Leading in Governance 2026 Explores Competitiveness, Infrastructure and Long-Term Leadership

Insights from Prominent Business Leaders and Experts  

The event was opened by IoD Ireland President Helen Nolan, who welcomed over 400 directors and senior business leaders to IoD Ireland's flagship event, 'Leading in Governance 2026'. Kindly sponsored by OnBoard.

We were delighted to welcome the insights and thoughts from our line-up of expert speakers and thought leaders. This included: Sean O'Driscoll, Prominent Irish Businessman, Chair and Government Advisor; Kara Owen CMG CVO, British Ambassador to Ireland; Professor Orla Feely, President, University College Dublin; John Hennessy CDir, Non-Executive Chair, Origin Enterprises Plc and Senior Counsel; Professor Stephen Kinsella, Economist, Full Professor of Economics at the University of Limerick, and Economic Advisor to An Tánaiste and the Minister for Finance; and Mary-Elizabeth McMunn, Deputy Governor Financial Regulation, Central Bank of Ireland. Moderated by Áine Kerr, Entrepreneur, Broadcaster and Chair of Rethink Ireland. The flagship event was closed by Dr Caroline Spillane CDir, Chief Executive Officer, IoD Ireland. 

Key Takeaways from the Leading in Governance Event

• Infrastructure and Competitiveness: Infrastructure deficits are having a tangible impact on Irish businesses. New IoD Ireland research, published on the morning of the event, found that 7 in 10 (70%) directors believe deficits across housing, energy, water, transport and broadband are damaging their organisation’s financial performance. Discussions highlighted the need for consistency, discipline and long-term thinking in addressing these challenges and strengthening Ireland’s competitiveness.
• Critical Infrastructure Act and Planning Reform: Accelerating the delivery of critical infrastructure will require meaningful reform of Ireland’s planning system. The Critical Infrastructure Act and new planning laws were highlighted as important indicators of the Government’s commitment to improving how essential infrastructure is planned and delivered, with effective implementation now central to addressing infrastructure deficits. This was reflected by Sean O'Driscoll, Prominent Businessman, Chair, and Government Advisor Infrastructure taskforce member at the event, but also further in this Irish Times article post the flagship event. 
• AI Governance: AI presents significant opportunities to enhance competitiveness, but it also brings growing responsibilities for boards and directors. Discussions highlighted the importance of effective oversight of regulatory requirements, including the EU AI Act, alongside emerging AI risks and governance considerations. International collaboration will also be critical, with the UK Ambassador highlighting the UK’s ambition to use its G20 Presidency in 2027 to build common ground on AI governance and security. This was all discussed on the eve of the Government’s AI summit and the EU AI’s Innovation Month. IoD Ireland continues to support directors in navigating this evolving landscape through practical resources, including our AI Governance Toolkit and AI briefing factsheets.
• Execution is Key: Ambition must translate into action. A central theme of the flagship event was the need to move from long-term strategies and priorities to meaningful outcomes. For boards, this means looking beyond short-term pressures and maintaining a clear focus on long-term value creation, investment and organisational resilience.
• Risk and Growth: Effective governance requires boards to balance robust risk oversight with the need to enable innovation and growth. This challenge was reflected throughout the event and in IoD Ireland research published in June, where directors identified geopolitical and regulatory volatility (37%), cybersecurity as a systemic business risk (26%), and gaps in AI governance and accountability (19%) as areas of increased board-level risk exposure. To further assist directors and members in this area, IoD Ireland hosts a dedicated risk exchange workshop. 
• Collaboration: Complex challenges cannot be addressed in isolation. The event reinforced the importance of collaboration across government, business and international partners, with a focus on combining expertise and avoiding duplication. The Ireland-UK relationship was highlighted as an example of the value of cross-border cooperation in addressing shared priorities.

Continuing the Conversation

The complimentary flagship event for members also offered valuable opportunities to network and engage with the audience of over 400 directors and senior business leaders, allowing attendees to exchange experiences with peers and gain fresh perspectives to enhance governance effectiveness. 

IoD Ireland will continue to support directors and members in this space by providing resources and supports, such as through our series of Thought leadership articles, Director Factsheets and educational and learning opportunities, such as our workshop series. 

IoD Ireland extends its thanks to OnBoard for sponsoring the Leading in Governance 2026 conference. For more information on upcoming events visit the IoD Ireland website.