Caroline Spillane CDir | Wednesday, 8th April 2026

Dear Member

In an evolving and dynamic corporate landscape, we are committed to delivering practical guidance, resources, and opportunities to assist you in fulfilling your responsibilities as a director.

In this edition, we publish the next phase of our AI Governance Toolkit and also highlight an excellent programme of member-exclusive events covering EU Presidency priorities, sustainability governance, D&O insurance and valuable networking opportunities.

Our Member Spotlight features Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland, who shares leadership insights from her senior career. We also warmly welcome new members and newly awarded Chartered Directors to the IoD Ireland community.

Alongside articles on cyber security, new FRC guidance and EU Inc; webcasts on company law updates and selling a business, we hope this edition provides you with useful perspective, insight and practical support.

Best wishes

Caroline

Caroline Spillane CDir

Chief Executive Officer

Institute of Directors Ireland 

FEATURED ARTICLE

We are delighted to launch the next tool in our AI Governance Toolkit, the AI Use Policy Builder. For executive directors, the policy builder offers a practical framework to define the organisation's position on AI use across four governance domains. For non-executive directors, the completed policy provides visibility into how management is governing AI adoption and evidence that appropriate controls are in place.

The AI Use Policy Builder resource complements the Shadow AI Audit Toolkit and forms part of our AI Governance Toolkit, a practical suite of resources designed to support directors in overseeing artificial intelligence within their organisations. The Toolkit helps boards ask informed questions, identify emerging risks, strengthen governance structures, assess organisational readiness and anticipate future developments in AI.

EXCLUSIVE UPCOMING EVENTS

Ireland’s 2026 EU Presidency



15 April 2026 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: Cork event

Join us for our upcoming Cork event on the EU Presidency. Our expert speakers include: Dr. Orlaigh Quinn, INED & former Secretary General at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; David Geary, CEO, European Movement Ireland; and Claire Scannell, Director of the Managing Partners Office, Matheson LLP. In collaboration with Matheson LLP.

D&O Insurance Demystified



30 April 2026 | 9:30am - 10:30am

Location: Webinar

Directors today operate in an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment, where personal accountability and scrutiny have never been higher. Join us for this webinar which will explain how D&O insurance interacts with directors’ legal duties, where protections exist, and where potential gaps may leave directors personally exposed. 

New Members Networking Event



30 April 2026 | 5:45pm - 7:45pm

Location: Central Dublin

Save the date for our upcoming New Member Event, specifically for members who have joined IoD Ireland within the past 12 months. This event will provide an excellent opportunity to meet, mingle and connect with fellow new members in an engaging and relaxed setting. The format will be interactive, with small-group networking opportunities designed to help you build connections within the IoD community.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Vanessa Hartley has built an impressive international career spanning financial services, health insurance and global technology, and today serves as Head of Google Ireland. In this member profile interview, she reflects on the career decisions that shaped her leadership journey, the opportunities she sees for Ireland, and what boards need to understand about AI, strategy execution and leading in a rapidly changing world.

Welcome to new members who joined in recent weeks

Whether you’re here for inspiration, knowledge, or to belong to a valued network, we’re delighted to have you as part of our IoD Ireland community.

Meet our new Chartered Directors

Congratulations to those Chartered Directors who have passed their final professional review process, eligibility assessment and have become qualified CDirs.

DIRECTOR EXPERTISE AND INSIGHTS | MEMBER BENEFITS 

Explore our latest expert insights and timely thought leadership content tailored specifically for you as a director and leader. To explore the full range of what you have access to as a member, visit our membership benefits website page.

Cyber Risk at Board Level | Article

In this article Joseph Stephens, Director, Resilience for the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), outlines the cyber security threats organisations are facing, the legal requirements under NIS2, and some helpful questions for directors.

Practical Steps to be Taking Now for the EU Presidency | Article  

Read this article with Andrea Pappin, Founder, Common Good, and Former Spokesperson for the Irish Presidency (2013) on what directors and senior leaders should be doing in preparation for the EU Presidency.

From Strategy to Implementation | Article

Read this article with Laura Magahy CDir, Partner and Head of Public Sector Consulting, Forvis Mazars. In this piece she outlines a practical ABC framework to help boards move from strategy to effective implementation. 

EU Inc: A New Corporate Model | Factsheet

Learn about the new EU Inc proposal, which aims to enable particularly new and innovative companies to scale up across the EU using one set of company rules. This Factsheet is courtesy of McCann FitzGerald. 

Company Law and Regulatory Outlook 2026 | Webcast

Watch this webcast with Stephen Fuller, Partner, McCann FitzGerald. Learn the latest updates on company law, director responsibilities, & EU regulatory developments.

Selling a Business: Key Insights for Directors | Webcast

Watch this webcast with John Bowe, Corporate Finance Partner, Forvis Mazars, & Kevin Neary CDir, Non-Executive Director, which explores the steps directors should consider when navigating the sale of a business. 

Generative & Agentic AI Audit Firm Guidance | FRC

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published new guidance for audit firms on using generative and agentic AI tools in audit engagements.

D&O Insurance |Tailored Benefit for Members

Directors operate in an increasingly complex legal & regulatory environment. Protect your personal liability with our tailored D&O Liability Insurance solution, courtesy of Arachas.

RESEARCH POLICY AND ADVOCACY | SHAPING THE FUTURE OF GOVERNANCE

New AI Governance Research from IoD Ireland  

Thank you to all our members for sharing your insights in our latest member research. The new results revealed Irish business leaders are rapidly embracing AI, but significant gaps remain ahead of sweeping new Irish regulatory requirements scheduled for introduction in 2026. The findings underline the urgent need for stronger AI literacy, oversight and preparedness at board level. You may have read about the research in The Irish Times, Irish Examiner and/or Business Plus. 

To support members and directors in this space, we have launched a new AI Governance Toolkit. We also continue to support members and directors through our board and member services, and through our dedicated Digital and AI Governance workshop. 

IoD LEARNING AND EDUCATION: DESIGNED FOR DIRECTORS

Charity Governance | Workshop 21st April 2026

Learn the role & responsibilities of being a charity trustee, including the legal and regulatory framework within which Charities operate in Ireland. Led by experienced non-profit specialist, Patricia Quinn.

Digital and AI for Boards| Workshop 6th May 2026

Equip yourself and your board with the skills to navigate the governance of digital transformation and AI in this dedicated workshop. Led by Strategist, Garvan Callan.

(Pictured L to R: John Kampfner, Renowned Author and Geopolitical Commentator, Caroline Spillane CDir, Chief Executive Officer, IoD Ireland, Damian Byrne, Partner, PwC Ireland).

INED Forum Addresses Power, Politics and Global Risk

This INED forum, for senior directors and experienced independent non executive directors, examined the geopolitical and economic forces reshaping global business and their impact on boards. It featured a keynote from renowned author and geopolitical commentator John Kampfner. Held in partnership with PwC Ireland. 

It also included contributions from IoD Ireland CEO Caroline Spillane CDir, and PwC Ireland leader Damian Byrne, Partner, PwC Ireland. The forum gave INEDs the opportunity to reflect on the challenges ahead and consider how boards can stay effective amid rapid and unpredictable shifts.