So, You Want To Be a Non-Executive Director? 2026
As a senior legal, risk and compliance professional, you’ve honed your skills and developed many strengths, so what’s the next step in your career? For some, the attraction of transitioning from a Senior Executive to a Non-Executive Director (‘NED’) career is appealing, but questions abound like, ‘Where do you start?’, ‘What are my potential areas of weakness as a NED?, ‘What NED roles should I be looking at?’ and ‘How do I secure my first role?’
In this practical and insightful session delivered by the co-founder of the Non-Executive Directors’ Association (‘NEDA’), we demystify the responsibilities, liabilities, and rewards of becoming a NED and provide a realistic view of what’s required to succeed.
You’ll explore the evolving role of the NED in regulated firms and more broadly across other sectors (building a ‘portfolio’ view), what boards and their Chairs are looking for, and how to position yourself effectively. We’ll cover how to build a compelling NED profile, the importance of governance knowledge and experience, regulatory awareness (including ‘SMCR’), and how to navigate potential ‘stumbling blocks’ such as conflicts of interest. Real-world insights and case studies will illuminate the expectations and challenges of the role.
Whether you’re actively seeking your first appointment or planning ahead, this session will equip you with the clarity, confidence, and connections to take the next step.
By signing up to this programme you’ll:
- Understand the Role of a NED: Clearly articulating the duties, responsibilities, and legal liabilities of a Non-Executive Director; comparison with the role of an Executive Director; and consideration of boardroom dynamics and the importance of an independent perspective.
- Assess Your Readiness and Suitability: Evaluating your own skills, experience, and mindset to determine whether you are ready for a NED position—and what steps you need to take to become “board-ready”.
- Develop a Compelling NED Value Proposition: Building a personal NED profile and ‘positioning statement’ that highlights your unique value to boards, drawing on your experience in wealth management, compliance, strategy, or client engagement.
Explore Routes to NED Opportunities: Identifying next steps through a 90-day plan shared as guided by your Trainer, consider realistic pathways to secure your first NED role, understand the networking strategies required, consider the use of board