LEADING FOR THE FUTURE 2022
‘BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE’

LEADING FOR THE FUTURE

Mediapartner

27. april at 09.00 - 12:00am (UTC+2) – Oslo, Norway // Virtual

Join Nordic and international investors, asset managers, board directors, CEOs, representatives from government and relevant organizations at the 3rd Leading for the Future conference to get insight and knowledge on how corporate decision-makers can and should contribute to ensure long term growth for all – within planetary boundaries.

At the first Leading for the Future that took place in Oslo in February 2020, we called for a board room revolution to secure long-term value creation for all. Then came Covid-19 and pressed the fast-forward button. At the 2021 conference we took stock on how business and business leaders had responded and who and how they would lead the way forward.

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agenda

SETTING THE SCENE

The people in charge in the business world are being challenged by numerous stakeholders and an escalating flow of dilemmas. How do they cope, and what are the key qualifications and human characteristics of those who are weathering the storms when forced to choose between a rock and a hard place?

BEYOND LIMITS TO GROWTH

Unfortunately, ‘substantial changes’ have not taken place, and immediate action is required to save the planet for future generations. The Rock Star of corporate governance, the God Father of the integrated thinking concept and author of numerous books and articles on the topic, Professor Mervyn E. King will share his thoughts and views on how corporate leaders can manage the uses of its resources and relationships to ensure a healthy and sustainable company over time.”

DAMNED IF YOU DO – DAMNED IF YOU DON’T….

Should they stay or should they go? That might have been the biggest dilemma of all times facing the Telenor board directors and top management following the coup d’etat that took place in Myanmar on February 1 2021. By staying, Telenor would be forced to hand over user information to the military government that could lead to loss of human lives. By going, Telenor are being accused of letting down millions of people that have put their trust and faith in them.

So, how did the final decision come about? What were the driving forces and the key criterias? What personal values where challenged during the process? Is there a way back, and how can it be found?

SPORTSWASHING

ShouldShould they go, or should they stay home? FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Olympic Games in Beijing, Saudi Arabia-led takeover of Newcastle United has put human rights issues to the fore of the newspapers’ sports-sections. The dilemmas faced by politicians, sponsors, sports-leaders and athletes are numerous and spanning a wide range that also include corruption, freedom of speech, working conditions and many more.

Obviously, there is no quick fix and no one right answer. So, how do those who make the final decisions deal with these complex issues? How can established governance structures ensure that all aspects and consequences are covered?

TAX PLANNING - FOR THE GREATER GOOD OR DRIVING INEQUALITY?

HOW DO I KNOW THAT YOU ARE TELLING THE THRUTH?

At COP26 that took place on Glasgow in November 2021, a new global agreement - the Glasgow Climate Pact - was reached.

The agreement aims to reduce the worst impacts of climate change, and even if some leaders and campaigners say it does not go far enough, companies are on the run to promote their net-zero/net-positive strategies and actions.

At the same time, the IFRS Foundation announced the formation of a new International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) to develop—in the public interest—a comprehensive global baseline of high-quality sustainability disclosure standards to meet investors’ information needs.

Does that imply that we can expect reliable, understandable and verifiable information on the companies’ activities and impact on society? Will companies disclose how they plan to reach net-zero emission, and what are the consequences if they don’t?

SETTING THE SCENE

Today, we are moving on and hanging in there…. There is a growing acceptance that Covid will keep on playing a part in our lives, that climate changes are no longer reversible – but still possible to slow down, that injustice and breaches of human rights exists to a degree we don’t like to think about and that too many forces are threatening the very existence of humankind. And clearly: the days when the business of business were business are long gone.
The people in charge in the business world are being challenged by numerous stakeholders and an escalating flow of dilemmas. How do they cope, and what are the key qualifications and human characteristics of those who are weathering the storms when forced to choose between a rock and a hard place?

BEYOND LIMITS TO GROWTH

Half a decade ago, Professor Joergen Randers et al concluded in their report ‘The Limits to Growth’ that, without substantial changes in resource consumption, "the most probable result will be a rather sudden and uncontrollable decline in both population and industrial capacity"
Unfortunately, ‘substantial changes’ have not taken place, and immediate action is required to save the planet for future generations. The Rock Star of corporate governance, the God Father of the integrated thinking concept and author of numerous books and articles on the topic, Professor Mervyn E. King will share his thoughts and views on how corporate leaders can manage the uses of its resources and relationships to ensure a healthy and sustainable company over time.”

DAMNED IF YOU DO – DAMNED IF YOU DON’T….

SPORTSWASHING

Should they go, or should they stay home? FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Olympic Games in Beijing, Saudi Arabia-led takeover of Newcastle United has put human rights issues to the fore of the newspapers’ sports-sections. The dilemmas faced by politicians, sponsors, sports-leaders and athletes are numerous and spanning a wide range that also include corruption, freedom of speech, working conditions and many more.
Obviously, there is no quick fix and no one right answer. So, how do those who make the final decisions deal with these complex issues? How can established governance structures ensure that all aspects and consequences are covered?

TAX PLANNING - FOR THE GREATER GOOD OR DRIVING INEQUALITY?

From the OECD Press release: “On October 8 2021, a major reform of the international tax system was finalized at the OECD that will ensure that Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) will be subject to a minimum 15% tax rate from 2023.
The landmark deal, agreed by 136 countries and jurisdictions representing more than 90% of global GDP, will also reallocate more than USD 125 billion of profits from around 100 of the world’s largest and most profitable MNEs to countries worldwide, ensuring that these firms pay a fair share of tax wherever they operate and generate profits”
Still, one of the challenges ahead lies in each nation’s ability to implement the deal and put it into law. So, while we’re waiting for legislation to come into effect, can we expect companies and their leaders to act according to the intentions of the agreement? And furthermore, if we believe in Joseph Stiglitz’ view, how can companies ensure that developing countries are not finding themselves in a worse place?

HOW DO I KNOW THAT YOU ARE TELLING THE THRUTH?

At COP26 that took place on Glasgow in November 2021, a new global agreement - the Glasgow Climate Pact - was reached.
The agreement aims to reduce the worst impacts of climate change, and even if some leaders and campaigners say it does not go far enough, companies are on the run to promote their net-zero/net-positive strategies and actions.
At the same time, the IFRS Foundation announced the formation of a new International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) to develop—in the public interest—a comprehensive global baseline of high-quality sustainability disclosure standards to meet investors’ information needs.
Does that imply that we can expect reliable, understandable and verifiable information on the companies’ activities and impact on society? Will companies disclose how they plan to reach net-zero emission, and what are the consequences if they don’t?

Kl. 09:00
SETTING THE SCENE

Opening address:

Dr. Henrik Syse Research Professor Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) in dialogue with Borge Brende President, World Economic Forum

Kl. 09:12
Leading for the Future – Welcome remarks

Turid Elisabeth Solvang Founder & CEO FutureBoards Leyla Boulton Development editor with FT Live and senior editor, Financial Times in dialogue with Natalie Becker-Aakervik Co- Founder of Thought Leader Global Media.

Kl. 09:18
BEYOND LIMITS TO GROWTH

Professor Mervyn E. King Chair of the King Committee on Corporate Governance for South Africa, Chair Emeritus International Integrated Reporting Council, in dialogue with Turid Elisabeth Solvang, Founder and CEO FutureBoards and Natalie Becker-akervik Co- Founder Of
Thought Leader Global Media

Online live chat is powered by Good Governance Academy, chaired by its CEO Carolynn Chalmers

Half a decade ago, Professor Joergen Randers et al concluded in their report ‘The Limits to Growth’ that, without substantial changes in resource consumption, "the most probable result will be a rather sudden and uncontrollable decline in both population and industrial capacity"

Unfortunately, ‘substantial changes’ have not taken place, and immediate action is required to save the planet for future generations. The Rockstar of corporate governance, the Godfather of the integrated thinking concept and author of numerous books and articles on the topic, Professor Mervyn E. King will share his thoughts and views on how corporate leaders can manage the uses of its resources and relationships to ensure a healthy and sustainable company over time.”

Kl. 09:33
DAMNED IF YOU DO – DAMNED IF YOU DON’T….

Vicky Bowman Director Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business Frode Elgesem Chair Norway’s National Contact Point for responsible business conduct, Chair Rafto Foundation Gunn Wærsted Chair of the Board, Telenor ASA On-stage interview/dialogue moderated by Richard Milne the Financial Times Nordic and Baltic correspondent

Online live chat is powered by Myanmar Institute of Directors, chaired by its CEO Thiri Thant Mon

So, how did the final decision come about? What were the driving forces and the key criteria? What personal values were challenged during the process? Is there a way back, and how can it be found?

Kl. 10:02
SPORTSWASHING

Sven Mollekleiv Managing Director, Oslo Energy Forum, Honorary President Norwegian Red Cross. Head of NFF’s Qatar Report Lise Klaveness President, Norwegian Football Association (NFF) Dr. Roger Barker Director of Policy and Governance, UK Institute of Directors, Jan Petter Saltvedt sports commentator NRK. On stage dialogue with Kristoffer Rønneberg Journalist Aftenposten.

Online live chat is powered by UK Institute of Directors, chaired by its Director of Policy
and Governance Dr. Roger Barker

Kl. 10:31
GREEN SOLUTIONS, RED BOTTOM LINE?

Trond Berger Chair of the Board Yara International, Giv Brantenberg General Manager HeidelbergCement Northern Europe and Helge Aasen CEO Elkem in dialogue with Rakel Haugen Strand, journalist Aftenposten/E24.

Online live chat for this session is powered by Boards Impact Forum, chaired by its chair Liselotte Hägertz Engstam, Non-Executive Board Director & Advisor

We only have ten years to do something about the most daunting crisis humans have ever seen - the climate crisis. Temperatures are rising, drought and wildfires are becoming more frequent, glaciers are melting and the global sea level is rising. Finding solutions that will reduce our carbon footprint is urgent. Companies play an important role in developing green technology and finding solutions. But green solutions are far from cheap.

So, how do the final decisions regarding green solutions come about? What does the board base their solutions on when making investment decisions where billions of dollars is at stake? And how much emphasis do they put on jobs and local communities versus profitability?

Kl. 10:53
HOW DO I KNOW THAT YOU ARE TELLING THE TRUTH?

Introduction speech by Remi Eriksen CEO of DNV.

Carine Smith Ihenacho Chief Corporate Governance Officer, Norges Bank Investment Management Tjeerd Krumpelman Global head of advisory, reporting & engagement / Group Sustainability ABN AMRO Koushik Chatterjee Executive Director and CFO, Tata Steel & Director Value Reporting Foundation On-stage interview/dialogue moderated by Anita Pratap International journalist, author and documentary filmmaker.

Online live chat powered by DNV, chaired by its EVP, Chief Communications Officer Ulrike Haugen

At COP26 that took place on Glasgow in November 2021, a new global agreement - the Glasgow Climate Pact - was reached.

Kl. 11:19
WHEN WOMEN ARE MASTERING THE MONEY

Tim Warrington CEO Skagen Funds, Idar Kreutzer,CEO Finance Norway, Ingrid Stange Chair Partnership for Change On-stage interview/dialogue moderated by Leyla Boulton development editor with FT Live, senior editor, Financial Times and FT Liaison of the FT's Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign.

Online live chat is powered by SHE Community, chaired by its CEO Astrid Skaugseth

According to a recent survey conducted by the Norwegian association KIFF (Women in Front Finance), women perceive they have less knowledge about finance than men. Still, they get better returns on their investments. Nevertheless, the wealth gap around the world has been widened by the Covid pandemic, exacerbating deprivation for many, adding to the challenges facing young people and weighing disproportionately on women. This implies that while strengthening financial literacy and inclusion, we must also build women’s self-confidence with regards to their financial capabilities.

Many financial institutions are offering good guidance and sharing valuable knowledge on this issue, amid suspicions that their real agenda is to make more money. So, what role should business, and financial institutions specifically, play? Should strengthening financial literacy and inclusion be the responsibility of the state, or is there a role for charities and businesses to play? And regardless of who should take the lead, what would be the best way going forward?