NEW YORK, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The 66th National Conference of the Society of Corporate Secretaries & Governance Professionals is set for July 11-14, 2012, in Washington, D.C.  The theme is The Shape of Things to Come, and the conference will feature keynote addresses and panel discussions on today's topics that will become tomorrow's issues.

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"Governance professionals have been preoccupied the last two years with the details of Dodd-Frank and other reforms coming out of the financial crisis," said Conference Chairman Douglas K. Chia, Assistant General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Johnson & Johnson.  "While this conference will address continued Dodd-Frank developments, we also want to pause to consider where governance will and should be headed in the next five years."

This year's meeting features speakers who have shaped current governance trends -- investors, regulators, politicians, and journalists -- including activist investor Ralph Whitworth, SEC Commissioner Troy Paredes, political analyst Charlie Cook and author Bethany McLean.  Attendees will have the opportunity to hear panels focusing on legal, regulatory and governance issues, and learn how the issues will affect the role of the corporate secretary and governance professional.  Breakout sessions, designed specifically for private, public and non-profit entities, will provide discussion and networking opportunities for Society members and other attendees.

"We look forward to hearing from a broad range of speakers with diverse perspectives on the most important challenges facing corporate secretaries and governance professionals," said John Seethoff, Chairman of the Society and Vice President, Deputy General Counsel at Microsoft.  He noted the event will include more than 75 speakers on more than 25 panels.

Topics covered will include board composition and leadership, auditor relationships, shareholder engagement, political spending, executive compensation, the future of disclosure and SEC regulation, crisis management, proxy advisory firms, class and derivative shareholder litigation, and professional development for both lawyers and non-lawyers.  The Society also will hold its annual meeting at the event.

To learn more about the meeting or to register to attend, go to www.governanceprofessionals.org/society/National_Conference.asp. Information also is available by contacting Barbara Hills at 1-212-681-2000.

The Society of Corporate Secretaries & Governance Professionals, with more than 3,000 members, is dedicated to providing services that enhance the professional skills of its members, who are business executives involved in duties normally associated with the corporate secretarial function and corporate governance. The Society provides a forum for the exchange of information and networking through its chapters, national committees, conferences and educational seminars.

SOURCE Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals