Research reports

This report is not just a showcase of excellence in the world of governance, risk and compliance (GRC): it is a real‑time benchmark. It reflects where governance standards are moving, what stakeholders now expect and how leading teams are evolving their processes, technology use and strategic thinking. For practitioners responsible for advising boards, stewarding compliance frameworks, strengthening disclosures or managing risk, the insights captured here offer both guidance and a forward-looking playbook for what effective GRC must deliver today and what it will require next.

The key themes highlighted across the award-winning programs include:

• Data validation and transparent disclosure
• Crisis ready governance structure
• Board owned engagement

The entire report brings together insights from 21 award winners, enriched with judges’ commentary and framed by the industry trends and talking points that shaped the 2025 Corporate Governance Awards.

Fill out the below form to read the Corporate Governance Awards 2025 - Winners report

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Sponsored by The Nuvo Group

This playbook explores how modern proxy statements have evolved from compliance documents into strategic shareholder communications. It offers practical guidance on clarity, visual strategy and integrated execution to help organizations strengthen engagement, build trust and elevate governance effectiveness.

By elevating both clarity and design, companies signal discipline, transparency and a genuine respect for shareholder time. This approach not only strengthens understanding of governance decisions but also positions the proxy as a meaningful touchpoint that deepens trust and demonstrates communication excellence.

In this Governance Intelligence playbook, written in association with The Nuvo Group, you will learn:

• How to balance compliance and communication within proxy content
• How proxy design aligns with broader corporate branding and governance strategy
• How visual storytelling and structure improve investor engagement
• How an integrated filing, printing and design partner drives measurable impact

The report includes exclusive insights and case studies into how companies are approaching their proxy design processes, as well as tips and on how to implement best practices in your own organization.

• Amanda Thrash, senior counsel and assistant corporate secretary at The Williams Companies
• Jonathan Kuai, general counsel, corporate secretary and managing director of corporate responsibility and business affairs at Korn Ferry
• Timothy Jordan, vice president, general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer at Minerals Technologies
• Aaron Wendt, senior director of North American research and policy at Glass Lewis
• Scott Lam, executive vice president at The Nuvo Group

Fill out the below form to read theGovernance Playbook: Proxy design: Beyond compliance

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Sponsored by Diligent

As AI rapidly transforms the business landscape, governance professionals face a pivotal opportunity: to harness AI as a strategic ally in the boardroom.

Fill out the form below to read Governance Blueprint – The AI-powered boardroom: Navigating AI in board practices – Diligent

For board directors, company secretaries and governance teams, this shift presents a chance to elevate their roles from administrative stewards to strategic enablers.

Embracing AI can empower governance professionals to focus on higher-value tasks and support more informed decision-making, ensuring boards are better equipped to navigate complexity, uncertainty and change.

In this Governance Intelligence blueprint, written in partnership with Diligent, you will gain crucial insights into how leading governance teams are using AI to boost their boardroom activities, the steps you can take to implement it in your board practices and the regulatory implications of those use cases.

Based on exclusive interviews with 30 leading governance professionals in the US, this document is packed full of first-hand expertise that are proven to drive efficiency and excellence in corporate governance.

What you’ll learn:

• How AI is already streamlining boardroom governance, from generating minutes to enhancing decision-making and why boards must proactively engage with the technology.
• The legal and ethical guardrails needed to ensure responsible use within the boardroom, addressing risks and fiduciary implications. 
• A look ahead to a future where those who understand and integrate AI will lead, not lag.

Don't miss our upcoming briefing– AI in the boardroom: what governance teams need to know in 2026Join us on February 4 for a free online session diving into the key findings from the Governance Blueprint. Our expert panel will explore where liability could emerge, the risks of standing still and how governance teams can lead in the age of AI in 2026.Click here to register.

Fill out the form below to read Governance Blueprint – The AI-powered boardroom: Navigating AI in board practices – Diligent

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Sponsored by Nasdaq

In a world where the rate of change is accelerating, boardrooms risk being left behind if they do not equip themselves with the skills needed to meet future challenges head on.

Tomorrow’s boards will be judged by their ability to adapt to the revolutionary power of AI, to evolve alongside a shifting sustainability landscape and to learn on demand.

Companies that want to succeed in this new era need oversight from boards that are resilient, are equipped with the skillset to interpret AI-influenced data and have the confidence to use their expertise to offer wise guidance.

This report draws on the expertise of hundreds of governance professionals and direct insights from general counsel and company secretaries to identify critical characteristics in future boardrooms and areas to prioritize to stay ahead of the curve.

In this Governance Intelligence playbook, written in association with Nasdaq, you will:

• Find out the key skills which boards will need to be armed with to tackle the challenges of the future, according to an exclusive survey of governance professionals
• Discover why a significant number of governance professionals feel their boards do not receive enough training to fulfil their duties effectively
• Why cybersecurity and AI are the most crucial emerging areas for board expertise – and how you can equip your directors with the knowledge they need to succeed in these areas
• How companies of different cap sizes consider their board training programs and succession planning
• Hear directly from governance professionals about how they are handling challenges around board skills in their organizations.

This playbook includes exclusive data on how boards are being set up for success, unique insights in how governance professionals can stay ahead of the fast rate of change and case studies of how leading companies are managing the challenges involved.

Fill out the below form to read Governance Playbook – Shaping the board of the future – Nasdaq

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Sponsored by DFIN

The proxy statement is no longer just a compliance document, but a strategic communication tool that reflects your company’s governance priorities, transparency and responsiveness to stakeholder expectations.

Fill out form below to read Governance Playbook – From compliance to confidence: Proxies that win trust and votes – DFIN

The 2025 proxy season introduced a wave of new practice, from evolving ESG and DE&I disclosures to heightened attention on cybersecurity and AI. As investor demands grow more sophisticated, companies must respond with greater clarity, depth and strategic foresight.

This playbook offers a comprehensive, actionable framework to help your organization elevate its proxy disclosures. Learn how leading companies are navigating the changing landscape and positioning their proxy statements as both regulatory assets and strategic narratives.

In this playbook, you’ll learn:

• What investors and proxy advisors expect for 2026 and how requirements are changing
• Case studies that demonstrate award-winning governance
• How to balance and prioritize proxy advisors, investors and company needs
• Key compliance risks, expected regulatory changes and proactive mitigation strategies
• AI tools and technologies governance leaders are leveraging for developing their proxies.

Fill out form below to read Governance Playbook – From compliance to confidence: Proxies that win trust and votes – DFIN

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Sponsored by DFIN

The proxy statement is the cornerstone of a company’s communication with its shareholders and other stakeholders including employees, regulators and customers. In recent years, this vital document has evolved from being a publication designed solely to comply with SEC requirements into something that conveys – often in novel ways – the company’s message and strategy. Now more than ever, companies face deep scrutiny of how they operate and the values they adhere to.

Fill out form below to read Governance Playbook – Building an effective creation process for your proxy statement – DFIN

Crafting the content and design within proxy statements for success would not be possible without the process involving – at its head – the corporate secretary’s office and collaboration with an array of internal and external advisers who each bring their own insights and expertise.

In this Governance Playbook, we present actionable examples and advice from a range of governance professionals on how to make sure your company has the right process in place to help ensure that its next proxy statement carries successful messaging and disclosures to all stakeholders.

It includes:

• Tips on how to set the schedule for the proxy statement preparation process
• Advice for how to make sure internal teams are collaborating effectively
• Examples of the latest design and content developments
• Insight into how to harmonize your company’s disclosures
• A how-to guide for getting the most from external advisors and technology platforms

Featuring advice from leading governance professionals, including:

• Kristen Conley, head of corporate governance and board engagement with the office of the corporate secretary at Nasdaq
• Joseph Skrokov, executive director and assistant general counsel at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
• Todd Vogel, director of financial reporting at MasterCraft Boat Holdings
• Daniel Gordon, senior vice president and chief counsel for corporate legal at Visa,
• Linda Epstein, legal project manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
• Chris Weber, managing counsel for corporate, securities and governance and assistant secretary at McDonald’s
• Heidi Miller, corporate secretary and deputy general counsel for corporate governance and securities at Kraft Heinz
• Evan Barth, vice president, associate general counsel and assistant corporate secretary at Kyndryl
• Paul Sharobeem, associate general counsel and assistant secretary at Century Aluminum Company
• Jessica Lange, vice president and associate general counsel for securities and finance at Darden Restaurants
• Ron Schneider, director of corporate governance services at DFIN.

Fill out form below to read Governance Playbook – Building an effective creation process for your proxy statement – DFIN

Sponsored by BetaNXT

Governance Playbook ‘Your AGM, your investors, your engagement: Bringing them together for a successful governance program,’ sponsored by BetaNXT, delivers practical guidance from governance experts on how to successfully combine your company’s year-round shareholder engagement, shareholder data, AGM and elements such as the proxy statement. It includes helpful, actionable insights from the in-house, investor and advisory sides.

Download this report to learn more about:

• How to maintain a positive feedback and governance loop between your AGM and other shareholder engagement
• What experts view as best practices for hosting AGMs, including details from award-winning examples
• Some of the effective and potential uses companies can make of shareholder data around their AGMs
• How year-round engagement should align with preparation for the AGM
• A shareholder advocate’s view of engagement in the run-up to an AGM.

Fill out the form below to Download 'Governance Playbook: Your AGM, your investors, your engagement: Bringing them together for a successful governance program' here >>

Sponsored by Athennian

Our new Governance Playbook, ‘Building an agile governance framework: Be ready to adapt successfully to changes affecting your business’, sponsored by Athennian, provides actionable advice from governance experts including corporate secretaries and board members on building a governance framework that helps their company address short and long-term developments. It includes practical steps and best practices for governance professionals as they support their board in identifying emerging risks and opportunities and overseeing management actions.

Download this report to learn more about:

• Ensuring your board can successfully oversee its company’s preparation for and response to crises
• Designing effective board bylaws and committee charters that enable the board to be agile in response to changing circumstances
• What governance experts are looking for in terms of board composition
• Keeping the board up to date on all relevant issues, including regulation, through briefings and training
• Governance professionals’ views on how to improve their board’s ability to identify and adapt to new opportunities and risks.

Fill out form below to Download 'Governance Playbook: Building an agile governance framework: Be ready to adapt successfully to changes affecting your business' here >>

Sponsored by SAI360

Governance Playbook ‘Director education and training: How to prepare your board for the road ahead’, sponsored by SAI360, provides expert advice from governance professionals and board members on a key element of their work in supporting boards. It lays out actionable steps and best practices for corporate secretaries seeking to design and adapt their training programs to help their board successfully carry out its duties and help the company thrive.

Download this report to learn more about:

• How to design an agenda that covers the evergreen and emerging topics directors need training on
• Deciding the most effective means for delivering education and training by asking: when, how and by whom?
• Designing a program that onboards new directors and ensures the board is regularly refreshed on its core duties and responsibilities
• How technology can play an important role in director training
• The importance of collaboration and being proactive in running a successful program.

Fill out the below form to read theGovernance Playbook: Director education and training: How to prepare your board for the road ahead

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Sponsored by Mercator® by Citco

Governance Intelligence’s ‘Entity Management: Keeping the corporate structure efficient and safe’ presents the findings from exclusive research delivering actionable insights into, among other things, which team is responsible for entity management, how much and in what areas companies use outside advisers/service providers, changes in the resources deployed to entity management and the use of technology – including AI – and priorities for entity management work.

The findings in this report are based on an online survey conducted among governance professionals such as general counsel, corporate secretaries and their teams between September 2023 and January 2024.

By downloading this report, you will learn:

• Which departments are responsible for overseeing entity management
• Where companies use external advisers/service providers for entity management tasks
• How budgets and team sizes have changed in recent years for entity management work
• Where companies are making greater use of technology
• How governance professionals feel about their company’s entity management program.

Fill out the form below to Download 'Entity Management: Keeping the corporate structure efficient and safe' here >>