Reflections from the Governance Summit 2025 – A Practical Look from Chapter Zero Brussels

On June 6th, the Governance Summit 2025 brought together board members, governance professionals and experts from across Belgium. The event focused on the growing complexity of board responsibilities, with themes like ESG, digital transition, risk management and geopolitical disruption high on the agenda. For Chapter Zero Brussels, it was a relevant and well-timed moment to take stock of how these discussions apply to our local context.

Photos by Robert Smits

The main takeaway: the role of the board is expanding. Directors are expected to look beyond compliance and financial oversight, and to actively engage with long-term strategic questions, including climate and sustainability. There’s growing pressure, from regulators and stakeholders alike, for boards to show they understand the broader impact of their decisions.

Several sessions focused on the board’s role in ESG oversight. While many companies are still developing their approach, the message was clear: ESG is no longer a side topic. It’s becoming a core part of how risk and opportunity are assessed, and how companies define future value.

Diversity and inclusion were also discussed as practical tools for improving board effectiveness. Multiple speakers emphasized that diverse boards tend to have more constructive debate and broader insight, not as a slogan, but as a working principle with real consequences for decision-making.

One element that stood out was the informal exchange between participants. Many attendees mentioned how valuable it was to speak openly with peers facing similar challenges. It reinforced the importance of building environments where board members can learn from each other, not through theory, but through practical examples and honest dialogue.

For Chapter Zero Brussels, the relevance is straightforward. The themes discussed at the Summit match what we’re hearing in our own network: climate risk is science-assessed, regulation is tightening, and boards are under pressure to respond. These are not abstract trends, they require action at board level, and they require directors to be well-prepared.

Our focus remains clear: to support Belgian board members in building the knowledge, confidence and network need to handle climate-related challenges in a realistic, effective way. No grand visions, just the right conversations, followed by actions, with the right people, at the right time.

We’ll continue doing that; grounded, practical, and focused on what boards can do today and we take note of the 2026 edition of the Governance Summit on May 29th.