Boards can expect investors to ask them about their climate change plans, human capital management and supply chains, according to a panel of experts convened to explore what the 2022 AGM season holds for directors.

Hosted by Diligent and Board Agenda, the webinar saw experts in AGM preparation and investor behaviour unpick the big issues on the agenda at shareholder gatherings this year. According to Ali Saribas, partner at SquareWell Partners, investors will probe a host of resilience issues. “What Covid-19 showed was the disruption one faces against systemic and unmanaged risks,” he said.

Victoria Dalby, a director at the Law Debenture Corporation, said the pandemic had thrown a spotlight on the relationship between business and society which would also figure in AGM discussions. “Now it’s not just about creating long-term value for shareholders but also for wider stakeholders—customers, suppliers, employees, communities,” she said.

The 2022 season will see most AGMs continue online or as hybrid events. This has allowed investors to pose more pointed questions, particularly through web portals. According to Peter Fowler, managing director of Lumi Global: “Upping the pace of shareholder engagement is definitely something we’re seeing.”

Watch the full webinar here.