Directors' Briefing: Recent Episodes
Institute of Directors
The Institute of Directors' Policy Unit provides timely updates, insights and commentary on the key issues impacting business leaders.
In this episode, Marc Strathie, IoD Senior Policy Advisor for Devolved Nations, is joined by Sir John Curtice, British political scientist, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde and senior research fellow at the National Centre for Social Research.
Together they discuss the upcoming UK General Election and 25 years of devolution.
In this Director’s Briefing podcast, Dr. Roger Barker is joined by Jennifer Sundberg (Co-Chief Executive, Board Intelligence) and Ann Hiatt (Leadership Strategist, Hipergiant Consulting) to discuss the concept of Collective Intelligence. In contrast to the view that it is great individuals that build successful organisations, Jennifer and Ann advocate for a business model that taps into the collective talent of employees at all levels. Every company has a vast reservoir of brainpower, and it is the task of business leaders to make the most of that resource.
Our AI podcast series continues, led by the IoD Science Innovation and Technology Expert Advisory Group.
In this episode, the EAG’s Chair, Faisal Khan and EAG members, Pauline Norstrom and Paul Corcoran are joined by Lord Clement-Jones CBE, to discuss regulating AI and what more we can do.
In this episode, Sasha Trapani (IoD Press and Policy Officer) is joined by Heather Buchanan (Co-Founder and CEO of Bankers for NetZero), Sarah Kemmitt (Secretariat Lead, Net-Zero Banking Alliance, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative) and Matt Bullivant (Director of Sustainability and ESG Strategy at OakNorth) to discuss the role of banks in the transition to net zero.
In this episode, Hugo Legh, IoD Head of Marketing and Communications, is joined by Dr Roger Barker, IoD Director of Policy and Corporate Governance, Alexandra Hall-Chen, Principal Policy Advisor for Sustainability, Skills, and Employment, and Emma Rowland, Trade Policy Advisor, to discuss the publication of the IoD’s Manifesto for Business: A policy roadmap for the next UK Government.
The Manifesto puts forward policy recommendations relating to key areas of concern for IoD members. These include the UK’s growth and productivity outlook, skills shortages, the net zero transition, exporting challenges and the UK corporate governance framework.
In this episode, Dr Roger Barker, IoD Director of Policy and Corporate Governance, Richard Moorhead, Professor of Law and Professional Ethics at the University of Exeter, Nick Gould, Partner at Aria Grace Law, and Mary Campbell OBE, Founder and CEO of Blas and Resilient Corporates, discuss the shocking governance issues arising from the Post Office Horizon Scandal.
Taking a deep dive into this failure of governance, they explore the role of the board and consider if any lessons have been learned. What can directors do now to avoid making the same mistakes?
In the last Directors’ Briefing episode of the year, we have brought together leading experts from the Institute of Directors (IoD), Federation of Small Business (FSB), the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Make UK to discuss the most notable business policy developments of 2023.
Dr Roger Barker (Director of Policy and Governance at the IoD), Craig Beaumont (Chief of External Affairs at FSB), Alex Veitch (Director of Policy and Insights at the BCC) and Fhaheen Khan (Senior Economist at Make UK) also look forward to 2024 and consider the policy options ahead of the next General Election.
We’re back for part two of our review of books from the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year 2023 longlist.
In this Business Book Club episode, IoD Press & Policy Officer Sasha Trapani hosts a review of 3 books, and is joined by IoD Council Member Dr Eelco Fiole, IoD Chair Central Scotland Neil Bradbrook, and IoD Sponsorship Manager Jamie Watt.
The books up for review are: ‘Easy Money’ by Ben McKenzie and Jacob Silverman, ‘The Coming Wave’ by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskar and ‘Blood in the Machine’ by Brain Merchant
You can find the full longlist here: https://www.ft.com/content/f095af0c-9259-44c6-ad91-bafb411522ba
Our AI podcast series continues, led by the IoD Science Innovation and Technology Expert Advisory GroupIn the second episode, ‘AI: the hype and reality’, the EAG’s Chair, Faisal Khan and EAG members, Pauline Norstrom and Rob Noble cover the myths of AI, and the truth behind them.
In this episode of the Business Book Club, the IoD's Press & Policy Officer, Sasha Trapani, hosts a review of three books from the FT and Schroders 'Business Book of the Year 2023' longlist, with IoD Council Members, Andrew Griffiths and Anneliese Reinhold, and IoD Head of Marketing & Communications Hugo Legh.
The books on this list chosen for review this episode are: 'Five Times Faster' by Simon Sharpe, 'Material World' by Ed Conway, and 'Right Kind of Wrong' by Amy Edmondson.
You can find the full longlist here: https://www.ft.com/content/f095af0c-9259-44c6-ad91-bafb411522ba
The IoD is delighted to launch a new series of podcasts, covering all things artificial intelligence, led by the IoD Science Innovation and Technology Expert Advisory Group.
In the first episode, ‘What is AI?’, the EAG’s Chair, Faisal Khan and EAG members, Pauline Norstrom and Paul Corcoran cover the technology of AI and the impact on business.
In this episode, Dr Roger Barker, IoD Director of Policy and Governance, Dr Sophie Dale-Black, British Business Bank Director (UK Network - Midlands and North of England) and Scott O'Brien, Innovate UK Chief Investment Officer and Director (Innovation Finance), discuss ‘Fast growth companies: where to find support, partners and finance’.
The Institute of Directors’ Centre for Corporate Governance has published a report, Are Boards Losing Control?, looking at the biggest challenges facing companies over the next five to ten years, evaluating the level of control boards have, and the actions required by boards and policymakers to address these issues.
In this episode, Dr Roger Barker and Chris Hodge, author of the report and the Centre for Corporate Governance’s senior adviser, discuss the findings of this work, and reflect on the current state of business leadership.
In this episode of the Business Book Club, the IoD’s Events & Sponsorship Lead Sophie Breeden hosts a review of three books from the FT’s ‘best summer business books 2023’ list with IoD Chief Economist Kitty Ussher, IoD Press and Policy Officer Sasha Trapani and IoD Council Member Anneliese Reinhold.
The books on this list chosen for review are: ‘How Big Things Get Done’ by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner, ‘Wonder Boy’ by Angel Au-Yeung and David Jeans, and ‘The Microstress Effect’ by Rob Cross and Karen Dillon.
You can find the FT’s ‘best summer business book 2023’ list here: https://www.ft.com/content/67fb4865-8913-4ae6-85a3-e60e28930fdd
Our new series of podcasts with senior political figures active in business policy continues. In this episode, IoD National Director for Scotland, Catherine McWilliam, talks to Richard Thomson MP, SNP spokesperson for Business and Trade.
Continuing our series of podcasts with senior political figures active in business policy, IoD Policy Director Dr Roger Barker talks to Sarah Olney MP, LibDem spokesperson for Business and Treasury.
In the second of our new series of podcasts with senior political figures active in business policy, IoD Policy Director Dr Roger Barker talks to Seema Malhotra MP, Shadow Minister for Business and Consumers, about her background and priorities.
In this episode of the Business Book Club, the IoD’s Dr Roger Barker discusses the book, 'The Nine Types of Leader: How the Leaders of Tomorrow Can Learn from The Leaders of Today', with its author James Ashton, as well as IoD Chair Patrick Macdonald, IoD Isle of Man Chair Jennifer Houghton and spokesperson for the IoD Policy and Governance Ambassadors Rashmi Dube.You can order a copy of 'The Nice Types of Leader' here: The Nine Types of Leader: How the Leaders of Tomorrow Can Learn from The Leaders of Today: Amazon.co.uk: Ashton, James: 9781789666960: Books
In this episode of the Directors' Briefing podcast, Centre for Corporate Governance Adviser Chris Hodge discusses integrating sustainability, strategy and governance with corporate governance/ESG experts Stilpon Nestor and Tina Mavraki.
In the first of a new series of podcasts with senior political figures active in business policy, IoD Policy Director Dr Roger Barker talks to Kevin Hollinrake MP, the Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business.
In this episode of the Directors' Briefing podcast Emma Rowland, Policy Advisor on Trade, speaks to IoD members Michael Lorimer, CEO of DCS Group, and Christopher Beckford, Commercial Creative of Creativo Oculus, about the challenges of exporting in a post Brexit world.
In this episode of the Business Book Club, the IoD’s Dr Roger Barker discusses the book ‘Boards’ with its author, Patrick Dunne, and senior media executive coach and experienced board director Monica Chadha.
You can order a copy of ‘Boards’ by Patrick Dunne here: https://www.governance.co.uk/product/boards/?v=79cba1185463
In this episode of the Directors' Briefing podcast Alex Hall-Chen, Principal Policy Advisor for Skills at the IoD, is joined by Hannah Stolton, CEO of Governors for Schools, and Kaye Bettey, Non Executive Director at the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, to discuss developments in school governance in recent years and the case for stronger business-education collaboration on governance.
In this episode of the Directors' Briefing podcast Dr Roger Barker, Alex Hall-Chen and Hugo Legh discuss the Outlook for Business in 2023. Members can view our 'Outlook for Business in 2023' paper here: The Outlook for Business in 2023 | Blogs | IoD
In this episode of the Directors' Briefing podcast Dr Roger Barker, Director of Policy and Governance at the IoD, and Chris Hodge, Senior Advisor at the IoD Centre for Corporate Governance discuss the findings of the Governance and Innovation report.
In this episode of the Directors' Briefing podcast Emma Rowland, Trade Policy Advisor at the IoD, discusses our new policy paper 'Restoring Confidence in Cross-Border Trade'. You can read the full policy paper here: https://www.iod.com/app/uploads/2022/10/IoD-Trade-Report-1-36c2fdc2a7da4f993dfe3eebf4455a0a.pdf
In the first episode of the IoD Business Book Club Dr Roger Barker, Director of Policy at the IoD, Alex Hall-Chen, Senior Policy Advisor and Patrick MacDonald, Chair of the IoD review three books from the Financial Times' Business Book of the Year 2022 Shortlist.
- Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century by Helen Thompson
- The Power Law: Venture Capital and the Art of Disruption by Sebastian Mallaby
- Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller
In this episode of the Directors' Briefing podcast, Julian Richer, Founder and Managing Director of Richer Sounds, discusses what he's learned from decades in business, his motivation for setting up the Good Business Charter and why IoD members should consider it.
In this episode of the Directors' Briefing podcast, Dr Roger Barker, Director of Policy at the IoD, and Lord Shinkwin discuss the findings of the Shinkwin Commission.
In this episode of the Shinkwin Commission podcast, Dr Roger Barker, Director of Policy and Governance at the IoD, discusses the role of boards in ED&I with Julie Ashworth, Chair of IoD Edinburgh and Women on Boards Presenter and Advisor.
In this episode of the podcast Chris Hodge, Senior Advisor at the IoD Centre for Corporate Governance, discusses the link between governance and innovation from a large company view with Megan Pantelides, Executive Director Researcher at Board Intelligence.
In this episode of the Director Role Model podcast Georgie Holden is joined by Lukas Haitzmann, co-founder of Greena World and Guinness World Record Holder. Lukas discusses what it is like to run a business at 22 years old, and the skills he gained from becoming the youngest person to sail across any ocean solo and unassisted, at just 18 years old.
In this episode of the podcast Chris Hodge, Senior Advisor at the IoD Centre for Corporate Governance, discusses the link between governance and innovation from an academic's perspective with Dr Tom Gosling, Executive Fellow at London Business School and Executive Fellow at European Corporate Governance Institute.
In this episode of the podcast Chris Hodge, Senior Advisor at the IoD Centre for Corporate Governance, discusses the link between governance and innovation from an investors perspective with George Dallas, Policy Director at the International Corporate Governance Network.
In this episode of the Shinkwin Commission podcast, Alex Hall-Chen, Senior Policy Advisor on Inclusion and Diversity at the IoD, discusses the importance of creating equitable and inclusive workplaces for women with Esther Teeken, COO and Board member at the IoD, and Dr Zara Nanu MBE, CEO of GapSquare.
In this Directors' Briefing podcast, Dr Roger Barker (IoD Policy Director) and Chris Hodge (IoD Governance Advisor) discuss latest developments in corporate governance reform with Alex Hall-Chen (IoD Senior Policy Advisor).
In this episode of the Shinkwin Commission podcast, Alex Hall-Chen, Senior Policy Advisor on Inclusion and Diversity at the IoD, discusses the importance of creating LGBTQ+ inclusive workplaces with Paul Donovan, Chief Economist at UBS and Professor Lee Badgett, Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and author of The Economic Case for LGBT Equality: Why Fair and Equal Treatment Benefits Us All.
In this episode of the Directors’ Briefing podcast Dr Roger Barker, Director of Policy and Governance at the IoD, and Chris Hodge, Senior Advisor at the IoD Centre for Corporate Governance discuss the Centre’s new inquiry into governance and innovation. The inquiry will explore the extent to which companies’ governance arrangements, and the governance framework within which they operate, encourage or deter innovation.
In this episode of the Shinkwin Commission podcast Hugo Legh, Media and Comms Lead at the IoD interview Stephanie Boyce, President of the Law Society and Rashmi Dubé, National Spokesperson for IoD Policy and Governance Ambassadors and Partner at GunnerCooke about the importance of ethnic diversity in the workplace.
In our latest Directors’ Briefing podcast, the IoD’s Director of Policy and Governance Dr Roger Barker speaks to Seamus Gillen about his new book, Building Better Boards: How to lead and succeed in a changing world.
After a career working as a Chartered Secretary, a company secretary and company director, and as Policy Director of ICSA, the Chartered Governance Institute, Seamus Gillen has spent the past 15 years advising clients around the UK, and internationally, on their governance journeys. He is the founder of Value Alpha, a resource network for those working in the field of corporate governance.
Seamus’ new book – ‘Building Better Boards: How to lead and succeed in a changing world’ – is being published on 7th July 2022.
The book is a reflection on working with boards, and directors, from jurisdictions all over the world – some the very best, others struggling. And how it is possible to move from the latter to the former. It references progressive thinking from regulatory guidance, Code principles, thought leadership and case studies to argue that commercially-focused governance is a business enabler, an underpin for organisational success, and the source of lasting value creation.
Lord Shinkwin interviews Steve Ingham, CEO PageGroup, on the importance of diversity in the workplace.
In this episode of the Directors' Briefing podcast, Hugo Legh, Kitty Ussher and Alex Hall-Chen discuss 'The Green Incentive: how to put net zero at the heart of business planning'. This policy paper sets out four specific medium-term recommendations which would incentivise businesses, and particularly smaller businesses, to play their part in decarbonising the economy.
In this Director Role Model podcast, we interview Brendan Digney, an IoD Young Directors’ Ambassador for Northern Ireland and IoD Student Director of the Year Finalist, about launching a business at 22 years old while studying for a Masters.
The IoD’s Director of Policy, Dr Roger Barker, was joined by the following expert panel:
- Kitty Ussher, Chief Economist, Institute of Directors
- Chris Forrest, Head of SME UK, Barclays
- Ian Stewart, Chief Economist, Deloitte
In this Directors' Briefing podcast, we discuss the British Chambers of Commerce campaign that we are supporting, calling on the Government to stop using the outdated word ‘chairman’.
In this Director Role Model podcast, we interview Harry Panter, an IoD Ambassador for Manchester, about launching a business at 21 years old.
In this episode, we discuss the forthcoming rise to National Insurance contributions and the IoD's campaign against it, #ScrapTheJobsTax.
You can sign the online #ScrapTheJobsTax petition here: https://chng.it/zNg8fXgdpY
In this episode, we discuss ESG priorities for companies in 2022, following the publication of an IoD Policy Paper on the issue. In addition to the report's author, Dr Roger Barker (IoD Director of Policy and Corporate Governance), we are joined by Gillian Karran-Cumberlege (Co-founder of Fidelio Partners and Board Member of Chapter Zero, the Directors’ Climate Forum), Yanos Michopoulos (IoD corporate governance and leadership course leader and Chair of the Board of Directors of DESFA) and Chris Hodge (senior adviser to the IoD’s Centre for Corporate Governance).
In this episode, we discuss the prospects and priorities for 2022 with Dr Roger Barker, Director of Policy, and Kitty Ussher, Chief Economist.
Hosted by Andrew Griffiths, Chair of the IoD's National Sustainability Taskforce (and Director of Planet Mark), this Directors' Briefing podcast was recorded as part of a webinar on the business implications of COP26. Andrew is joined by: IoD Senior Policy Advisor, Alex Hall-Chen; John Scott, Head of Sustainability Risk at Zurich Insurance Group; and Gillian Karran-Cumberlege, Co-Founder of Fidelio Partners and Board Member of Chapter Zero.
In this Director Role Model podcast, we interview Dr Suzy Walton, a member of the IoD Board. As well as her fascinating career, Suzy also sets out her views on childcare policy.
Chief Economist Kitty Ussher discusses the Budget and Spending Review with Director of Policy Dr Roger Barker.
In this Director Role Model podcast, Hugo Legh interviews Sara Schroter, Co-chair, IoD Bermuda.
In this episode of the Director Role Model podcast, Media and Comms Lead Hugo Legh interviews Reena Dayal, the IoD's Acting Chair for Central London.
In this episode of the Director Role Model podcast, Media and Comms Lead Hugo Legh interviews Delroy Beverley, the IoD's Chair for Yorkshire and the North East.
In the first of the IoD's Director Role Model podcasts, timed to coincide with Black History Month, Media and Comms Lead Hugo Legh interviews Inez Brown, the IoD's Chair for the West Midlands region.
In this episode of the Directors' Briefing, Hugo Legh talks to Chief Economist Kitty Ussher about the Directors' Economic Confidence Index
Dr Roger Barker, the IoD's Director of Policy, interviews new Chief Economist Kitty Ussher on the outlook for the UK economy.
Dr Roger Barker (Policy and Corporate Governance Director), Amin Aboushagor (Policy Advisor on corporate governance) and Chris Hodge (Senior Advisor to the IoD’s Centre for Corporate Governance) speak to Hugo Legh (Media and Comms Lead) on the ‘Restoring Trust in Audit and Corporate Governance’ White Paper. You can see our response to the White Paper here: https://www.iod.com/news-campaigns/press-office/details/IoD-responds-to-Government-proposals-for-audit-and-corporate-governance-reform
The Institute of Directors' Governance and Policy Unit provides timely updates, insights, and commentary on the key issues impacting business leaders. In this episode, Joe Fitzsimons, Senior Policy Advisor, speaks to departing Chief Economist, Tej Parikh, reflecting on his 4 year stint in the role in a period spanning Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Institute of Directors' Governance and Policy Unit provides timely updates, insights, and commentary on the key issues impacting business leaders. In this episode, Tej Parikh, Chief Economist, and Joe Fitzsimons, Senior Policy Advisor, discuss 'levelling up' reflecting on the IoD's Connected Economies, People, and Places report.
The Institute of Directors' Governance and Policy Unit provides timely updates, insights and commentary on the key issues impacting business leaders. In this episode, Tej Parikh, Chief Economist, and Joe Fitzsimons, Senior Policy Advisor, discuss the reopening of the economy, and its implications for business and policy.
The IoD's Business Barometer Breakfasts tackle key questions raised by members on the Policy Voice survey platform. In this episode, Tej Parikh, Chief Economist, and Joe Fitzsimons, Senior Policy Advisor, answer queries from business leaders ranging from the green economy, to Brexit and the return to work.
On 18 March, the Government launched a long awaited White Paper: Restoring Trust in Audit and Corporate Governance - Proposals on Reforms. In this IoD Podcast, Roger Barker, Deborah Morton-Dare and Steve Giles explore the key points of this wide-ranging consultation document, and consider if it can be viewed as a ‘game changer’ for company directors and auditors.
Dr. Roger Barker is Director of Policy and Corporate Governance at the IoD. Deborah Morton-Dare and Steve Giles are both former Big 4 auditors, and they both teach Finance and Governance on the IoD’s professional development programmes.
https://www.iod.com/training/iod-approach/expert-practitioners/deborah-morton-dare
https://www.iod.com/training/iod-approach/expert-practitioners/steve-giles
The Institute of Directors' Governance and Policy Unit provides timely updates, insights and commentary on the key issues impacting business leaders. In this episode, Lisa Townsend, Media and Communications lead, speaks with Tej Parikh, Chief Economist, Joe Fitzsimons, Senior Policy Advisor, and Roger Barker, Director of Policy and Corporate Governance, about this week's Budget, alongside the Khalifa Review and Lord Hill's listing review.
The Institute of Directors' Governance and Policy Unit provides timely updates, insights and commentary on the key issues impacting business leaders. In this episode, Joe Fitzsimons, Senior Policy Advisor, speaks with Tej Parikh, Chief Economist, about what we may be expecting from the Budget on Wednesday.
The Institute of Directors' Governance and Policy Unit provides timely updates, insights and commentary on the key issues impacting business leaders. In this episode, Joe Fitzsimons, Senior Policy Advisor, speaks with Tej Parikh, Chief Economist, about the much-awaited roadmap to re-open the economy, and what directors are looking for from it.
The Institute of Directors' Governance and Policy Unit provides timely updates, insights and commentary on the key issues impacting business leaders. In this episode, Joe Fitzsimons, Senior Policy Advisor, speaks with Tej Parikh, Chief Economist, about the long term factors affecting the UK's economic recovery from the pandemic.
The Institute of Directors' Governance and Policy Unit provides timely updates, insights and commentary on the key issues impacting business leaders. In this first episode, Joe Fitzsimons, Senior Policy Advisor, speaks to Tej Parikh, Chief Economist, about the latest Covid-19 developments, the economy, and the forthcoming Budget in March.