From AI to Sustainability, Singapore Huddle Examines the Evolving Boardroom Agenda
The third Board Stewardship Singapore Huddle brought together around 50 Independent Directors, senior executives, CXOs, governance professionals, aspiring Directors and other boardroom stakeholders for an engaging dialogue on the evolving demands of Board leadership and stewardship.
Held on August 27, 2026, at Tanglin Club, Singapore, under the theme ‘Stewardship in Boardrooms’, the Huddle explored key issues shaping contemporary boardrooms, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), sustainability and value creation, leadership succession, Board composition and the evolving role of the Nominating and Remuneration Committee (NRC).
The programme opened with a Welcome Address by Vikesh Wallia, Managing Director and Editor, Board Stewardship.
“The Singapore Huddle reinforced the growing importance of effective Board stewardship in navigating AI, sustainability and an increasingly complex business environment. These conversations provide a valuable platform for Directors and leaders to exchange perspectives, challenge conventional thinking and strengthen the quality of boardroom decision-making,” said Vikesh.
K V Rao, Global Advisory Board Member, Board Stewardship, delivering the inaugural address, described the gathering as a valuable platform for candid boardroom conversations and shared experiences. “The third Stewardship Huddle is becoming a valued platform for candid conversations and shared boardroom experiences. It brought together an inspiring mix of aspiring and experienced Directors across generations, industries, and areas of expertise,” said Rao. He also highlighted the strong participation of women and the value of peer exchange, adding, “Boards are learned about as much through shared experience as through books!”
The first session, a fireside chat on ‘Board Readiness for Artificial Intelligence’, featured Dr. Rajiv Yadav, Founder & Principal Advisor, and Aditya Sisodia, Executive Leadership Coach (ICF-MCCTM), CEO & Founder, S Vision Consultants. The discussion examined AI’s impact on strategy, risk management, cybersecurity, ethics, accountability and long-term value creation, highlighting the need for Boards to view AI as a strategic and governance imperative.
“The Board Stewardship Singapore Huddle brought together some of the sharpest minds in governance today, and the depth of dialogue was truly refreshing. What struck me most was the shared commitment to stewardship, not just as a boardroom function, but as a mindset,” said Aditya.
While Rajiv, said, “The Huddle was very well structured, with a thoughtfully curated set of topics covering the key dimensions of governance. The four-hour format was also well planned, allowing sufficient time for meaningful conversations and exchange of perspectives. With around 50 participants, the group was of an appropriate size, creating an engaging and interactive environment. Overall, it was a well-organised and enriching experience.”
The AI session was followed by a Keynote Address by Colin Low, Global Independent Director, before the programme moved to sustainability, resilience and value creation.
The plenary session on ‘Sustainability Execution & Value Creation’ featured Deepak Rastogi, CFO, Ola Electric; Dr. Vivek Kumar, President & CEO, Asia Pacific, JA Worldwide; and Rakesh Agarwal, Partner, Price Waterhouse LLP. The session explored integrating sustainability into business strategy, risk management, capital allocation, operating plans and performance measurement, while linking sustainability with resilience and long-term value creation.
Dr. Kumar said, “I was glad to contribute on how Boards can move beyond compliance to embed sustainability into risk avoidance, resilience, and value creation.” He added that the Huddle reaffirmed the importance of effective Board stewardship in building trusted, future-ready organisations and creating enduring stakeholder value.
Deepak added, “The session was extremely useful and informative. The eminent speakers were quite clear on what is expected from the Board. Lastly overall great networking and program well crafted.”
The programme also featured a Keynote Address by Shabbir Hassanbhai, Independent Director & Non-Executive Director, Jason Marine Global Limited, adding to discussions on the changing expectations of Directors amid emerging technologies and evolving business risks.
The conversation then shifted to leadership, succession and Board composition through ‘NRC Role in Global Uncertainty’, featuring Roshni Wadhwa, HR Transformation Director, L’Oréal SAPMENA, and Malini Vaidya, Partner, Regional Manager & Head for Asia Pacific, Spencer Stuart. The session examined succession planning, leadership pipelines, Board renewal, organisational culture, talent management and executive rewards.
The Huddle concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Sanjay Desai, Honorary Director – Singapore, Board Stewardship, followed by networking and lunch.
The Board Stewardship Singapore Huddle reinforced the importance of meaningful spaces for Directors, senior leaders and governance professionals to exchange experiences and engage with the practical realities shaping contemporary boardrooms. Effective stewardship is increasingly about more than governance and compliance—it is about foresight, responsible leadership, informed challenge and the ability to create enduring value for organisations and their stakeholders.
