bring to bear their years of experience in corporate roles and as entrepreneurs and academics, sharing views and experiences based on research but also on primary examples, meta-insights, and real-world case studies.

  • Prof. Steyn Heckroodt, Chief Thought Leader, Platform for Connected Leadership, UAE

  12:45 - 13:55

  Lunch

  13:55 - 15:10

  Plenary 5: High Quality sustainability reporting and assurance

  Unified sustainability disclosure metrics have been launched by Gulf Exchanges. These metrics are an important step towards standardising sustainability disclosure across the MENA region. How are these metrics aligned with those promulgated by the International Sustainability Standards Board or the Global Reporting Initiative?  How are MENA companies and investors approaching the single vs double materiality debate?

  • Patrick de Cambourg, Board Chair, EFRAG, Belgium 
  • Raji Hattar , Chief Sustainability Officer, Aramex, Jordan
  • David Madon, Director, Sustainability, Policy & Regulatory Affairs, IFAC, USA

  Moderator: Jessica Donohue, Head of Global Investments Insights, Sustainability and Impact, State Street, USA

  15:10 - 15:30

  Refreshments

  15:30 - 16:45

  Plenary 6: Reflecting sustainability matters in financial statements

  While global consolidation of sustainability reporting standards is evolving, many investors are calling on companies to demonstrate how sustainability-related factors can materially impact asset values, earnings, contingent liabilities, and statements of going concern. To help make sure that companies reflect climate-related risks and commitments in their financial statements, standard-setters and regulators have issued guidance. To what extent is this guidance being followed by companies and auditors? Are investors discussing this with companies’ audit committees? What are the challenges companies face in demonstrating net-zero accounting disclosures on critical assumptions, scenarios and judgements? How is this information currently being audited?

  • Trent Gazzaway, Global Leader - Service Line Capabilities and Quality,Grant Thornton International Ltd, USA
  • Anne Simpson, Global Head of Sustainability, Franklin Templeton, USA
    ​​​
    Moderator:  Chris Hodge, Advisor, Governance Perspectives Ltd, UK

  16:45 - 17:00

  Closing Remarks

  Christine Chow, Vice-Chair, ICGN, UK &Dr. Ashraf Gamal El Din, Chief Executive Officer, Hawkamah