Advancing Governance Excellence

Dear Members,

As September unfolds, we invite you to explore fresh insights, engage in meaningful conversations and build connections that advance governance excellence.

SID Directors Conference 2025

Our annual SID Directors Conference 2025 on 12 September will feature Chee Hong Tat, Minister for National Development and Deputy Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore as guest-of-honour, and Ravi Menon, Singapore’s Ambassador for Climate Action and Chairman of ImpactSG as keynote speaker. Our exceptional roster of speakers includes a fireside chat with Ms Ho Ching. We hope to see you there!

To strengthen governance and organisational resilience, SID and Ensign InfoSecurity have launched a national initiative to train 1,000 directors by 2028 through board-level cyber crisis simulation exercises. We held six cyber crisis simulation workshops last month to give directors a hands on experience in navigating a high stakes cyber incident. Additional workshop dates will be announced soon.

SID corporate member can also enjoy a complimentary first-year incident response retainer from Ensign InfoSecurity as part of SID’s Partner Benefits Programme. 

At the Chairperson Accelerator Programme preview, board leaders explored the chair’s evolving role in succession planning, board renewal and navigating complex dynamics. Watch our two new videos featuring experienced chairs Adrian Chan and Daniel Ee share candid reflections on their journeys. Explore and register your interest for the upcoming programme here.

Thirty five participants completed the inaugural SID Listed Entity Director (LED) Bridging Programme. The SGX RegCo-endorsed course equips graduates of recognised directorship programmes with the skills and credentials to meet SGX’s mandatory training requirements for first-time listed company directors. Stay tuned for the next run.

Looking ahead, the LED Programme, a prerequisite course for first-time appointees to boards of listed companies , runs from 8 to 15 October 2025. The nine modules are now open for registration. SID members who complete all nine modules by year end will be entitled to a complimentary set of CG Guides, waiver of SID Accreditation Exam fee and priority registration to the Audit and Risk Committee Seminar 2026. Our LED Programme (Mandarin) Core will run from 2 to 11 September.

For those exploring nonprofit leadership, our August run of So, You Want to be a NonProfit Director offered a candid look at the responsibilities, challenges and rewards of serving in the charities sector. Seats are also filling fast for the Governance for Outstanding Organisation Directors (SGOOD) 2.0 Programme, so book soon.

If you are an aspiring or new director seeking clarity on strategy, positioning and articulating your unique value, join the upcoming second run of Build Your Path to Board Leadership workshop.

Conversations that matter

The Singapore Governance and Transparency (SGTI) Forum 2025 brought together directors, regulators and leaders to unveil this year’s SGTI results, highlight emerging governance trends and share how leading companies are raising the bar to meet evolving stakeholder expectations.

Coming up in October, our Pit-Stop on Governing AI Risks through the ARC will cover lessons from real-world AI risk failures and practical oversight tools. And our Current Topic webinar on Driving Impact through Board-Management Alignment will focus on how leading boards build trust, clarity and accountability to translate shared purpose into measurable outcomes.

To view all our complimentary events with CPD hours for members, bookmark this page. 

Membership highlights

Special rates for individual, corporate and nonprofit membership plans are available until 30 September 2025, so take advantage and join us today. SID Corporate Members also enjoy exclusive partner benefits – covering board management, insurance, compliance and risk, sustainability and stakeholder engagement.

From 15 September 2025, SID account holders’ personal data will be hosted by Microsoft Azure data centres in Australia. This will not impact services, PDPA protections, or security measures. No action is needed from you. Learn more at www.sid.org.sg/personaldata.

We look forward to welcome you at our upcoming events and courses as we work together to shape resilient boards and advance governance excellence. Stay connected!

HIGHLIGHTS

Cyber Security and Business Continuity for Boards
(Complimentary, for members only)
25 September 2025 | 9.00am – 12.00pm | NTUC Business Centre

Organised by SID and Nexus, this Total Defence table-top exercise will guide board directors in assessing and enhancing their organisation’s business continuity plan in response to cyber threats at the workplace. Through scenario-based discussions, participants will gain practical insights to drive change in their respective organisations. By engaging with experts and peers, participants will learn how to frame the right questions for management, set appropriate risk appetites and drive the cultural and organisational changes to embed cyber resilience into core business strategy.

Listed Entity Director Programme
8 – 15 October 2025 | Amara Singapore

The Listed Entity Director (LED) Programme is a prerequisite course supported by the Singapore Exchange for first-time appointees on boards of listed companies. For a limited time only, complete all core and optional modules in one year and get a waiver of accreditation exam fees. Plus, you get priority registration to the Audit and Risk Committee Seminar in January 2026 and a set of Corporate Governance Guides for Boards when you complete all nine modules by the end of this year. 

Build Your Path to Board Directorship
25 September 2025 | 9.00am – 5.30pm | PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay

Becoming a board director is a journey of personal fulfilment, growth and meaning. Stepping into a board director role requires more than experience or knowledge – it requires a clear strategy, a compelling value proposition and a deep understanding of how to position yourself. Realising board opportunities is not just about what you know, but how well you can articulate the value you bring. This workshop uses the 4R methodology of Reflect-Reveal-Reimagine-Reach to provide an immersive experience for you to uncover your purpose and value for directorship

Innovating with Assurance: Governing AI Risks through the ARC
2 October 2025 | 9.00am – 11.30am | Asia Square Tower 2

As adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates, governance teams face fast-moving and complex risks. This session explores how audit and risk committees (ARCs) can strengthen oversight of AI’s security, safety, reliability and fairness. Through real-world case studies and an interactive breakout, participants will unpack the consequences of AI failures and learn how leading ARCs are responding. Guided by KPMG’s Trusted AI team, the session equips board members with practical frameworks and tools to ask the right questions so they can build robust governance for AI-enabled systems.

Transformation: Body and Mind (Complimentary for members)
24 October 2025 | 4.30pm – 6.30pm | The Arts House

SID showcases the inaugural solo exhibition of Grace Chew, featuring works from oil to Chinese paintings and calligraphy. Experience art where Eastern and Western traditions meet to celebrate life, nature and personal journeys. Then join us for a panel discussion: The Art of Enterprise: Leveraging creativity for strategic innovation in the boardroom. In bridging the gap between executive decision-making and creative problem-solving, we explore enablers of innovative leadership, risk-taking and adaptability amid uncertainty.

Advanced Programme on Sustainability
27 – 28 November 2025 | 9.00am – 6.00pm
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay

As expectations for strong environmental, social and governance practices rise, boards must lead their companies into the next stage of the sustainability journey. Designed for directors of listed companies, this advanced programme goes beyond the basics to focus on board-level sustainability governance. It equips directors to navigate new regulations, including sustainability reporting under the International Financial Reporting Standards, and to embed sustainability into business strategy for lasting impact. Presented by SID, in collaboration with SGX and KPMG.

SID Directors Bulletin
The Role of Directors in Building Trust

Trust is fundamental to effective corporate governance. Directors play a critical role in building and safeguarding this trust through ethical leadership, transparency and professional curiosity. David Gerald draws on the SingPost and UK Post Office scandals (“A Tale of Two Post Offices”) to illustrate how breaches of trust – stemming from poor whistleblower handling, lack of transparency and board oversight failures – can cause severe reputational and operational damage. Boards must proactively ensure robust, independent whistleblower processes, maintain clear stakeholder communication and rigorously challenge management to uphold accountability and integrity. 

Boardroom Matters
How Boards Should Adapt to Trade Risks

Boards must urgently adapt to structural trade risks, such as tariffs, retaliatory measures and fragmented supply chains, which are now reshaping markets. These business risks are no longer temporary disruptions but persistent forces requiring proactive governance, notes Dr Wilson Chew. To navigate this volatile landscape, boards should lead scenario planning, champion diversification across supply chains and markets to reduce dependency, and pursue strategic partnerships that localise operations and build resilience. By evolving their approach to strategic planning and staying attuned to geopolitical developments, boards can better position their companies for long-term performance amid ongoing global trade uncertainty.

Singapore Governance and Transparency Forum 2025
13 August 2025

At this year's Singapore Governance and Transparency Index (SGTI) Forum, we were honoured to have Lim Tuang Lee, Assistant Managing Director (Capital Markets) at MAS, deliver a powerful keynote: “Advancing Our Corporate Governance Journey.” Against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty, Mr Lim shared why strong corporate governance is more than a compliance checkbox, it is a strategic advantage. He reminded us: “Learning is like rowing a boat upstream – if you’re not moving forward, you’re drifting backward.” Congratulations to this year’s SGTI award winners, whose leadership sets the tone for Singapore’s capital markets to remain trusted, vibrant and resilient.

Fellows Evening 2025
15 August 2025

On 15 August 2025, SID Fellows enjoyed an evening of food, music, theatre – and warm camaraderie. Fried Rice Paradise: The Makan Party, an innovative dinner theatre experience by Singapore Repertory Theatre, was presented by SID in partnership with Deloitte. Blending humour with heart, the performance explored the creative tension between tradition and modernity through the lens of Singapore’s culinary culture. This memorable gathering brought together SID friends and supporters, as we continue to strengthen long-standing relationships and forge new connections within the directorship community.

PARTNERS’ HIGHLIGHTS

Public Consultation on Intangible Asset Valuation Guidelines
IVAS, CBV, ASA, RICS
Closing on 12 September 2025

Summit for Action on Gender Equality 2025
Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations
29 September 2025 | 9.30am – 5.00pm | One Farrer Hotel
SID members rate: $200 (Promo code: SCWOPARTNER)

IIA Conference 2025
The Institute of Internal Auditors
9 October 2025 | 8.00am – 6.00pm | One Farrer Hotel
10% off for SID members (email [email protected])

RICS-REDAS Conference 2025
RICS and REDAS
16 October 2025 | 9.00am – 5.00pm | Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
SID members rate: $343 (register as Member of Supporting Organisation)

Asia Pacific Board Leadership Forum 2025
Russell Reynolds Associates
28 & 29 October 2025 | 1.00pm – 4.00pm | Virtual | Complimentary

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

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