Dear Esteemed Members,

As we convene for the Annual General Meeting 2026, we stand at the threshold of yet another defining milestone in our collective journey - the 36th year of the Institute of Directors (IOD).

This occasion is far more than an annual statutory gathering. It is a celebration of our shared purpose, our collective achievements, and our unwavering commitment to building stronger boards, advancing corporate excellence, and shaping the future of responsible leadership in India and across the world.

Over the past three and a half decades, IOD has evolved from a national institution into a vibrant global movement of directors, policymakers, business leaders, governance professionals, and change-makers.

It is both an honour and a privilege to serve as your Secretary-General, and to welcome each one of you-our Governing Council Members, National Governing Council Members, Fellows, Life Members, Individual Members, Institutional Members, Regional Chapters, faculty, partners, and the entire IOD Family-to this remarkable journey of leadership and excellence.

On behalf of IOD, I express my deepest gratitude to our revered patrons and visionary leaders whose guidance continues to illuminate our path; Hon'ble Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah, Chairman Emeritus of IOD and Former Chief Justice of India; Hon'ble Justice U. U. Lalit, Hony National Chairman, IOD and Former Chief Justice of India; Hon'ble Justice Rituraj Awasthi, Hony Vice Chairman, IOD and Judicial Member, Lokpal of India; and Lt. Gen. Surinder Nath, PVSM, AVSM (Retd.), President, IOD and also our esteemed Regional Chairmen at all centres.

Their wisdom, statesmanship, and steadfast commitment to strengthening corporate governance and boardroom excellence continue to inspire our mission and shape the future direction of the IOD.

As we assemble here for AGM 2026, today boardrooms are facing a new reality. Geopolitical risk has moved from being a peripheral concern to a central boardroom agenda. Climate resilience, cyber security, supply-chain disruption, stakeholder capitalism, and Artificial Intelligence are no longer emerging issues-they are defining board priorities. The directors who will lead tomorrow are those who embrace continuous learning, intellectual curiosity, diversity of thought, and principled leadership.

The pace of change is accelerating faster than many boards are evolving. Corporate governance today is no longer judged merely by compliance-it is increasingly measured by judgement, resilience, ethical leadership, and the ability to anticipate change before it arrives.

At the Institute of Directors (IOD), our mission always remains clear-to build future-ready directors, future-ready boards, and future-ready institutions.

Throughout this remarkable journey, IOD's continued growth has been guided by one simple philosophy - GRACE: Growth • Respect • Agility • Credibility • Engagement

These values define our culture and have helped transform IOD into one of the world's most respected & fastest growing professional association of directors, founded upon integrity, trust, shared values, and a strong sense of belonging as one global IOD Family.

The financial year 2025–26 has been one of the most defining chapters in our history. We witnessed record progress across virtually every sphere of our mission. Today, IOD proudly represents a vibrant network of over 31,000 directors, board leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and senior executives, including more than 12,000 IOD Certified Corporate Directors, making it one of the largest professional boardroom communities in the region.

Our flagship 'Masterclass for Directors' continued to witness unprecedented demand. During the year, we successfully expanded the programme internationally with the launch of our first offline Masterclass in Dubai, building upon our earlier success in Africa. Simultaneously, we introduced the Global Board Fellowship, a new advanced Masterclass for Directors programme designed to prepare directors for the rapidly evolving global governance landscape.

As our community continues to grow, so do our services. Today, IOD maintains one of India's most active 'Directors' Databank', supporting corporate boards in identifying experienced Independent Directors and board professionals. We have also built a formidable knowledge ecosystem comprising over 500 empanelled faculty members, governance experts, board evaluators, subject specialists, and Golden Peacock assessors, enabling the Institute to deliver high-quality board education, governance advisory, board evaluations, and leadership development programmes across sectors.

Our Board Research & Advisory practice continued to support numerous organisations in strengthening governance standards, improving board effectiveness, succession planning, ESG oversight, and long-term strategic resilience. Increasingly, organisations are seeking practical boardroom guidance rather than mere regulatory compliance and a trend that reinforces the growing relevance of IOD's mission.

One of the highlights of the year has been the continued success of the globally respected and most prestigious Golden Peacock Awards. The Awards witnessed another record year with an unprecedented number of applications from leading organisations in India and overseas, reaffirming their position as one of the world's most respected benchmarks of corporate excellence. During the year, we also introduced the Golden Peacock Award for AI Excellence, recognising organisations demonstrating responsible, ethical, secure, and value-driven adoption of Artificial Intelligence, which has now become central to every business strategy.

Another important milestone during the year has been the strengthening of IOD's national and international footprint. Recently we opened a new office at GIFT City, Gujarat, positioning IOD to serve the rapidly growing ecosystem of international financial institutions, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), fintech enterprises, and multinational corporations operating from India's premier international financial hub.

Equally encouraging has been our growing engagement with governments, regulators, professional institutions, universities, chambers of commerce, and international organisations through several new strategic collaborations and MoUs.

Responding to the aspirations of our Global Boardroom Community, IOD has embarked upon an ambitious National Convention Series on Boards (2026–27) across India's major metropolitan cities. These conventions will complement our Global Conventions in London, Dubai, and other international destinations, creating an integrated platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, policy dialogue, and celebration of boardroom excellence.

Our knowledge platforms-including 'Director Today', governance publications, 'Directors' Handbooks', Winners Digest, digital webinars, research reports, and boardroom forums-continue to evolve, enabling directors to remain informed, future-ready, and globally connected.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to expanding our global footprint, introducing innovative governance programmes, strengthening our digital platforms, deepening board research, launching new recognition initiatives, supporting women directors, young leaders, and family businesses, while continuing to build strategic partnerships across India and internationally.

None of these achievements would have been possible without the visionary guidance of our council members, IOD Members, Partners, Supporters, IOD Secretariat, dedicated staff, and above all, every member of the IOD Family.

We shall continue to build future-ready boards, nurture ethical leadership, promote responsible governance, and strengthen India's voice in the global boardroom.

Thank you.

With Best Wishes!