Online CPD Session - Conflicts of Interest in the Boardroom

If you have ever felt uncomfortable with how conflicts of interest were handled by a board, join us for an interactive discussion on both the legal considerations and board dynamics of effectively managing conflicts of interest in the boardroom. All board members bring their professional backgrounds and experiences, as well as their current involvements and connections (both personal & professional), to their board role. In fact, these valued attributes often form part of the very reason they were recruited to serve. As a result, a conflict of interest may easily arise for any director during their tenure on the board. This should not be viewed negatively. Rather, it is an opportunity for the board to discuss COI in an open and transparent manner so that mitigating actions can be taken to protect the integrity of the board’s decision-making. A Board of Directors must act- and be perceived to act- in a manner that does not result in a conflict of interest. When such situations arise, the board must take steps to ensure any issues are handled appropriately and in a manner that demonstrates the board’s due diligence. Whether you serve as a Corporate Secretary, the Chair, or a Director, this session will provide new insights on how your board can successfully approach this challenging aspect of governance and strengthen its COI disclosure processes. SESSION DETAILS: Topic: Conflicts of Interest in the Boardroom: Let’s Talk About It. Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 GUEST SPEAKERS: Andrew Buck ANDREW BUCK, LL.B. Andrew has a business law practice at Pitblado Law and, in that capacity, provides advice to public and private sector organizations of all sizes regarding a variety of corporate governance issues. These issues arise throughout an organization’s life cycle: start-up, early stage, maturity, and exit. Many of Andrew’s clients are principals of owner-operated businesses and look to him for guidance to help balance their private interests and their obligations to their companies. He has also assisted public sector organizations with the creation and implementation of conflict-of-interest policies. Andrew received his law degree from the University of Manitoba in 2009 and was awarded the University Gold Medal for the highest standing in the Bachelor of Laws program. He was called to the Bar in 2010. Maria Capozzi MARIA CAPOZZI, MPA, CGAP, ICD.D, FCG Maria has extensive experience conducting governance audits, reviews, and assessments of Boards of Directors in the public sector. Maria recently retired from Manitoba’s Office of the Auditor General as Director of its Governance Practice. Maria is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada (FCG) and serves on the CGIC’s Subject Advisory Committee and the Assessment Review Panel. Maria also completed her ICD.D director’s certification in 2015 and formerly served on Manitoba’s ICD Chapter Executive. She holds a Master of Public Administration and achieved her designation as a Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP) from the Institute of Internal Auditors. CGIC has been empowering aspiring governance professionals to excel for 100 years. There has never been a better time to be involved in governance and be an advocate for CGIC. We are a community, and together, we will excel as leaders in the practice of good governance for 100 more. Looking for structured CPD hours? View our upcoming CPD sessions on our CPD event calendar or watch past CPD webinar recordings on the CGIC YouTube channel. Have a suggestion for a CPD webinar topic or speaker? Email the National Office.