Home - Corporate Governance Awards

Awards categories

For our awards, individuals and companies are given the opportunity to submit written entries, free of charge, to be put forward to a panel of expert judges made up of corporate governance professionals and Governance Intelligence editorial team members.

NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS!

We are now accepting nominations for the 2025 awards! Click here to access the entry form and find out how to submit your entries. The full list of categories and criteria can be found below - simply click on the category name to view the description. The deadline to submit nominations is midnight (ET) on Friday, July 25.
The final list of categories presented at the awards ceremony are subject to change.

View the full list of 2024 winners and nominees by clicking here.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] or +44 20 8004 5339.

Categories
How winners are chosen

Best AGM

In this category, the judges will be looking at the work of corporate secretaries, general counsel and governance teams in preparing for and running annual meetings – either in-person, virtual or hybrid – that meet the governance needs of both the company and shareholders. Consideration will be given to fulfilling regulatory obligations, training and preparing management and board members, and ensuring shareholders have the opportunity for engagement before and during the AGM.

Best board assessment program

It is important that boards are periodically assessed so that changes can be made if necessary. These assessments are in many cases becoming more detailed and sophisticated. The judges will be looking for assessment programs that are thorough, innovative and tailored to a specific board where possible. Among other things, they will also be looking at whether feedback generated by an assessment has been acted on to help improve the functioning and/or composition of the board.

Best compliance and ethics program

This award will look at coordination of governance, compliance, ethics and risk management processes across the entire corporation (including all subsidiaries). The judges will consider the level of understanding and integration of good governance principles across all disciplines and a truly non-silo approach to achieving an ethical governance environment. Market cap definition: Small cap = below US$2 bn / Mid-cap = between US$2 bn - US$20 bn / Large cap = US$20 bn and over

Best director training and education program

Boards need to be properly kept up to date with relevant information and fully trained to carry out their duties effectively. As such, a key role of governance teams is making sure their board is informed on necessary issues and best practices, often with the aid of outside specialists. The judges will be looking for evidence of a program that meets these requirements for a specific board by offering extensive, relevant, timely and tailored training and education. They will also be looking for innovation in how directors are given the information and skills they need.

Best global entity management

In this category, the judges will be looking at the work of general counsel, corporate secretaries and their teams in creating and running effective and innovative global entity management programs that ensure the organization remains in compliance with all local laws. Issues for consideration include: using technology in new ways, ensuring efficiency in the program and adapting to new circumstances, rules and conditions.

Best governance around a corporate transaction

In this category, judges will be looking for innovative and effective governance work carried out before, during and/or after a corporate transaction such as an IPO, M&A deal or restructuring. This might include, for example, overhauling a company’s governance structure, combining the best elements of two companies’ arrangements or managing the regulatory and other risks arising from a transaction.

Best proxy statement (small cap)

This award will examine the completeness of legal disclosures, effectiveness of communication elements, readability, timeliness of filing, visual design elements and overall layout. Specific elements such as compensation discussion and analysis, CD&A, director profiles and ESG challenges will be given particular consideration. Market cap definition: Micro cap = below US$300 mn / Small cap = between US$300 mn - US$2 bn / Mid-cap = between US$2 bn – US$20 bn / Large cap = between US$20 bn - US$200 bn / Mega cap = US$200 bn and over

Best proxy statement (mid-cap)

Best proxy statement (large cap)

Best shareholder engagement (small to mid-cap)

Engaging in dialogue with shareholders around governance issues has taken on new importance in the era of say-on-pay. This category, introduced in 2014, will focus on ways that companies are reaching out to proxy decision-makers, often outside of proxy season, to discuss their compensation strategy and other aspects of corporate governance. Formal programs, which may include governance roadshows, shareholder forums, independent director participation, surveys and other means of engagement, will be assessed for both qualitative and quantitative results such as strengthened relationships with institutional investors or a measurable increase in proxy voting support. Market cap definition: Micro cap = below US$300 mn / Small cap = between US$300 mn - US$2 bn / Mid-cap = between US$2 bn – US$20 bn / Large cap = between US$20 bn - US$200 bn / Mega cap = US$200 bn and over

Best shareholder engagement (large cap)

Best sustainability reporting (small cap)

This entry should comment on the quality and robustness of sustainability reporting. This includes disclosures around the company’s exposure, not only across environmental issues, but the company’s governance and social issues. These can include climate change, employee health and safety, foreign corrupt practices, consumer safety and social performance. The judges will also look at a company’s understanding of the role it plays in the community, both locally and globally and how the company has reported on, and communicated their action in these areas. Market cap definition: Micro cap = below US$300 mn / Small cap = between US$300 mn - US$2 bn / Mid-cap = between US$2 bn – US$20 bn / Large cap = between US$20 bn - US$200 bn / Mega cap = US$200 bn and over

Best sustainability reporting (mid-cap)

Best sustainability reporting (large cap)

Best use of technology

The use of technology is becoming an integral part of the way corporate secretaries and other governance professionals communicate with their colleagues and with investors. Entrants should be able to show how their use of new technological tools, social media and the internet has helped to advance governance within their firm. Areas of consideration include, but are not limited to: the use of technology in board communications, shareholder engagement, company meetings, records management and information governance and the successful use of technology to facilitate transactions. The judges will also consider the accessibility of the corporate secretary, general counsel and board of directors using technology, and the quality of information distributed.

Governance professional of the year (small to mid-cap)

The judges will be looking for the most outstanding individual in a governance, compliance or legal function. Entrants should be able to show exceptional performance in advancing governance and compliance activities at their company. Areas of consideration include, but are not limited to: board structure, shareholder communications, regulatory filing, annual reports and all other areas of the company’s governance operations. Market cap definition: Micro cap = below US$300 mn / Small cap = between US$300 mn - US$2 bn / Mid-cap = between US$2 bn – US$20 bn / Large cap = between US$20 bn - US$200 bn / Mega cap = US$200 bn and over

Governance professional of the year (large cap)

Governance team of the year (small to mid-cap)

The size and scope of teams involved in achieving sound governance are growing. Some companies have dozens of people working solely on compliance and governance. This award will look at the best overall governance team in the country, and what it has achieved in the past 12 months. How does the size of the team compare with the size of the company? How have team numbers changed in recent years? Who is involved and what training do they get? Market cap definition: Micro cap = below US$300 mn / Small cap = between US$300 mn - US$2 bn / Mid-cap = between US$2 bn – US$20 bn / Large cap = between US$20 bn - US$200 bn / Mega cap = US$200 bn and over

Governance team of the year (large cap)

Outstanding work by an independent director

The focus of the Corporate Governance Awards is the work general counsel, corporate secretaries and other governance professionals do in service of their board and company. In this special category, judges will be looking for governance-related achievements by a named individual, independent director. That might be in leading an initiative to enhance bylaws or the proxy statement, to engage with shareholders – perhaps around a proxy contest – or to push the company to enhance its ESG-related efforts and disclosures. Judges will be looking for an individual board member who has gone above and beyond their normal duties to support good governance.

Rising Star

The judges will be looking for the best newcomer to a governance or compliance role. This person will have been in the profession less than 10 years and have less than 15 years of professional experience, achieving demonstrable success in driving good governance or implementing change at his or her company, advancing academic thinking or making a significant contribution to the governance community at large.

The judging process consists of three simple phases:

Phase one: Once the entry deadline has passed, the Governance Intelligence editorial team reviews all submissions and produces the short list

Phase two: The short-listed entries are shared with an independent judging panel made up of industry experts. The judges review each short-listed entry and select their top two picks per category

Phase three: The judges come together to discuss, debate and select the final list of winners who will go on to win an award

The judges’ votes are not made public, but their comments may be published in articles or reports after the event. Judges are not required to make comments against every submission.

Market cap definition

Small cap = below US$2 bn
Mid-cap = between US$2 bn – US$20 bn
Large cap = US$20 bn and over

Meet the judges

We are delighted to announce our judging panel for the 2025 awards! Click on each photo below to find out more. Further judges to be announced.

Joan Conley
Board member
Tigo Energy

*Scoring selected categories

Ms. Conley has served as a Senior Advisor on Corporate Governance & ESG Programs at Nasdaq, Inc., since December 2020. In December 2020, Ms. Conley retired from her executive role as the Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary following nineteen years at Nasdaq, Inc., responsible for Corporate Governance Global Ethics and Corporate Compliance, and the Nasdaq Educational Foundation. In her current role, Ms. Conley engages with C-Suite executives on current and emerging corporate governance matters. On a quarterly basis, Ms. Conley produces the Nasdaq Emerging Governance Issues for Boards and Executive Team Members. Ms. Conley has a passion for entrepreneurship and served as a founding Board Member of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center (2014 to 2020). Prior to joining Nasdaq, Inc. in 2001, Ms. Conley was at FINRA for over fifteen years as the Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary (1994 to 2001) and the Director of Human Resources (1986-1994).

In 2021, Ms. Conley was elected to the Board of Tigo Energy, where she serves as Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee and Member of the Audit and Compensation Committee.

Ms. Conley is a member of the Society of Corporate Governance Professionals, Extraordinary Women on Boards and a founding member of the Harvard Law School Corporate Governance Forum. In 2024 Ms Conley began a program of studies in Digital Transformation at Harvard Business School Online where in August 2024 she received a certification in AI Essentials for Business. Ms. Conley received a BA in Economics from Dominican University and an MS in Industrial & Labor Relations from Loyola University of Chicago. Ms. Conley studied Economics at London School of Economics during her undergraduate studies.
Matt Geekie
SVP, secretary and general counsel
Graybar

*Scoring selected categories

Matt Geekie is senior vice president, secretary and general counsel for Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical and communications products and related supply chain management and logistics services. Graybar celebrated in 2019 150 years as a company and 90 years of employee ownership. A member of Graybar’s board of directors, Geekie is responsible for corporate governance and the legal and risk management functions of the company. He also serves as Chairman of Graybar’s Canadian subsidiary.

Geekie’s broad-based legal experience includes corporate law, corporate governance, cybersecurity, mergers and acquisitions, commercial and securities law, ethics, risk management, intellectual property, product liability and export/import law. Under his leadership, Graybar achieved national recognition for excellence in corporate governance in 2015, 2016 and 2018.

Geekie currently serves as a Member of the Board of the St. Louis Community Foundation, as Chair of its Executive and Gift Acceptance Committees, and as a Member of its Finance and Audit and Strategic Planning Committees; as a Member of the Saint Louis Zoo Association Government Relations, Investment, and Long-Range Plan Implementation Committees; as a Member of the Saint Louis Zoo’s Marlin Perkins Society; as a Member of the Board of The Oasis Institute and on its Executive and Finance Committees; and as a Member of the Greater St. Louis Inc. Government
Relations Council. He is also a Member of the Board of CK Power, a Member of the St. Louis/Chicago Regional FM Global Advisory Board and a Member of the Board of the Missouri Law Institute.
Eileen Kamerick
Non-executive director
Associated Banc-corp, ACV Auctions, Valic Company and chairman of the board for Legg Mason Closed End Funds

Ms. Kamerick consults and lectures on corporate governance and compliance matters and is an NACD Board Leadership Fellow and has completed the NACD Director Certification exam. She previously served as CFO of such leading companies as BP Amoco Americas, Leo Burnett, Heidrick & Struggles, and Houlihan Lokey.

She began her career as a lawyer at the law firm of Skadden Arps. She holds a JD and an MBA, with honors, in Finance and International Business from the University of Chicago. She holds a BA from Boston College where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was valedictorian. Ms. Kamerick is a member of the Board of Directors for Associated Banc-Corp, ACV Auctions, Valic Company I, and 18 closed end Legg Mason mutual funds where she serves as Lead Independent Director. She served on the Board of Directors for ServiceMaster and IRI before both companies were purchased by private equity firms. She qualifies as an SEC financial expert and chairs one audit committee and one corporate governance and social responsibility committee.

She was profiled as a Director to Watch in 2016 by Directors and Boards magazine and in The Board Game: How Smart Women Become Corporate Directors. She was named among the Most Influential Corporate Directors for 2019 by Women Inc magazine. She was named as a top 100 Director by NACD in 2022, a peer nominated award recognizing leaders in board service and corporate governance.

She is a lecturer at University of Chicago Law School, Georgetown Law Center, and University of Iowa College of Law and for the NACD Battlefield to Boardroom board readiness program.
Alex Wisnewski
VP, proxy voting and governance
BNY

Alex Wisnewski joined BNY in 2019 and is a VP on the Proxy Voting and Governance team for BNY Investment Management. The team is responsible for managing BNY’s internal proxy voting polices, guidelines and operational functions for over $2 trillion in assets at over 12,000 issuers on behalf of the firm’s clients. Alex has expertise in assessing executive compensation, human capital management, social and environmental risks, and corporate governance matters in the US market.
Laurie Havelock
Editor
Governance Intelligence

Laurie Havelock is a journalist, writer and podcaster who has worked with IR Magazine for more than a decade. He was previously assistant business editor at the Daily Telegraph and acting business and money editor at the i newspaper. In his spare time, he is a keen boardgamer and hosts a podcast about them called Idle Fantasy. He lives in London with his husky, Mischa.

Hall of fame

Past winners of our coveted Corporate Governance Awards are invited to be inducted into the Corporate Governance Awards Hall of Fame. This is an exclusive alum organization reserved only for individual winners of our awards including the categories – Best Governance Professional across all cap sizes and Lifetime Achievement award winners.

Click here to view the full list of honorees.

Highlights

View the highlights from the 2024 awards ceremony

Who attends our events

Attendees at our awards are leading practitioners from across the US. Each participant is someone with an established track record and a strategic GRC role within their company.

Some of our past attendees include:

Job title	Company	Job title	Company
Associate general counsel	ManpowerGroup	Manager, corporate governance and securities	Bunge
Attorney	The Williams Companies	Partner	K&L Gates
Chief corporate governance officer	Huntington National Bank	Partner	Vistra
Company secretary	Willis Towers Watson	Senior counsel	The Williams Companies
Corporate paralegal	Splunk	Senior director, corporate legal	Splunk
Corporate sustainability officer, Americas	JLL	Senior legal specialist	Kyndryl Holdings
Deputy general counsel	JLL	SVP and general counsel	The Williams Companies
Director, corporate governance	Prudential Financial	SVP, deputy general counsel & corporate secretary	AIG
Director, environmental data analytics & reporting	Phillips 66 Company	SVP, general counsel and corporate secretary	Avangrid
Director, ESG	AT&T	SVP, general counsel and secretary	Gentherm Incorporated
Director, ESG program & strategy	IBM	VP & assistant corporate secretary	Kyndryl Holdings
Director, investor relations	IBM	VP & deputy general counsel	Microsoft
General counsel	Willis Towers Watson	VP, assistant general counsel & secretary	IBM
General counsel and corporate secretary	JLL	VP, assistant general counsel, corporate secretary	The Williams Companies
General counsel and secretary	ManpowerGroup	VP, compensation	Voya Financial
General manager, ESG & sustainability	Phillips 66 Company	VP, corporate counsel and ESG	Healthpeak Properties
Global chief sustainability officer & head of ESG	Cognizant Technology Solutions	VP, corporate governance	Prudential Financial
Head, ESG	First Horizon Corporation	VP, deputy general counsel	Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Request full attendee list

What our attendees say

"As was said by many, compliance is a critical function in today’s corporate world. Yet, those engaged in that effort receive insufficient attention. Corporate Secretary, generally, and this event in particular, shine appropriate light on not only the substance of ethics, compliance and good governance, but also put faces to the names who lead in this field."

Graybar Electric Company

"The flow and format of the event were excellent!"

Robert Half International

"I enjoyed the Corporate Governance Awards very much. Thank you for the invitation. It was a lot of fun and very well organized. Congratulations!"

Quanta Services

"It is important that the good work done by many members of the corporate governance community be highlighted, and I particularly appreciate the opportunity for recognition offered to smaller companies and rising stars."

Argyle

"The awards are external validation for the work being done by the governance groups within companies whose work might go unseen by the average employee. Having a physical trophy is a good representation of the hard work of those teams"

Lockheed Martin Corporation

"A great production!"

Broadridge

Become a partner

Why partner with us?

Our awards provide a unique opportunity to get in front of some of the most influential people in the GRC community. As a partner, you will gain an extensive amount of exposure through a wide range of print and digital marketing materials, both pre and post event, as well as on the day itself. Additionally, you can use the event to align yourself with GRC excellence and network with key decision makers from across the region – the ones pushing the profession forward through innovation.

Partnering with the event will provide:

A chance to network with qualified, senior decision-makers in the GRC community
Increased awareness and credibility through association with the region’s leading awards
New business opportunities through higher-brand presence among current and potential clients
The chance to entertain clients at the most respected event of the year
Exposure as the market leader in your chosen area by sponsoring the awards category that best reflects your area of expertise

All our partnerships are created using a mix of branding, thought leadership, lead generation and meetings with your target audience. You tell us your objectives and we will work with you to create you a package that makes sense for your company and will help you achieve those objectives. To find out more get in touch with Ian Richman or call on +1 212 430 6865.

Inquire about partnerships

Corporate Governance AwardsCelebrating excellence in governance

Thursday, November 6, 2025

About the awards

Awards categories