Sir Adrian Cadbury Lecture - Beyond ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance)

The term ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) stretches back to 2004 with the UN Global Compact Initiative’s “Who Cares Wins” report, which set out the then revolutionary idea that integrating environmental, social and governance issues in financial analysis and asset management and securities brokerage would contribute to more resilient investment markets. Initially introduced in the Socially Responsible Investing Area, the Initiative’s view that a better consideration of ESG factors would contribute to the sustainable development of societies, now takes centre stage in most if not all areas of business life. Yet nearly two decades later some sectors are still unclear about how these separate functions hang together and there are even suggestions that the concept of ESG has outlived its usefulness.

Taking the form of a key note presentation by the foremost authority on civility in leadership and governance HRH King Dr. Clyde Rivers which will be followed by a panel discussion, this session will attempt to shed light on ESG in its current form – what does it mean and is the term still fit for purpose? Do principles of sustainability and business resilience in the face of change remain important, whatever terminology is used and to what extent are culture and people an influence on investor behaviours and impact on organisations and societies.

Dr Karl George MBE

Dr Karl George is a leading advisor and commentator on governance globally and provides organisations including listed companies, leading professional service firms, governing and membership bodies, sports organisations, and faith-based institutions with expert advice on the enhancement and implementation of governance codes.

A thought leader and internationally established governance consultant, and Managing Director of ‘the governance forum’, he works with boards and senior executives across the private, public, and voluntary sectors with over twenty years combined experience in accountancy, business, and strategic development. Karl created the Governance Assessment Process (GAP) which was endorsed by the late Sir Adrian Cadbury – the chair of the Cadbury Committee and has been delivered to hundreds of organisations across all sectors. Once completed, the Process awards organisations a kite mark in governance.

As well as sharing his knowledge and creating impact through improving the ways boards work, it is Karl’s innovation and passion for the importance and relevance of governance which have established him as ‘The Governor’. Karl is the creator of Effective Board Member programmes which have been delivered across the world in partnership with organisations including PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), The Football Association (FA), RSM UK, Edinburgh Napier University, the Association of Corporate Governance Practitioners (ACGP) and The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA). The Programmes have been developed specifically for CEOs, senior executives, women, young professionals, footballers, cricketers, and other sports people.

Karl has been conferred an honorary doctorate, is a visiting professor, established author, sought after speaker and community champion and creator of The Board Game – a unique interactive learning tool which helps participants refresh their governance knowledge in a fun but challenging environment. His latest book, ‘The Effective Board Member’, launched in Autumn 2017 and immediately went to number one in the Best Sellers list for Management and Leadership on Amazon Kindle.

Deirdre LaBassiere, Immediate Past Chair, The Lunar Society deputising for Chair Peter Borg-Bartolo

Deirdre is a governance specialist with over 20 years’ experience in legal and regulatory environments. Her vast experience includes advising, training and supporting organisations to drive and embed good governance, compliance, risk and assurance.

Deirdre's roles have included executive director and head of governance roles at registered housing providers such as Magna Housing Association, Local Space Limited and now Storm Housing Group. She has also served as Company Secretary at Bournville Village Trust and Data Protection Officer and Governance & Assurance Manager at Housing21. A much sought-after public speaker and trainer, Deirdre is a regular facilitator and contributor to the acclaimed cross-boundary leadership development Common Purpose Programme and has addressed conferences including the Law Society of England & Wales and the National Housing Federation on governance. She also provides governance support, training and facilitation of board away days to organisations through Central Consultancy and Training. An entrepreneur in her own right, Deirdre is also developing her family estate on the Commonwealth of Dominica, developing a health & well-being resort with affordable housing for employees attached to it.

Deirdre has served on a variety of boards including the Black Solicitors Network, the Future Melting Pot CIC and the Birmingham Leadership Foundation. As Chair of the Lunar Society from 2019 - 2021 she commissioned a White Paper exploring whether the adoption of 12 Principles of Governance proposed by The Governance Forum (TGF) could improve organisational outcomes through a comprehensive and flexible approach to governance and launched the Race Equality Code at the Sir Adrian Cadbury Lecture.

She currently serves as Chair of WAITS (Women Acting In Today's Society) and also as Chair of the Common Purpose West Midlands Advisory Board, as an Advisory Board Member for Every Child Needs A Mentor (ECNM) and sits on the Birmingham Race Impact Group (BRIG) Steering Group.

Simon Osbourne

Simon is Joint Head of CGI Board Evaluation, with which he has been involved since 2003. He is also a governance consultant and trainer. Simon is a Fellow of the global Chartered Governance Institute (‘CGI’), having qualified first as a solicitor.

Since March 2019, Simon has been an Executive Fellow with the London Business School Leadership Institute, raising the profile of the Leadership Institute in the business community by acting as an ambassador and representative of its efforts. He is also a member of, and adviser to, the International Corporate Governance Network. In 2019/2020, he served as Principal Adviser to the Astana International Financial Centre to develop the AIFC Corporate Governance Principles and Guidance.

Simon is a former CEO of the CGI division for the UK and Ireland. He worked as in-house counsel for 30 years in the British railway industry; latterly as company secretary and general counsel, and then as a main board executive director, of the former Railtrack Group PLC. The influencing and negotiating skills required of a company secretary are vital too for his role as a board evaluator.

Simon is a vice-president (formerly a board member and deputy chair) of a Royal Charter charity, the Railway Benefit Fund. Previously he was an NED for several years of a boutique media and events company. He has served also as a member of the audit committee of The Law Society of England and Wales; the audit committee of a major City of London law firm; the Committee of Inquiry into UK Vote Execution; the former authority for the British Transport Police Force; and the statutory Railway Heritage Committee.

Tom Proverbs-Garbett, FCG, Associate Director RSM

Tom is a fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute (formerly ICSA), whose consultancy practice focusses on corporate governance matters and issues surrounding directors' duties.

Previously a lawyer at a top-20 law firm, Tom led its UK governance and company secretarial function. He works closely with clients on their governance needs, including in the context of wider ESG matters. He provides training for boards and individual directors and their executive reports. Tom publishes regularly on governance matters. He is also a chartered manager and holds an MBA.

Inez Brown

Inez was appointed IoD West Midlands Regional Chair in July 2021. Prior to this Inez has spent 20 years working as a solicitor and leader in the legal sector, specialising in clinical negligence, having been appointed to a few professional panels. Most recently in July 2020 she was inaugurated as President of Birmingham Law Society, the first black President in its 202-year existence, presiding over 10,000 lawyers and students.

In her role as President, she has been an ambassador and leader within the legal profession forging partnerships with local businesses and the local community. In addition, she has helped to grow the Society’s membership together with setting up its first diversity inclusion scheme, providing scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and under-represented groups. The diversity inclusion scheme is now in its third year and all students have gone on to secure training contracts with leading City law firms. She also regularly mentors.

As a lawyer her most memorable event was in 2010 when she ran a 14-day Inquest where a patient was killed by a German Locum Doctor who arrived in the UK speaking very little English. In addition he did not understand English prescriptions resulting in him prescribing 100mg of diamorphine for renal colic when it should only have been 10mg. The patient died within 5 minutes. Following the Inquest, the case was reported to the Lord Chancellor who changed the law so that Locums working in the UK from Europe or oversees now need to take a competency test and have a good command of English.

Inez has a long-standing connection with management and governance as she has been a Non-Executive Director to several organisations including. She is currently a Trustee of the Child Brain Injury Trust; Board Director of Birmingham Law Society and a Trustee of Steps to Work.

She is a big advocate on diversity and inclusion in the workplace and sits on a number of Working Groups. She provides mentoring and allyship to junior members of the legal and business sectors within the West Midlands.

Host or Publisher The Lunar Society, Birmingham