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.  

This session examines how boards strengthen organisational resilience in the face of climate and energy disruption. It 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 how resilience intersects with strategy, risk and operations, and what questions to ask management to ensure the organisation can withstand and adapt to 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 Context: Taking the Temperature of Policy and Markets

A macro view of the global policy and market environment, including how Australia’s targets sit in that context and what current trajectories suggest for 2030 and beyond.

Energy Transition in Practice: Oversight in a Volatile Market

An exploration of how boards are navigating the energy transition amid market volatility and policy uncertainty, with a focus on energy sourcing, decarbonisation pathways and balancing cost, reliability and emissions.

Technology, Data and AI for Climate Governance

A presentation of how technology, data and AI are reshaping climate governance, including improving measurement, analysis and decision-making, while addressing risks around data quality and overreliance on automated insights.

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 demand for AI and data processing accelerates, this session examines the implications for energy consumption, infrastructure and emissions. It will unpack how boards should think about rising electricity demand, cost pressures and sustainability trade-offs linked to digital growth. Attendees will gain insight into how organisations are balancing innovation with energy strategy, including procurement, efficiency measures and engagement with energy markets and policy settings.   

Drawing on the first cycle of mandatory reporting, this topic highlights key lessons for boards, including common challenges, what worked well and how directors are strengthening governance, disclosure and oversight for year two and beyond.  

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.   

Focusing on the physical realities of a changing climate, this session looks at how boards respond to impacts that are already emerging, while continuing to drive emissions reduction. It will cover approaches to assessing physical risk, prioritising adaptation investments, and embedding resilience into assets, operations and supply chains. Directors will gain clarity on their role in overseeing adaptation planning and ensuring organisations are prepared for more frequent and severe climate-related events.  

Global signals on climate are becoming more fragmented, making it harder for boards to interpret international developments alongside strong and evolving domestic expectations. At the same time, the agenda facing directors is expanding beyond climate to include nature and social considerations, increasing both complexity and accountability. This discussion explores how Australian boards are responding in practice, including how these issues are being embedded into strategy, risk oversight and reporting. It will highlight what is working well, where approaches are still evolving, and what may need to change as expectations sharpen.