Climate Governance Forum 2026

Mark Rigotti, CEO and Managing Director of the AICD, will open the Climate Governance Forum with remarks to welcome attendees and set the scene for the day’s discussions.  

How are boards strengthening organisational resilience in the face of climate and energy disruption? This session will explore oversight of energy security, diversification of supply, exposure to price volatility and system shocks, and how current geopolitical and market dynamics are accelerating the need for both resilience and transition planning. Directors will consider what boards should prioritise in an increasingly
uncertain environment

This session brings together three expert speakers to deliver concise, high-impact perspectives on key issues shaping climate and energy. Each speaker will present a focused 10 to 12-minute briefing, offering practical insights and real-world implications for boards and senior leaders

Global signals: Markets, policy and the road to 2030
A macro view of the global policy and market environment, including how Australia’s climate targets and industrial settings sit within broader international trends.

Australia’s energy transition: Progress and pain points
An exploration of how the net zero transition is reshaping Australia’s energy system. Can affordability, reliability and electrification be delivered simultaneously, and what could derail progress from here? The session examines the strategic and governance challenges emerging as the transition gathers pace.

New climate governance tools for boards
A practical look at the new technologies helping organisations manage emissions, nature impacts, scope 3 data and reporting obligations. As governance and disclosure scrutiny rises, the briefing examines where these tools are improving decision-making – and where important limitations and risks remain.

These interactive roundtables bring attendees together for practical, small-group discussions on key climate and energy issues facing boards. Focused on real-world challenges and decision-making, it offers a hands-on opportunity to share experiences, test ideas and learn from peers. Attendees will engage directly with one another to explore emerging risks, opportunities and governance approaches in a collaborative setting.

As organisations adopt AI and data-intensive technologies at speed, attention is turning to the infrastructure needed to support them. This discussion examines how boards balance the opportunities created by digital transformation with rising electricity demand, affordability pressures and decarbonisation goals – and what these trade-offs mean for long-term planning and climate governance.

Drawing on the first cycle of mandatory climate reporting, this session examines what surprised organisations, where the biggest challenges emerged, and what boards still preparing to report need to know as market practice evolves. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to take part in a 60-minute experience of Climate Governance for Australian Directors online short course, designed to be both practical and engaging. This is a fully interactive session that will offer clear, actionable insights on overseeing climate-related risks and opportunities for your board.   

As climate change impacts become more visible and disruptive, organisations are increasingly contending with physical risk while continuing to pursue emissions reductions. This discussion examines how boards are balancing adaptation, resilience and decarbonisation, including oversight of assets, operations and long-term investment decisions.

As global approaches to climate and sustainability diverge, with some jurisdictions strengthening sustainability requirements while others scale them back, boards are navigating increasingly mixed signals about risk, disclosure and long-term expectations. At the same time, governance expectations are extending beyond climate to include nature, biodiversity, social impacts and supply chain exposure.

This discussion explores how Australian organisations are responding in practice, including how internationally exposed organisations are adapting to this changing landscape and keeping climate and sustainability issues on the agenda amid competing pressures.