Blog

Last week our CEO Martine Joly attended the Essential Director Update (EDU) 2025 in Sydney, hosted by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) at the ICC Sydney.

This marks another year of participation for Bilateral Solutions in the AICD’s flagship governance event, which we attend each year to stay across the latest developments in governance and directorship.

About the Essential Director Update

The Essential Director Update is the AICD’s flagship complimentary nationwide event designed to help directors stay informed and prepared. Each year, it delivers a concise, high-impact briefing on the most important developments affecting directors and boards, covering governance reform, risk management, technology, regulation, and ESG.
(Learn more on AICD’s website →)

This year’s update explored how directors can navigate a rapidly changing landscape shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, climate-related disclosures, and an evolving regulatory environment.
As the AICD noted ahead of the event:

“AI is definitely the topic of the year… What you might have thought was happening a year ago is probably quite different today.”

Highlights from the Sydney Session

The Sydney event brought together hundreds of directors, executives, and governance professionals. Over a two-hour session featuring expert presentations and Q&A discussions, attendees examined the latest trends shaping board agendas across Australia.

Top Five Insights from EDU 2025

1. AI Governance is Now a Boardroom Priority
   Boards can no longer treat AI as a purely operational issue. Directors must consider governance, ethics, and oversight in the adoption of AI tools and models.
2. Cyber Resilience is Strategic, Not Technical
   Cybersecurity needs to be framed as a whole-of-business risk that integrates strategy, reputation, and business continuity.
3. Climate Disclosure Rules Are Here
   New mandatory climate reporting standards will demand early preparation, robust data, and clear accountability.
4. The Regulatory Lens is Widening
   Regulators are intensifying their focus on culture, transparency, and director accountability, requiring proactive board engagement.
5. Continuous Learning Defines Good Governance
   In an environment of constant change, effective directors prioritise continuous professional development and peer exchange, which events like the EDU make possible.

In Pictures

Our team captured moments from the Sydney event, including guest speakers, audience engagement, and on-screen presentations, reflecting the energy and forward-thinking discussions that define the EDU each year.

Key Takeaways for Bilateral Solutions

For us participating in the EDU 2025 reinforced our commitment to strong governance, informed leadership, and responsible innovation. The sessions provided valuable insights into how boards can respond to emerging challenges and opportunities, particularly in areas such as AI governance, climate-related oversight, and cyber risk strategy.

As part of our follow-up, we will incorporate these learnings into upcoming board reviews and strategic planning sessions to ensure our governance practices continue to evolve with the broader business landscape.

Looking Ahead

We are proud to continue our annual participation in the Essential Director Update and look forward to applying these insights as we strengthen our governance frameworks and future-proof Bilateral Solutions for the opportunities ahead.