Governance in practice: Highlights from 2025

The AICD continues to equip directors with clear, practical guidance as governance expectations shift.

In 2025, new resources have helped boards cut through complexity on issues from data and care quality to digital transformation, liability reform and the climate transition. Here are some of the standout releases from the year to date.

Data governance principles help build digital confidence

Cyber incidents and privacy breaches this year have made one thing clear: robust data governance is now central to maintaining public trust. The way organisations protect, manage and ethically use data has become a defining test of organisational performance and resilience.

In collaboration with the Melbourne Business School’s Centre for Business Analytics and Allens, the AICD released Data Governance Foundations for Boards to help directors strengthen oversight of data as a critical organisational asset. The resource outlines clear governance principles, practical checklists and case studies to guide better practice in boards overseeing data opportunities, risks and protection.

It builds on the AICD’s broader suite of digital governance materials – including the Cyber Security Governance Principles, AI governance resources, and practical guidance on governing through a cyber crisis – alongside our latest release with the Australian Signals Directorate, Cyber Security Priorities for Boards in 2025–26.

Care governance and community trust

Aged care sits at the heart of Australia’s social fabric and is emerging as a critical test of governance capability. Following multiple royal commissions, new laws and standards are reshaping director responsibilities across the care economy.

Governing for Quality Aged Care – A Director’s Guide aligns with the Aged Care Act 2024 and the strengthened Aged Care Quality and Safety Standards, which commenced on 1 July 2025. It consolidates the AICD’s earlier guidance into one resource, helping directors uphold safety, accountability and affordability as reform continues.

Technology, meetings and the modern boardroom

As technology reshapes board practice, the AICD – alongside the Governance Institute of Australia and other partners – has updated two core areas of governance to reflect today’s realities.

Effective Board Minutes and the Use of AI – A Joint Statement reaffirms the principles of sound record-keeping in an era of AI assistance. AGMs using Technology – Joint Guidance outlines good practice for hybrid and virtual meetings.

More guidance is on the way, including insights into how AI is being used by directors and in boardrooms and how AI is reshaping governance practice.

Productivity and regulatory reform – new data supports action

New AICD–Mandala Partners research quantified the scale of Australia’s regulatory burden, putting hard evidence behind what directors have long warned: compliance costs have surged. The total cost of meeting Commonwealth regulation has grown from $65 billion (4.2% of GDP) in 2013 to $160 billion (5.8% of GDP) in 2024. The system has become denser and more complex over two decades, with board time on compliance more than doubling and regulatory demands increasingly outpacing business capacity.  

Earlier, the AICD and Allens released an updated Director Liability – State of Play analysis confirming Australia remains one of the most demanding liability environments globally. Together, these insights show how Australia compares with peer jurisdictions and underpin AICD’s advocacy for balanced reform, maintaining accountability while enabling boards to focus on long-term performance, investment and national prosperity.

With this work, the AICD is pushing for a more proportionate and productivity-supporting approach to regulation in Australia to maintain its global competitiveness.

Climate, nature and the transition economy

In 2025, the AICD released a suite of new resources to help directors navigate emerging expectations across climate, nature and the circular economy.

The latest is Nature Enters the Boardroom, developed with the University of Sydney Business School. It is Australia’s first study of how boards are approaching nature-related governance. It offers practical insights on emerging risks, oversight structures and integration with strategy.

Alongside this, Governing for Net Zero (with ACSI) sets out how boards can oversee credible transition planning; a 2025 climate change science snapshot with CSIRO helps directors understand physical and transition risks; and a Circular Economy Primer released with Accenture highlights opportunities for innovation and value creation.

The AICD’s Directors’ Guide to Mandatory Climate Reporting – produced with MinterEllison and Deloitte – remains a key reference to support boards in meeting new disclosure requirements.