Dear Members,

It gives me immense pleasure to present the Annual Report of the Institute of Directors (IOD) for the financial year 2025–2026. The year has been marked by sustained growth, innovation, and meaningful progress in advancing the principles of corporate governance, leadership excellence, and board effectiveness.

I extend my sincere gratitude to the Governing Council, National Advisory Council, Senior Advisors, Jury Members, and our dedicated executives and staff at the Headquarters and Regional Offices, whose commitment and professionalism have significantly contributed to IOD's continued success. I also express my deep appreciation to Hon'ble Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah, Chairman Emeritus; Hon'ble Justice U. U. Lalit, Chairman, IOD; and Hon'ble Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Vice-Chairman, IOD, for their invaluable guidance and support.

During the year, IOD strengthened its position as a leading institution dedicated to promoting good governance, responsible leadership, and future-ready boards. Through our conferences, director development programmes, advisory services, publications, and Golden Peacock Awards, we continued to create a positive impact both in India and internationally.

A significant milestone during the year was the successful organisation of IOD's first-ever Gujarat Convention on the theme, "Driving Global Excellence through Effective and Future- Ready Boards," held at GIFT City Club, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on 20 December 2025. The Convention brought together distinguished leaders from government, industry, and academia to deliberate on the evolving role of boards in shaping sustainable and globally competitive organisations.

IOD's learning initiatives gained further momentum with the conduct of specialised Masterclass Programmes for directors and senior professionals. Notably, the Institute conducted the Women Independent Director Masterclass, reinforcing its commitment towards promoting diversity, inclusion, and greater participation of women in board leadership. The programme was well received and contributed significantly to strengthening the pipeline of qualified women leaders for board positions.

Further strengthening its global outreach, the Institute successfully launched the International Masterclass for Directors (MFD), formerly known as the IBPC MFD Programme, held on 18–20 September 2025. The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation and was conducted successfully, providing a distinguished platform for knowledge exchange, leadership development, and the promotion of global best practices in corporate governance.

The Golden Peacock Awards continued to uphold their reputation as a benchmark of excellence and integrity. During the year, the Awards expanded to 16 categories, recognising outstanding achievements across diverse fields. New categories such as Artificial Intelligence, Innovative Product & Service, Training, Quality, and Business Excellence further strengthened the Awards' relevance in recognising organisations that embrace innovation, learning, and continuous improvement. Today, the Golden Peacock Awards stand as one of the most respected accolades for organisational excellence, both in India and abroad.

IOD's Board Research & Advisory Group continued to support organisations through governance assessments and board evaluations, while our publications and knowledge initiatives promoted awareness of emerging governance trends, including ESG, Sustainability, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, Artificial Intelligence, and Responsible Business Practices.

I am pleased to note that IOD's membership base has continued to grow, reflecting the increasing trust and confidence of the corporate community in the Institute's mission and initiatives. Our national and international conferences, training programmes, and networking platforms have further strengthened engagement with members and stakeholders.

As we look to the future, boards will continue to face new opportunities and challenges arising from technological advancements, changing stakeholder expectations, climate concerns, and an increasingly interconnected global economy. IOD remains committed to supporting organisations in building ethical, resilient, innovative, and future-ready institutions through thought leadership, capacity building, and global collaboration.

I convey my heartfelt appreciation to all our members, partners, sponsors, speakers, delegates, award applicants, and stakeholders for their continued trust and support. Together, we shall continue to strengthen the foundations of good governance and contribute towards building a more transparent, sustainable, and globally competitive corporate India.

With Best Wishes!