Program
Key Dates
Paper and proposals submission deadline: May 31, 2026
Notification of decision on submissions: June 30th, 2026
Early Bird Registration: Through August 15, 2026
Regular Registration: August 16–31, 2026
Late Registration: September 1–15, 2026
Paper Development Workshop: October 2nd, 2026
Conference: October 3–4, 2026
Conference Schedule at a Glance
Pre-conference: Friday, 02/Oct/2026
2:00pm – 5:30pm | PDW – Corporate Governance: An International Review |
5:30pm – 7:00pm | Welcome Reception |
Day 1: Saturday, 03/Oct/2026
8:00am – 9:00am | Registration/Breakfast |
9:00am – 5:30pm | Scientific Program (Keynotes, Parallel & Plenary Sessions) |
6:30pm – 10:30pm | Cocktail and Gala Dinner |
Day 2: Sunday, 04/Oct/2026
9:00am – 4:00pm | Scientific Program (Keynotes, Parallel & Plenary Sessions) |
4:00pm – 5:00pm | ICGS Annual General Meeting |
5:00pm – 6:00pm | Closing Reception |
Keynotes
Towards Strategic Corporate Governance
Governance reforms have sought to enhance shareholder empowerment, rein in agency costs of corporate managers, and incentivize the creation of shareholder value. But what if both corporate managers and corporate shareholders could contribute to and extract value from publicly traded corporations?
A strategic—firm-centric—corporate governance view, considering how the focal organization benefits from agency and principal value, while bearing both agency and principal costs, helps illuminate the broader implications of corporate governance reforms.
Could governance remedies that ignore the health, resilience, and sustainability of the organization itself promote long-term value creation by publicly traded corporations, or would they lead to blind spots and unanticipated side effects for organizations and society?
About Maria Goranova
Dr. Maria Goranova is a Professor of Strategic Management and Corporate Governance at the Lubar College of Business, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Her research focuses on shareholder empowerment and activism with particular attention to how corporate governance arrangements shape strategic outcomes such as mergers and acquisitions, corporate diversification, and divestitures. A defining feature of Professor Goranova’s work is its contribution to contemporary debates on the purpose of corporate governance.
By examining how different shareholders exercise influence and how governance mechanisms mediate competing interests, her research sheds light on the evolving balance between value creation, accountability, and broader societal expectations.
Her work speaks directly to practitioners, regulators, and policy makers concerned with the real-world consequences of governance reforms. Through sustained engagement with practitioners, she actively contributes to bridging academic research and governance practice, fostering dialogue on how governance systems can better support long-term strategic decision-making.
Corporate Governance for the Social Good
Debate about whether corporations are better run to make profits or to advance social welfare is as old as stock markets.
Earlier debates on this issue are remarkable for their depth and economic literacy, and knowledge of them could greatly elevate our current discussions. Over the past centuries, the pendulum has swung back and forth several times, with right and left-leaning advocates often switching sides, and seeing one’s views espoused by one’s ideological foes can instill perspective.
Sorting through these historical debates suggests a way forward – corporate governance success measured by productivity-enhancing profits but achieved by competing for the genuine esteem of customers, employees, other stakeholders, and the public at large. Pathologies arise because whenever profits become the goal of corporate governance, they become a less useful measure of good governance.
About Randall Morck
Randall Morck is a Distinguished University Professor at the Alberta School of Business (Canada), where he holds the Stephen A. Jarislowsky Distinguished Chair in Finance. One of Canada’s most widely cited economists, Professor Morck is internationally recognized for his foundational contributions to corporate finance, corporate governance, and political economy.
His research examines how ownership structures, control rights, and institutional environments shape firm behavior and economic outcomes. Drawing on insights from business history and political economy, his scholarship has been instrumental in explaining why governance systems vary globally and how these variations affect long-term economic development.
Professor Morck’s work has had a significant impact beyond academia. He has advised governments and international organizations, including the World Bank, on issues related to governance reform, financial development, and institutional design.
His ability to connect rigorous economic analysis with real-world policy challenges has made him a leading voice in debates on capitalism, state influence, and the role of corporations in society.
Panels
Board Leadership in a Changing World
As the purpose of the corporation continues to evolve and organizations face rapid technological change, including the growing implications of artificial intelligence for board oversight, alongside geopolitical uncertainty, cyber risks, and rising stakeholder expectations, boards of directors are being challenged to rethink how they exercise effective oversight while supporting strategic decision-making. Bringing together experienced directors and governance leaders from Canada, the United States, and Europe, this panel will explore how boards are responding to these emerging challenges, drawing on diverse governance experiences and perspectives from different institutional contexts.
Panelists:
- Patricia Lenkov, Agility Executive Search (US and Canada)
- Matthew Fortier, Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) (Canada)
- Michael Hilb, Board Foundation (Europe)
- Bob Zukis, CEO, Digital Directors Network (DDN) and Conference Board Governance Center Fellow (US)
AI Governance
This panel will discuss existing gaps in the governance and regulatory frameworks of artificial intelligence. It will focus on how to equip businesses and organizations with the tools they need to better navigate evolving AI-related expectations. The panel will bring together AI developers, organizations adopting AI, and regulators to foster a multi-perspective discussion. It will explore governance gaps at both the national level and within firms, and consider how organizations can design oversight, accountability, and decision-making structures to responsibly manage the risks associated with AI use.
Panelists:
- Véronique Tremblay, Director, AI Practice, Ethics and Governance, Videns
- Pierre Larouche, Professor of Law and Innovation, UdM et IVADO
- Vickie Monpetit, Directrice Données et Intelligence artificielle, Hydro-Québec
- Catherine Beaulieu, Senior Non-Financial Risk Advisor, Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) Québec
Meet the Editors
This panel session will bring together editors of leading corporate governance–related journals to discuss current research trends, expectations in the review process, and pathways to publication. The session will also provide participants with an opportunity to engage with the broader scholarly community, exchange perspectives on emerging research directions, and gain insights into the evolving landscape of academic publishing.
Panelists:
- Joanna T. Campbell – Carl H. Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati; Journal of Management
- Charlotte Cloutier – HEC Montréal; Strategic Organization and Academy of Management Journal
- Mark DesJardine – Dartmouth College; Management Science and Organization Science
- Marc Goergen – IE University; British Journal of Management and British Accounting Review
- Omrane Guedhami – University of South Carolina; Corporate Governance: An International Review and Contemporary Accounting Research
- Krista B. Lewellyn – Florida Southern College; Corporate Governance: An International Review