Governance for Good

Dear Members,

As 2025 draws to a close, we are grateful for your commitment, energy and purpose. Looking ahead, we are excited about the opportunities in 2026 as together we continue to advance good governance.

Driving impact

Together, our director community is making a positive impact.

SID was honoured with the Silver Ribbon Mental Health Award, recognising our advocacy for workplace wellness and mental health. Our Workplace Wellness Network capped off the year with a meaningful visit to the Institute of Mental Health, reminding us of the role directors play in shaping healthier organisations.

The Total Defence Advocate Award from the Ministry of Defence acknowledged our support for national preparedness through initiatives such as Exercise SG Ready in collaboration with Nexus. 

SID also received a token of appreciation from the Charity Council and the Commissioner of Charities in recognition of the revamped Governance for Outstanding Organisation Directors Programme (SGOOD 2.0). Co-developed with the National Council of Social Service, SGOOD 2.0 is part of Charity Council’s GovernWell initiative to uplift charities’ board directorship.

The first in person session of SGOOD 2.0 received resounding affirmation, with 98 per cent of participants recommending it to others. Limited spots remain, with the next in-person session slated in March 2026. Learn more here. 

Strengthening community

SID hosted the webinar Why Boardroom Competence Matters: Lessons from Global Failures with the Institute of Banking and Finance, Cambodia, reinforcing our shared commitment to uplifting governance standards. 

And members came together for the final Networking Event of 2025, an energising evening that strengthened bonds across our community. Alumni of the Chairperson Accelerator Programme also reunited in a lively gathering marked by conversation, connection and camaraderie – a testament to our collective impact. 

We deepened collaborations through our partnership with ImpactSG, with opportunities for SID members to contribute their time, expertise and resources to support the work of nonprofit organisations in Singapore. 

These initiatives remind us that governance is about people, relationships and shared purpose.

If you are not yet a SID member, view the latest promotions here.

Learning pathways

In 2026, directors can look forward to a dynamic calendar of programmes designed to support every stage of your journey. Here’s a snapshot of what’s open for registration:

• The Listed Entity Director Programme and the Listed Entity Director Bridging Programme, endorsed by Singapore Exchange Regulation, provide first-time appointees on boards of listed companies with the skills and knowledge to execute their duties as directors effectively.
  
• Programmes such as Build Your Path to Board Directorship, Board and Director Fundamentals, and Director Financial Reporting Fundamentals provide board directors with strategies, knowledge and financial oversight skills to position themselves effectively. 
  
• Join the upcoming information session to learn more about our refreshed Board Readiness Programme 2.0, a dedicated year-long course for aspiring board directors.
  
• The Audit and Risk Committee Seminar and the webcast on Scaling AI with ISO 42001 will offer focused deep dives into risk management and emerging technologies.
  
• At a more advanced level, the SID INSEAD International Directors Programme and the Chairperson Accelerator Programme will broaden your expertise in international governance and prepare you to lead the board.
  

To view the full calendar for 2026, click here or bookmark this page for the latest updates.

SID Directors Conference 2026

Save the date, as we look forward to the next SID Directors Conference scheduled for 28 August 2026. Watch highlights from the 2025 conference here.

Thank you for your engagement and support in 2025. 

Our office will close from 12 noon on Wednesday, 24 December 2025, to Sunday, 4 January 2026. Regular business activities will resume on Monday, 5 January 2026. Online transactions and resources will remain available during the year-end break.

Thank you and wishing all a peaceful and joyous end of year. Stay connected. 

HIGHLIGHTS

Audit and Risk Committee Seminar 2026
Strengthening Governance in an Age of Complexity
20 January 2026 | 9.15am – 12.00pm | PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay

In today’s turbulent world and intelligent age, trust is the cornerstone for sustainable business. This seminar examines how boards, especially audit and risk committees, can steer companies in strengthening integrity, accountability and transparency to build trust with stakeholders. Key themes include redefining “Trust 2.0”, embedding a culture of trust across the organisation, and reinforcing confidence in corporate governance and financial reporting.

Listed Entity Director Bridging Programme
15 January 2026 | In-person session

The SID Listed Entity Director (LED) Bridging Programme is an abridged LED course that enables first-time directors to meet mandatory training requirements for listed companies. Endorsed by Singapore Exchange, the course combines self-directed e-Learning (28 October 2025 to 26 January 2026), compulsory assessment (1 to 28 February 2026) and an in-person facilitated discussion on 15 January 2026. This abridged LED course offers graduates of four approved directorship programmes (BRP, SGOOD, SDP, IDP) an alternative to taking the full LED programme.

Board and Director Fundamentals
4 February 2026 | 9.00am – 6.00pm | Amara Hotel

This introductory course provides a broad-based understanding of what a corporate director needs to know with regards to their duties, responsibilities and liabilities, and how they can be effective as a director. Designed for directors of companies incorporated under the Companies Act in Singapore, this includes directors of commercial companies and those nonprofit organisations incorporated as Companies Limited by Guarantee.

Director Financial Reporting Fundamentals
25 February 2026 | 9.00am – 6.00pm | Amara Hotel

Designed for directors with limited or no financial/accounting background, this course provides essential accounting knowledge and practical tips. It equips participants with the key tools and concepts to review company financial statements and stay up-to-date on good financial practices. Participants will learn how to perform high-level reviews of financial statements and undertake financial reporting and filing.

Listed Entity Director Programme
9 – 20 March 2026 | Online Webcast

The Listed Entity Director (LED) Programme is a prerequisite course supported by the Singapore Exchange for first-time appointees on boards of listed companies. It seeks to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to execute their duties as directors effectively. Sign up now for our flagship director training course that covers the key competencies expected of a board member. Participants receive a complimentary Corporate Governance Guidebook with every registration. Online and in-person schedules are available, check here for dates.

Register by 31 January 2026 for early bird rates.

SID Directors Bulletin
Ask Mr Sid: Generation and Governance Gaps

Our regular Ask Mr Sid column tackles the issue of board renewal. Presented with an ageing, loyalist board and an 80-year-old founder-chairman blocking progress, a next-generation director seeks advice on board succession. Mr Sid warns against ageism and pushing change purely for the sake of change. A calibrated, independent and multi-generational board offers diverse perspectives and is better equipped to anticipate risks, identify opportunities and make balanced, well-informed decisions.

SID Boardroom Matters
Singapore’s Big Board Refresh… and what lies beyond

Singapore’s hardcoded nine-year rule has sharply accelerated board renewal, slashing long-tenured independent directors and bringing in many first-time appointees. Structural independence and diversity have improved, with more women, younger directors and independent chairs, notes Alvin Chiang. Yet challenges remain: ensuring true independent thinking, preserving institutional memory and integrating newcomers effectively. Boards must move beyond compliance toward continual renewal, thoughtful succession, inclusive culture and stronger long-term value creation.

Briefing on the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard 2025
3 November 2025

At the 3 November 2025 ACGS briefing, speakers noted that Singapore companies continue to score well but often under-disclose strong governance practices. With the revised Scorecard placing greater weight on sustainability and resilience, firms must enhance climate reporting, strengthen board oversight of ESG and communicate governance more clearly. The briefing stressed that transparency, renewal and purposeful board composition will increasingly distinguish leading Singapore-listed companies in future assessments.

Launch of Singapore Directorship Report 2025
4 November 2025

The Singapore Directorship Report 2025 was launched on 4 November. Covering 615 SGX-listed firms, it shows a sharp boardroom shift: long-serving independent directors now make up only 3.2 per cent, with nearly half of recent appointments being first-time directors. Board diversity has improved, with more women directors, and more firms disclose exact director pay. The report underscores that regulatory reforms have spurred renewal, but boards must now deepen governance through transparency, succession and robust oversight.

 Copyright (C) 2025 Singapore Institute of Directors. All rights reserved.

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