Board Stewardship Summit 2025 Concludes with Focus on Future-Fit Boards
The Board Stewardship Global Corporate Governance Summit 2025 concluded today at the historic Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), convening over 300 corporate leaders, board members, independent directors, and governance professionals for two days of high-level dialogue on governance, sustainability, technology, and the future of Indian boards. The platform blended insight-driven sessions, strategic conversations, and recognition of leaders who continue to redefine governance excellence.
Opening the Summit, Vikesh Wallia, MD & Editor, Board Stewardship, underscored the institution’s mission: “At Board Stewardship, we focus on three things for independent directors—continuous knowledge sharing, access to board opportunities, and a strong professional network. Governance is vast and ever-evolving, and learning across sustainability, climate, and energy is essential. Our community thrives on cross-sector insights that strengthen responsible board decisions.”
As part of the Knowledge Partner collaboration between S&P Global and Board Stewardship, Gauri Jauhar delivered key insights.
Delivering the keynote, Shailesh Haribhakti, Chairman Advisory Board, Board Stewardship, reflected on the transformation of governance. “Governance has moved from being periodic to becoming the continuous operating system of organisations. As AI expands, leaders must decide whether they will direct technology or be directed by it. The ‘living board’ of the future will rely on real-time data, clear accountability, and strong human judgement to make ethical, sustainable decisions.”
ESG INtergration and Sustainibility Stewardship
Sustainability leadership took centre stage in the plenary sessions. Prabodha Acharya, Chief Sustainability Officer, JSW Group, warned that climate emergency, nature loss, and inequality are reshaping business realities. “Forty trillion dollars of global GDP depends on nature, yet we undervalue its impact. Boards must move beyond disclosure and embed sustainability into core strategy.”
Adding to this, Ankit Todi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Mahindra Group, highlighted the need for sector-specific, comparable ESG metrics. “Objectivity in ESG is demanded but difficult. Analysts struggle because companies showcase achievements without comparable data. We’re working sector by sector to build common metrics—standardisation is essential for credibility.”
Dr. Arvind Bodhankar, Chief Sustainability Officer, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, emphasised that true ESG integration lies in understanding long-term value creation. “We now have the tools; the focus must shift to effective application.”
The Summit also marked the release of Uncovering Board Movements 2025, a whitepaper produced with Search Value, analysing trends across 7,000+ listed companies. Session moderator
The session on Energy, Climate & Sustainability: A Solution Approach brought together industry leaders Gauri Jauhar, Vartika Shukla, Akhil Mehrotra, and Ajay Khandelwal for a forward-looking conversation on India’s energy transition. The panel emphasised the need for practical, scalable solutions that balance energy security, affordability, and sustainability. Speakers highlighted the critical role of technology, clean energy pathways, and collaborative industry action in accelerating India’s shift towards a low-carbon future, underscoring that climate goals can only be achieved through coordinated, solution-driven strategies.
Another session on Cybersecurity Oversight and Digital Risk Resilience featured insights from Ankush Tiwari, Brijesh Singh IPS, and Priyanka Kanwar, who addressed the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape and its implications for boardrooms. The discussion focused on strengthening digital governance frameworks, enhancing organisational preparedness, and building resilience against sophisticated cyberattacks. Panelists stressed that cybersecurity is no longer a technical issue alone but a core board responsibility requiring proactive oversight, real-time vigilance, and a culture of digital risk awareness across the organisation.
The Board Stewardship Hall of Fame honoured distinguished clients, partners, and collaborations with Vishnubhai B. Haribhakti receiving the prestigious India Board Legend honour for his exemplary contribution to governance excellence.
In the Vote of Thanks, Raajeev B. Batra, Fellow, Board Stewardship, affirmed, “Ethics, resilience, and accountability are not optional—they define effective boards.”
Over two days, the Summit reinforced a unifying message: India’s boards must be dynamic, accountable, and purpose-driven to lead in an era of rapid transition.
