Directors and senior business leaders convened at the Westbury Hotel, Dublin 2, for an exclusive IoD Ireland event focused on the future of board skills and succession planning. Held yesterday evening, the event featured a distinguished panel of speakers with extensive experience serving as chairs and members of nominations committees.
Caroline Spillane CDir, Chief Executive Officer of IoD Ireland, opened the event with a warm welcome, emphasising the evening’s theme: the future of board skills and succession planning. The event brought together an esteemed panel of speakers with extensive experience serving as chairs and members of nominations committees.
Dr. Graham Love, Partner at Forvis Mazars, underscored the importance of the discussion in his opening remarks. He expressed enthusiasm about hearing insights from the panellists and highlighted Forvis Mazars’ ongoing partnership with IoD Ireland on the IoD Briefing Series: Designed for Directors, which equips members with valuable perspectives on governance, leadership, and strategy.
The panel discussion featured a distinguished group of experts with firsthand experience of being a chair and/or member of a Boards Nomination committee. The panellists included: Julie Sinnamon, Chair, Nomination Committee, Cairn Homes plc; Richard Pike, Chair, Nomination and Governance Committee, FBD Insurance plc; and Celine Fitzgerald CDir, Member, Nomination, Culture and Ethics Committee, PTSB.
The conversation explored key governance topics such as addressing skills gaps, succession planning, and emerging board competencies. Panellists noted that digital expertise—particularly AI—and sustainability are becoming increasingly relevant skills for board members.
On succession planning, the speakers emphasised the need for proactive strategy rather than waiting until a new director is being recruited. They advocated for an ongoing skills matrix assessment to ensure the board maintains a balanced and forward-looking composition.
Regarding the future of board skills, the discussion highlighted the importance of aligning skills assessments with the organisation’s strategy. While governance, legal, and finance expertise remain essential, technology literacy is rapidly becoming a fundamental requirement. Continuous upskilling and learning were underscored as crucial to board effectiveness.
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where members explored topics including the role of Audit & Risk Committees in executive recruitment, subsidiary boards, and sustainability.
Closing the evening, Caroline Spillane CDir, Chief Executive Officer, IoD Ireland, thanked the panellists for their valuable contributions and acknowledged the active engagement of members. She also highlighted a range of professional development resources available, including the upcoming CPD Autumn Workshops, which are accessible via the IoD Ireland website, and the organization’s Board Services, designed to help boards excel.
This exclusive event on the future of boards skills and succession planning was open to all IoD Ireland members, offering a unique opportunity for Ireland's top directors to gain invaluable insights from some of the most experienced figures in corporate governance.
The IoD Briefing Series: Designed for Directors provides members with invaluable insights on governance, leadership, and strategy. It features a line-up of experts and thought leaders sharing their insights and perspectives. IoD Ireland is delighted to be working with Forvis Mazars to bring this key event series to our members. We would like to acknowledge the Forvis Mazars team for their support.
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