Corporate Governance and the Challenge of Creating ‘Risk Intelligent’ Cultures in the Boardroom

Speakers:       
- Hans Daems, Group Public Affairs Officer for Hitachi Europe and
- Nicola Black, Assistant Group Company Secretary, HSBC Holdings plc

Chair:           
- Phillida Purvis, Links Japan
The financial crisis of 2008 has put greater pressures on companies’ boards to meet new regulatory demands as well as increasing expectations from shareholders for interaction. In this environment what more should the Board do to ensure continual improvement in effectiveness and to manage potential risks that threaten the organisation’s ability to achieve its objectives? How can it derive competitive advantage from moving beyond compliance in measuring performance against strategy, keeping its own knowledge and expertise up to date, managing risk and promoting shareholder engagement? In all its decision making, compliance and disclosure processes, how does a Board ensure it operates a ‘risk intelligent’ culture? 

As Group Public Affairs Officer for Hitachi Europe,Hans Daems holds responsibility for Hitachi’s corporate communications, branding and CSR activities across Europe. Hans leads the overall co-ordination of Corporate Communications activities, Brand Management, Public Relations, Internal Communications, Advertising, Sponsorship, Events and Exhibitions and Website Management. He is also responsible for Hitachi’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme in Europe and Local community relations. In 2011 Hans Daems was elected as a non-executive Board Director of CSR Europe. He has more than 15 years of experience in corporate communications.