Insights from the NACD Blue Ribbon Commission on Technology Governance

Overview

The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the US equivalent of the IoD, and a key partner of the New Zealand IoD within the Global Network of Director Institutes (GNDI), releases this annual report as a pivotal resource to guide directors on emerging governance challenges.

As Co-Chair of this year’s Commission, Nora will present findings on the critical role of boards in steering technology-driven change. With extensive experience across prominent US boards, Nora will unpack the NACD's ten strategic recommendations aimed at helping boards improve oversight, deepen insights, and foster foresight in technology governance. These insights are especially valuable as New Zealand boards increasingly grapple with digital transformation, AI, and data governance issues.

During this webcast, you will learn about:

• The Commission's identified technology governance drivers, from rapid advancements to evolving regulatory landscapes.
• Key recommendations on integrating technology into long-term strategies, defining oversight metrics, and enhancing board capabilities for effective technology governance.
• Practical lessons that New Zealand directors can apply to navigate the balance between innovation and risk in an era of accelerated technological change.

This session is ideal for board members who wish to stay ahead of governance trends and ensure their organisations’ resilience and growth in a digital future. Don’t miss this chance to engage with a leader in global governance standards on technology.

**About the NACD Blue Ribbon Commission Reports:**  For over 30 years, NACD’s Blue Ribbon Commission reports have shaped future-focused governance practices. This report is regarded as essential reading for directors facing the evolving demands of technology and trust in the boardroom.

This exclusive webcast is part of IoD’s ongoing commitment to bring global governance insights to New Zealand directors.

Nora M. Denzel

Nora M. Denzel is a retired Silicon Valley technology executive. She is the Lead Independent Director of Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD). She also serves on the boards of Gen Digital (NASDAQ: GEN) and the non-profit National Association of Corporate Directors. Prior, she has served on the boards of Ericsson (member of the Technology Committee), SUSE (Compensation Committee Chair), Talend (Compensation Committee Chair) and Redbox’s parent company Outerwall (Compensation Committee Chair).

Before transitioning to board work, she was the interim CEO of Redbox (Outerwall) and held several C-Suite positions in technology companies which encompassed leading big data, consulting, enterprise software and storage businesses. Her functional expertise as a board member is applying technology to transform companies, achieving innovation at scale, and turning technical concepts into narratives and strategies that anyone can understand. Until 2012, Nora was a key C-suite executive at Intuit (the makers of TurboTax® and Mint®). She retired as the SVP of Big Data and was responsible for driving data analytics company-wide to delight Intuit’s fifty-million customers. Previously, she served as a senior executive at HP (now called HP Enterprise). For over 10 years Nora served on the non-profit board of AnitaB.org (an organization dedicated to increasing the number of women in computing), and the YWCA of Silicon Valley. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the State University of New York and an MBA from Santa Clara University.

Kirsten (KP) Patterson 

CMInstD 

Kirsten (KP) Patterson is the chief executive of the Institute of Directors. She is a qualified lawyer and a Distinguished Fellow of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand. Her governance roles include: 

• Chair, Global Network of Directors Institutes (GNDI) 
• Chair, Brian Picot Ethical Leadership advisory board 
• Trustee, Voices of Hope 
• Board member, XRAP Advisory Panel, External Reporting Board (XRB)
• Ambassador, Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust 

With extensive governance and leadership experience, she is actively involved in community initiatives. 

A strong advocate of diversity, KP was a founding member of Global Women’s ‘Champions for Change’, a group of senior executives and directors who commit to diversity in the workplace, and a founding member of WiSPA, an organisation promoting women in sport, and mentors a number of business leaders. KP was also previously Director of the NZ Rugby Foundation. 

Additional information

Contact

Kristyn Chandler-Yates
National Sponsorship and Events Manager
+64 27 207 2592
Kristyn.Chandler-Yates@iod.org.nz