WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Launching the first night of the National Association of Corporate Directors' (NACD's) 2011 Board Leadership Conference, 800 directors, c-suite executives, and other corporate governance leaders gathered in Washington, DC to discuss the future of corporate leadership.

Kicking off the premier corporate governance event of the year on October 2, NACD Chairman and Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Barbara Hackman Franklin was joined by a panel of experts to examine best practices in adapting to governance changes both in the U.S. and abroad. Futurist Edie Weiner also presented on the importance of long-term vision and how to ensure a productive and profitable future in light of a rapidly-changing society.

Major themes discussed on the first evening included the need for boards that are diverse in thought, experience, background, gender, race, and ethnicity; the importance of effective and comprehensive director credentialing and education courses such as the NACD Fellowship Program; and the value to boards of public and private companies to benchmark their current board structures, practices, strategies and policies against their peers.

In addition to the address from Franklin, the assembled directors heard from a diverse panel at a session entitled "Global Governance: Adapting to Changes at Home and Abroad." The panel of experts focused on why boards should plan for a future in an increasingly global environment, the key steps to building effective boards, and how cybersecurity should play into any company's long-term plans. Speakers on the panel included:

• Sir Peter Bonfield, Chair, NXP Semiconductors and Director, Sony Corporation, L.M. Ericsson, TSMC, and Mentor Graphics
• Michele J. Hooper, Director, PPG Industries, Inc., UnitedHealth Group, AstraZeneca PLC, and NACD
• The Honorable Michael Oxley, Former U.S. Congressman and Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee
• Ambassador Rozanne L. Ridgway, Former Director, Boeing, 3M, and Former US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs.

Rounding out the evening was an address by futurist Edie Weiner, who presented "A View from the Future," and discussed the rapidly-changing world and how technology, neuroscience, and a metaspace economy present today's boards with a host of issues that are not adequately addressed in the course of normal operations. Weiner examined how -- and why -- boards must continually further their long-term planning to ensure future success.

For full and continued coverage, visit NACD's conference webpage, or follow developments in real time through the twitter hashtag #NACDBLC11.

About NACD

The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is the only membership organization delivering the information and insights that corporate board members need to confidently confront complex business challenges and enhance shareowner value. With more than 11,000 members, NACD advances exemplary board leadership. NACD is focused on creating more effective and efficient boards through director-led education and peer forums to share ideas and leading practices based on more than 30 years of primary research. Fostering collaboration among directors and governance stakeholders, NACD is shaping the future of board leadership. To learn more about NACD, visit NACDonline.org. To join, please contact Kelly Dodd at kkdodd@nacdonline.org or 202-380-1891.

Contact:
Henry Stoever, Chief Marketing Officer
National Association of Corporate Directors
202-775-0509

SOURCE National Association of Corporate Directors