From governance to growth: My key takeouts from AICD’s 2025 Essential Director Update

On Tuesday, I attended the AICD Essential Director Update, an annual event I always enjoy. It offers valuable perspectives on the key areas shaping board priorities—and, by extension, what’s influencing CEOs and executive teams.

As expected, much of the discussion focused on AI, climate governance, and cybersecurity. These aren’t new themes, but stakeholder expectations continue to evolve. It was also a clear reminder that governance and growth absolutely go hand in hand.

AI: Leadership’s defining test

AI continues to dominate leadership conversations — and rightly so. As one speaker put it, it’s “the greatest opportunity and the greatest risk.”

This isn’t just a technology story; it’s a leadership challenge. AI is reshaping how organisations make decisions, improve efficiency, and serve customers, while also redefining what good governance looks like. 

The keynote speaker shared a recent quote from the NAB CEO that really resonated: “AI is not going to take away people’s jobs; people using AI will take away the jobs of people not using AI.” It was acknowledged that, as we all know, there’s a lot of fear around machines replacing humans and to some extent, that will happen. But as the workplace evolves, human skills like critical thinking, innovation, and customer service will only become more valuable. That’s so true. 

From corporate social responsibility to climate accountability 

Another strong takeaway for me was how far corporate responsibility has evolved. What started as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) — doing good through philanthropy, volunteering, and community contributions, has matured into the structured, measurable frameworks focused on climate impact and sustainability accountability.

Every organisation needs to start somewhere. Regardless of your current stage, the key is to establish governance structures, collaborate with management on strategy and risk, and set up measurable metrics and targets. That’s how progress happens.

As someone who’s worked closely with companies on community and stakeholder reporting, I see this as a natural evolution. And while I’m not an environmental expert, I’ve spent time with leaders who are — transparent reporting builds trust, confidence, and long‑term value.

What still keeps directors awake at night 

As one director said: “It’s always the people issues.”

Leadership, capability, and alignment remain the hardest challenges. Frameworks and reporting structures may change, but it’s leaders who define whether transformation sticks.

Even as technology accelerates change, human leadership still drives impact — uniting teams, acting ethically, and communicating purpose clearly. I couldn't agree more.

There were many other valuable insights shared for directors, but these stood out most to me because they align closely with how I approach marketing, leadership, and helping clients achieve meaningful outcomes, many of which now extend increasingly into the boardroom.