Sir Alexander Stone Commercial Law Annual Lecture

This lecture examines how boards translate corporate purpose into long-term decision-making and sustainable value creation under conditions of uncertainty.

The inaugural lecture will be delivered by Professor Irene-Marie Esser, with a response given by Lord Braid.

Drawing on empirical research of collaborative projects with the Institute of Directors and the FTSE Women Leaders Review, and academic work on corporate purpose and stakeholder governance, it argues that purpose only becomes meaningful when boards possess the behavioural and institutional capacity to embed it within governance, strategy and collective judgement.