2019: The year in governance
This year saw the climate crisis accepted as a board-level issue, audit reviews, a UK election and a new focus on human rights and business purpose.

Image: John Gomez/Shutterstock
It’s that time we when we look back on 2019 and try to make sense of it all, impose some meaning and shape on the issues as they unfolded throughout the past 12 months.
One thing we won’t do, however, is get all misty-eyed and nostalgic. It was a year in which progress was made in some areas, but in others boards were made all too aware of the work still to do in helping save the planet. And there are reminders aplenty of the ever-present risks if they don’t.
Climate change was not the only issue in 2019. That said, if there is one theme that sums up the year it is the idea that business and corporates have a critical societal role to play in the climate crisis, in their communities and in supporting their employees and stakehol