Paul Smith, Australia
Paul is the award-winning author and founder of Future Directors. He’s been described as a ‘board futurist’ and a leading thinker on where next for corporate governance.
He speaks regularly around the world on the themes of board performance, inclusive decision-making, governance technology and the concepts of the ‘Future Director’ and ‘Future Boardroom’.
Paul established Future Directors in 2015 to help directors and boards (of all types) become fit for their future, and the world’s. Since then, Future Directors has grown to become a global community providing training, education, consulting and a technology platform that helps equip boards for the ever-changing challenges of modern governance.
Karen Fryday-Field, Canada
Karen Fryday-Field is a London born entrepreneur, business leader, consultant and community builder and supporter. She has been actively orientating, educating, and consulting with governing Boards, senior leadership teams and CEOs for over 20 years. She is a highly experienced facilitator, speaker, and consultant. Karen has spoken and provided leadership development, strategic thinking, strategic planning, and governance consultation in Canada, the United States, England, the Middle East Argentina, and internationally. She is the 2021 London and Middlesex Business Hall of Fame Laureate and recipient of the 2023 YMCA Entrepreneurs Woman of Excellence Award.
Karen Fryday-Field is the Managing Partner and Senior Consultant of Meridian Edge Leadership and Governance Consulting located in London, Canada. Karen consults regularly with Boards to address governance effectiveness and generative/strategic thinking and development of new ways to add value at the governance level and throughout the organization. She has been a Strategic and Governance Consultant and researcher since 1995 and has completed the Governance Academy Program in Atlanta, Georgia. Her client list of for-impact (non-profit), public, and for-profit/corporate Boards in Canada and the United States is extensive. Karen is dedicated to helping Boards improve their effectiveness, one Board, one organization at a time. Several Boards Karen has coached have been recognized for their governance contribution nationally and internationally (for example, the Michener Institute, won runner-up for the Spencer Stewart Award for Governance Excellence in the public sector, over two different years, presented by the Conference Board of Canada). Orchestra London won the Governor’s General Award for Strategic Planning and the Northwest Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) received recognition for its Strategic Directions Plan.