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 active board members, corporate governance experts and Governance Intelligence editorial team members.

NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES

We are now accepting entries for the 2026 awards! Click here to access the entry form and find out how you can submit your nominations via our entry guidelines. Further information about the category criteria can be viewed by clicking on the category boxes below. The entry deadline is 11.59 pm (ET) on Friday, July 31.

You can view the full list of 2025 nominees and winners by clicking here.

Final list of categories is subject to change.

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

Categories
How winners are chosen

Best AGM

Did you and your team run a noteworthy or innovative annual general meeting this past season? Judges will be looking at the work of corporate secretaries, general counsel and governance teams in preparing for and running annual meetings whether they are 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. Evidence can include notice of meeting and formal agenda, risk mitigation plans, regulatory compliance summaries, attendance metrics, Q&A participation statistics, screenshots of the online platform, shareholder registry journey etc.

Best board assessment program

Board evaluations are essential to ensure continuous improvement, with modern assessment programs becoming increasingly rigorous and sophisticated. 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. Evidence can include board assessment methodology (interviews, surveys, observations, peer reviews), skills matrix analysis, succession planning review, objectives and rationale.

Best compliance and ethics program

This award will celebrate the coordination and strength of governance, compliance, ethics and risk management processes across the entire corporation (including all subsidiaries). Judges will be looking at the level of understanding and integration of good governance principles across all disciplines championing those who adopt a truly non-siloed approach to achieving an ethical governance environment. Evidence can include board oversight framework, ethics committee framework, independence safeguards, third-party risk assessment processes, risk review processes, code of conduct and manager training programs.

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. 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. Evidence can include Boards skills gap analysis, onboarding framework, industry disruptor risk, committee specific training, training format (in-person, online or hybrid), annual training calendar.

Best global entity management

Entity management remains the often overlooked yet crucial foundation supporting effective governance, ensuring transparency, mitigating risk and enabling strategic agility across multinational enterprises. 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. Evidence can include global entity management policies, subsidiary governance reviews, software tools and integration, risk mitigation and heat mapping.

Best governance around a corporate transaction

Corporate transactions are a tumultuous time for an organization due to a combination of high-stakes financial pressure, complex regulatory hurdles and intense cultural clashes. 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. Evidence can include combined governance policies and documentation, regulatory framework, approach to restructuring plans, company-wide audit and risk management.

Best proxy statement (small cap)

Over the years, the proxy statement has evolved from dense compliance filings into a critical tool for communicating with shareholders that shape investor perception. Judges will be looking at the completeness of legal disclosures, effectiveness of communication elements, readability, timeliness of filing, visual design elements and overall layout. Consideration will be given to specific elements such as compensation discussion and analysis, director profiles and ESG challenges. Evidence can include a copy of your most recent proxy statement with select extracts relevant to your submission. Details of how your proxy stands out and shareholder engagement impact. 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 will focus on the 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. Judges will be looking for formal programs, which may include governance roadshows, shareholder forums, independent director participation, surveys and other means of engagement. These will be assessed for both qualitative and quantitative results such as strengthened relationships with institutional investors or a measurable increase in proxy voting support. Evidence can include a copy of your most recent proxy statement with select extracts relevant to your submission. Engagement strategy and governance frameworks, engagement formats (1:1, governance roadshows, investor calls), metrics on engaged shareholders and impact on votes. 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 award recognizes 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. Judges will be looking for exceptional reporting on 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. Evidence can include ESG and proxy reports, qualitive targets, framework alignment with reporting standards (e.g. ISSB and SASB) and integration with financial reporting. 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. Judges will be looking for 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. Evidence can include details of technology type, tools and scope, quantifiable evidence of board-level impact and corporate efficiencies, cyber-security frameworks and governance oversight and details of change management and training. *Recognizing that technology is now embedded across governance teams of every size, this year we’ve broadened the category to welcome nominations from both publicly listed and private companies

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

This award honors the most outstanding individual in governance, compliance or legal function. Entrants should be able to show exceptional performance in advancing governance and compliance activities at their company. Judges will be looking for examples of laudable work across board structure, shareholder communications, regulatory filing, annual reports as well as all other areas of the company’s governance operations. Evidence can include clear scope of role and influence (not a job description), evidence of governance leadership and/or crisis management, clear outcomes and measurable results, and personal testimonials. 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. Judges will be looking for teams that operate effectively to deliver tangible results for their organization. Questions include: 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? Evidence can include team size, mandate and scope. Examples of crisis or complex event management, measures to ensure cross team collaboration. Clear outcomes and measurable results. 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)

Rising star

This trophy is 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. Judges will be looking for 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. Evidence can include clear scope of role and influence (not a job description), evidence of proactive governance leadership and/or crisis management, clear outcomes and measurable results, and personal testimonials.

Lifetime achievement

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 shortlist.

Phase two: The shortlisted entries are shared with an independent judging panel made up of active board members and corporate governance experts. The judges review each shortlisted 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

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

Meet the judges

We are delighted to announce our judging panel for the 2026 awards! Click on each photo below to find out more.

Christine Battist
Independent director
Capital Southwest Corporation and Highland Bank

Christine Battist is an independent board director and global financial executive known for strengthening governance, elevating risk oversight, and guiding organizations through transformational growth. Her experience spans public, private, PE‑backed, and Fortune 500 companies, with deep expertise in financial services and real estate.

A former global CFO and qualified financial expert, Christine has led enterprise‑wide risk management, complex capital markets transactions, and strategic M&A initiatives across multiple economic cycles. Her background includes structuring sophisticated financing solutions, scaling organizations from start‑up through IPO, and overseeing global financial operations. Earlier in her career, she led Investor Relations for a Fortune 500 company, building trusted relationships with institutional shareholders and the sell side—experience that informs her boardroom perspective on shareholder value creation, transparency, and long‑term strategy.

Christine serves as an independent director for Capital Southwest Corporation (NASDAQ: CSWC) and Highland Bank, where she contributes to audit, governance, and risk committee leadership. She previously served as Lead Director at Bolt Project Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BSLK), guiding the company through its strategic transition. Dedicated to community impact, she also served on the board of Girl Scouts River Valleys.

Across her board roles, Christine is recognized for her disciplined approach to risk governance, her ability to navigate regulatory and market complexity, and her commitment to building resilient, well‑governed organizations positioned for sustainable performance.
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.
Sheila Hooda
Independent board director

Sheila Hooda is an experienced independent board director and committee chair of Nominating & Governance, Risk and Audit committees. Her governance expertise spans public, private, pre- and new IPO companies, private credit funds and special purposes acquisition vehicles. She is a transformational leader and a qualified financial expert with a breadth of global business, finance, risk, technology and regulatory expertise. Ms. Hooda is the CEO of Alpha Advisory Partners and a former C-level operating executive with 30+ years of expertise recognized for leading complex customer-centric and digital transformations, driving growth and M&A, and providing strategic direction at Fortune/S&P 500 firms.

Ms. Hooda has served on the boards of: Enact Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACT), where she chairs the Nominating & Governance Committee (since the company’s IPO in 2021); Alera Group, Inc., a fast growth GenStar and Flexpoint Ford private equity portfolio company (since 2024); and AGL Private Credit Income Fund, a closed-end management investment company launched through an exclusive cooperation agreement with Barclays and backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, where she chairs the Nominating & Governance committee (since 2024). Ms. Hooda recently served on the boards of ScION Tech Growth Special Acquisition Program (Nasdaq: SCOA; Nasdaq: SCOB) (from 2020 to 2022 and 2021 to 2023, respectively), where she chaired both companies’ Audit Committees; and Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, where she chaired the Risk Committee (from 2016 to 2023). Previously, Ms. Hooda chaired the Nominating and Governance Committee of new IPO company ProSight Global (NYSE: PROS) (from 2019 to 2021) and served on the board of Virtus Investment Partners (Nasdaq: VRTS) (from 2016 to 2020).

Ms. Hooda’s former senior executive leadership positions include TIAA, Credit Suisse Investment Bank, Thomson Reuters and Bankers Trust across the United States, Europe and Asia. She started her career in the United States with McKinsey & Co.

A published thought leader, author and speaker on Governance, Business Strategy and Leadership, Ms. Hooda is the recipient of numerous accolades from leadership award organizations and publications including: the National Association of Corporate Directors (“NACD”) Directorship 100, an annual list which honors the most influential individuals in corporate governance and the board room; Women’s Inc. magazine’s “Most Influential Directors”,BoardProspects’ “Exceptional Private Company Directors” and BoardProspects’ “AAPI Board Directors Making a Difference”; Directors & Boards Magazine’s “Directors to Watch” ; and the inaugural Financial Times/Agenda D-100.

Ms. Hooda is a Board Leadership Fellow with Directorship Certification credentials from the NACD, a 2026 Blue Ribbon Commissioner for the NACD, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Additionally, Ms. Hooda has served on the boards of academic, policy making and non-profit institutions including the Global Advisory Board of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Councils and Women’s World Banking. An early proponent of the value and impact of talent development and inclusion, Ms. Hooda has initiated and provided guidance for impactful human capital programs at various firms.

Ms. Hooda has an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a Masters in Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and a B.S. in Mathematics from Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ms. Hooda holds additional certifications in the Oversight of Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Cryptocurrency, ESG and Climate leadership.
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.
Patricia McLeod
Board chair
Cavvy Energy and FutEra Power Corp

Patricia is an experienced corporate director and legal counsel having worked with public, private, and cooperative organizations as well as crown, regulatory and non-profit agencies. She is a former General Counsel, Vice President, and Privacy and Compliance Officer, with extensive experience in contracts and corporate legal matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securities regulations and disclosure, regulatory applications, privacy, ethics and compliance. Patricia is a passionate community builder with a strong understanding of innovation, strategic transformation, and change management.

Patricia is the Board Chair of Cavvy Energy Ltd. (TSX: CVVY), a publicly traded integrated midstream/upstream natural gas exploration and production company as well as the Board Chair of FutEra Power Corp., a privately owned renewable (geothermal) power producer. She is also a board director of Flair Airlines and is the Chair of the Governance & Human Resources Committee.

She has led board oversight of significant strategic decisions, capital projects, and business transformations for various organizations, such as Calgary Co-op, Alberta Innovates, City of Calgary Green Line Board, Canadian North (formerly First Air), MINDD Inc., Real Estate Council of Alberta, Calgary Film Centre Ltd., YW Calgary, Calgary Economic Development and cSPACE Projects. She has been Board Chair of multiple organizations and the Committee Chair of Governance, Human Resources, Nominations and Compliance Committees as well as member of Audit & Risk and CEO Recruitment Committees.

Patricia has a law degree and a business degree from the University of Alberta and an MBA from Queen’s University, during which time she completed an applied thesis in creating a culture of innovation in regulated entitles. She is also a certified Compliance and Ethics Officer and completed the Competent Boards’ certification program for board directors in ESG oversight. She was appointed as King’s Counsel in January 2014 (Q.C. at time of appointment).

Patricia was recently awarded the inaugural 2026 Board Leadership Excellence Award by Women Get on Board. She was recognized by the Premier of Alberta with a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for her contributions to Alberta in 2022. She was selected as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN in 2018 and 2019 and Legal Advisor of the Year (2019) by Women in Finance Canada.
Hope Mehlman
Chief legal and corporate affairs officer and corporate secretary
Ally Financial

*Scoring selected categories

Hope Mehlman joined Ally as the chief legal and corporate affairs officer in 2024 and is responsible for all regulatory, legal, and governance matters, and oversees the organization’s Legal, Compliance, Corporate Secretary, Government Relations, and Environmental Sustainability teams and Community Reinvestment Act program. Mehlman has more than 20 years of leadership experience in retail and commercial banking and corporate governance, including at Discover Financial Services, where she served as chief legal officer, general counsel and corporate secretary, Bank of the West, where she served as general counsel and corporate secretary, BNP Paribas USA, where she served as corporate secretary, and Regions Financial, where among other things, she served as corporate secretary and was the company’s first chief governance officer. Mehlman serves on the board of directors of SmartBiz Bancshares. She also serves on the board of directors of the Society for Corporate Governance, where she is the Chair of the Policy Advisory Committee and is also a member of the Oversight Committee of the Best Practice Principles Group for Shareholder Voting Research Providers and is the Chair of its Nominating Committee. In 2023, Hope was inducted into the “Corporate Governance Hall of Fame” by Governance Intelligence. She was the recipient of Corporate Secretary’s 2019 Governance Professional of the Year (Large Cap) Award. Global Proxy Watch recognized Hope in its 2019 list of ten people around the world who have had a breakthrough impact in corporate governance. Hope previously served as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Council of Institutional Investors and a member of Broadridge’s Independent Steering Committee.

Mehlman holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, a juris doctorate from Seton Hall University Law School, and a master of laws in Taxation from New York University School of Law. She is a frequent guest lecturer at Stanford University and a contributing author of several whitepapers.
Britt Sahi
Head of investment stewardship
Schwab Asset Management

Britt Sahi is the Head of the Investment Stewardship Team for Schwab Asset Management. She oversees the team responsible for researching, developing, and implementing CSIM’s Proxy Voting Guidelines, as well as leading the ongoing strategic engagement program. Before joining Schwab in 2020, Britt worked at Spotlight Advisors, providing strategic advice to company management teams, boards of directors and activist shareholders. Previously, Britt was CEO of Proxy Mosaic, a corporate governance and proxy advisory firm. Britt also held senior roles at Glass, Lewis & Co., including vice president of proxy research and operations and vice president of product development, overseeing the production of more than 100,000 proxy research reports on public companies in 85 countries. Britt holds a Bachelor of Arts in French literature from the University of California San Diego.
Michael Benedict Yamoah
VP, stewardship director
EOS at Federated Hermes

Dr. Michael Benedict Yamoah is VP, Stewardship Director at EOS at Federated Hermes, covering engagement in North America and Europe with a focus on technology, healthcare, energy, and financial services sectors. Prior to joining EOS at Federated Hermes, he worked as a senior sustainability consultant and U.S. climate strategy lead for Quantis International, now part of Boston Consulting Group, advising organisations on adopting science‑based climate strategies supported by robust metrics, tools, and outcomes. He has held a range of corporate and advisory roles, including acting climate and sustainability research lead at Aramco (US), sustainability, innovation and analytics manager at Bechtel Corporation, consultant to the World Bank Group and the Asian Development Bank, and international climate programme support at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Dr. Yamoah holds a PhD from University College London, an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business, a Master of International Economic Development from George Washington University, a Master of Legal Studies from UCLA School of Law, and a graduate certificate in Data Science from Georgetown University.
Dr. Yamoah serves as a member of the Expert Review Committee for the Access to Medicine Index, contributing to methodological oversight for the 2026 global evaluation of pharmaceutical company performance. He is the Chairman of the Board, CSTS Ghana. Dr. Yamoah is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors.
Natalie Bannerman
Senior reporter
Governance Intelligence

Natalie is a former telecoms and infrastructure journalist, a role she held for nearly seven years. Before this, she worked in the B2C startup space, covering lifestyle, arts and culture reporting. As senior reporter for Governance Intelligence she leads on the editorial content on governance, risk and compliance.

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.

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"

Corporate Governance AwardsCelebrating excellence in governance

Thursday, November 5, 2026

About the awards

Awards categories