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.  

Speaker:

Mark Rigotti CEO & Managing Director, AICD  

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.

Speakers: 

Associate Professor Timothy Nelson GAICD Director, Nelson Advisory Former Chair, National Electricity Market Review 

Amandine Denis-Ryan  CEO, Australia, institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis 

Dr Mahesh Prakash Senior Principal Research Scientist & Lead Environment, Agriculture and Natural Hazards CSIRO Technology 

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. 

Speakers:
Dr Eileen Doyle FAICD Director Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure, NEXTDC, SWOOP Analytics 

Emma Newnham, Partner, Mallesons

Claire LaBouchardiere Senior Executive Leader, Sustainability, Financial Reporting and Audit, ASIC 

Moderator

Geoff Summerhayes GAICD Chair, Zurich Australia  

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. 

Speakers:

Lucia Cade FAICD Chair, Infrastructure Victoria  

Alison Dodd, Partner, HSF Kramer

Kee Wong FAICDLife Director, AEMO, CAR Group, ABGF, Deloitte Australia 

Sabooh Whitelaw GAICD Associate Vice President, Energy and Utilities, AirTrunk 

Moderator:

Simon Mitchell, Acting Head of Policy, AICD

In a practical 60-minute sprint, deepen your understanding of climate science, evolving climate governance responsibilities and the new regulatory changes shaping boardroom decisions.

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.

Speakers: 

Ann Sherry AO FAICD  Chair, Queensland Airports Limited Co-Chair, Climate Leaders Coalition  

Ed John, Executive Manager, Stewardship, ACSI 

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.

Speaker: 

David Moffatt MAICD Chair, Ventia Services Group Limited 

Diane Smith-Gander AO FAICD, Chancellor, University of Western Australia 

Moderator:

Naomi Edwards FAICD, Chair, AICD