Anne-Marie Clarke
Director - Head of Corporate Governance
We’ve been busy preparing for our first webinar of the year, helping everyone to prepare for the 2024 AGM season. We’ve had a great time preparing for it and we’re looking forward to sharing with you the wealth of experience and knowledge among our panel of speakers. There will be a recording available on demand for those unable to attend.
We’ve been thinking a lot about how to support and develop the CG Pro network. We’re busy developing our programme of future events, so look out for further updates! As part of this, our regular updates will now be bi-monthly. We will continue to publish articles of interest throughout the year and if there’s anything you’d particularly like to know more about, please reach out to us.
So, 2024. We’ve already seen the launch of the new QCA Code, and by the time of publication, the updated UK Corporate Governance Code should be released, as well as the proxy advisor policies. This has included a lot of reading and implementation – which means life in the world of corporate governance is never a dull moment! Until the next edition.
1) 2023 AGM Season Reflections
I was delighted to be invited to write an article for the CGIUKI G&C magazine on the 2023 season. This follows on from our Mid-Season review and 2023 AGM Forum webinar; both regular events in our annual calendar. If you are a CGI magazine subscriber this can be found in the December/January issue.
2) Ten Hot Topics for Company Secretaries 2023/24
Our company secretarial business, Prism CoSec, recently released their Top 10 tips for Company Secretaries. A great read and well presented.
3) Disapplication of Pre-emption Rights
A topic that came to the fore during the 2023 AGM season, and continues to be an area where we are asked to advise, is disapplication of pre-emption rights. Our Q&A and infographic helps to put this topic into context.
4) Climate Change
COP28 was held at the end of 2023. After two weeks of negotiations, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber concluded with the UAE Consensus that: sets out an ambitious climate agenda to keep 1.5°C within reach, calls on Parties to transition away from fossil fuels to reach net zero, encourages them to submit economy-wide Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), includes a new specific target to triple renewables and double energy efficiency by 2030, and builds momentum towards a new architecture for climate finance.
With TCFD reporting firmly established, and the new IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards launched in 2023, we eagerly await further developments from the UK government on UK Sustainability Disclosure Standards. We’ve seen progress in company reporting and look forward to the continuing momentum to provide assurance to the various stakeholder groups who are looking for how companies are addressing the challenge of Net Zero.
Register To Receive Our Monthly CGPro Network Updates
Join over 1,000 corporate governance professionals and register to receive our monthly updates direct to your inbox.