Next Gen Board Leaders
A dynamic community of new public company directors driving innovation and shaping the future of corporate governance.
Next Gen Board Leaders' Summit
Arrivals, Security Checks, Networking Breakfast
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
1:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Speaker
Dottie Schindlinger
Executive Director, Diligent Institute
Current Trends in Corporate Governance
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM
Speakers
Suzanne Brown
Director, NYSE Board Services
NYSE
Dottie Schindlinger
Executive Director, Diligent Institute
Hear the latest U.S. governance trends, regulatory shifts and investor expectations shaping board agendas for new public company directors
Pathways to Independent Lead Director and Committee Chair Roles
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM
Speakers
Susan Angele
Senior Advisor, KPMG Board Leadership Center
Nichelle Maynard-Elliott
Founder and CEO of Dunamis Transaction Advisors LLC
Explore how new directors can position themselves for future leadership roles through committee work, relationship building and focused boardroom contributions.
Morning Break
2:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Executive Compensation Trends & SEC Policies
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Speaker
Virginia Rhodes
Partner
Meridian Compensation Partners
Review current executive pay practices, evolving SEC rules, proxy advisor views and investor expectations that boards must navigate in compensation decisions.
Considering AI in Structuring Executive Incentive Programs
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
Speaker
Andrew McElheran
Partner
Meridian Compensation Partners
Explore how boards can design executive incentives that reward responsible AI adoption, governance, and performance against strategic AI transformation goals.
Lunch & Demonstration of Diligent GovernAI & AI Board Member
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speakers
Brian Stafford
President & CEO
Diligent
Lu Chen
Principal Product Manager
Diligent
Enjoy lunch while seeing live demos of Diligent GovernAI and an AI Board Member, showcasing practical use cases for public company directors.
Board’s Role in Navigating Macro Risks: Geopolitics, Economy, AI, Cyber, and More
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Speakers
Christina Alfonso
Executive Director & President, Council on Global Competition and Innovation;
Jose Fernandez
Founder & President
Shelter Island Global Advisors LLC
Jordan Rae Kelly
Senior Managing Director and the Head of Cybersecurity for the Americas
FTI Consulting
Hear real-world cases of macro risks and how boards can best partner with government, consultants, and expert advisors to navigate complex, high-stakes situations.
Communication Strategies for Board Members – Do’s and Don’ts
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Speaker
Amy Simmerman
Partner
Wilson Sonsini
Gain practical guidance on board communications: when and how directors should take notes, speak out, post on social; how board minutes and materials matter; and how AI might change board communications.
Afternoon Break
6:00 PM - 6:15 PM
M&A Trends and Strategies – What Board Members Need to Know
6:15 PM - 6:45 PM
Moderator
Nichelle Maynard-Elliott
Founder and CEO of Dunamis Transaction Advisors LLC
Speakers
Daniel Simonetti
Senior Managing Director
FTI Consulting
Catherine Riley Tzipori
Partner, Corporate
Wilson Sonsini
With M&A activity surging—and many ways deals can derail—this primer briefs new public company directors on core duties, pitfalls, and questions across the deal lifecycle.
Shareholder Activism Tabletop Exercise
6:45 PM - 7:45 PM
Speakers
Valerie Mack
Managing Director, Strategic Communications for M&A and Activism
FTI Consulting
Christine O’Brien
Interim Head of Special Situations and IR
Edelman Smithfield
Participate in a realistic activist scenario, practicing how boards respond to campaigns, engage stakeholders and align around a coherent response plan.
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
7:45 PM - 8:00 PM
Speaker
Dottie Schindlinger
Executive Director, Diligent Institute
Closing Bell, Cocktail Reception in The Vaults
8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Arrivals, Security Checks, Networking Breakfast
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Current Trends in Corporate Governance
Pathways to Independent Lead Director and Committee Chair Roles
Morning Break
Executive Compensation Trends & SEC Policies
Considering AI in Structuring Executive Incentive Programs
Lunch & Demonstration of Diligent GovernAI & AI Board Member
Board’s Role in Navigating Macro Risks: Geopolitics, Economy, AI, Cyber, and More
Communication Strategies for Board Members – Do’s and Don’ts
Afternoon Break
M&A Trends and Strategies – What Board Members Need to Know
Shareholder Activism Tabletop Exercise
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Closing Bell, Cocktail Reception in The Vaults
Request an invitation
Next Gen Board Leaders' Summit
June 1
Space is limited.
Thank you to our sponsors
2026 Speakers
