2025 Governance Hot 100 Nominations
NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED!
DMJ, in association with Computershare are delighted to launch our 6th annual Governance HOT 100.
This is an industry favourite commending the 100 most innovative, influential and creative governance professionals representing all levels of experience, across each industry sector throughout the UK and the Channel Islands. Making it into the HOT 100 is validation of your commitment to enhance the impact and reputation of the governance profession.
We have created 10 categories that represent the core technical and people skills that we believe define the key characteristics of an exceptional governance professional.
Remember, you can nominate yourself, a colleague or someone in your professional network for any of the categories using our simple online form that takes no more than 7 minutes to complete.
Nominations will be viewed and discussed by our judging panel comprised of experienced governance professionals and industry experts.
Winners will be invited to a celebratory party at a venue in Central London on the 22nd May 2025.
We wish you the best of luck!
Categories
Governance Trailblazers
The forward thinkers that raise the standards of corporate governance beyond what is expected.
Inspirational Managers
For managers that create high functioning governance teams and actively help to develop careers.
Dealmakers
Individuals that have contributed to the success of major corporate transactions or restructurings.
Board Influencers
Individuals that influence strategic decision making at the most senior level and are particularly adept at forging relationships with key stakeholders.
ESG Champions
For those that have positively influenced culture, sustainability & environmental impact within their company or the profession.
Technology Innovators
Blue Sky thinkers that effect positive change through the innovative use of technology and systems.
Technical Experts
Individuals that demonstrate the highest level of technical competency to support governance best practice.
Relationship Managers
For those working within professional services with a reputation for supporting a varied client portfolio and building trusted relationships.
Rising Stars
For those with fewer than six years’ experience that have made a significant impact within their team and the profession.
Future Leaders
For those that demonstrate the skills required to become a Head of Department within the next 5-10 years.
Judging Panel
Julian Baddeley
Group Company Secretary
National Grid plc
Julian is a Company Secretary and Corporate Lawyer and has extensive Board, C-suite, transactional and regulatory experience in large FTSE100 organisations across global financial services, FMCG and magic circle private practice. He has a strong track record of building strong, diverse and highly engaged teams and working with Boards through periods of significant organisational change and transformational M&A.
Julian was previously Group Company Secretary of abrdn plc and Deputy Group Company Secretary and Corporate Counsel at Aviva plc.
Sara Thomson
Deputy Company Secretary
Tesco PLC
Sara has over 20 years’ experience in legal, compliance and company secretarial roles, across a range of industries, including more recently banking and retail. For the last 12 years she has worked at Tesco, providing legal and corporate governance support to the Tesco PLC board and committees, as well as its group companies and shareholder base.
Within a secretariat remit, Sara has led on a number of high-profile corporate actions and enjoys the challenge of shaping governance frameworks.
Betse Effanga
Deputy Company Secretary
BAE Systems
Betse is a commercially minded corporate governance professional, with experience in various roles, within private and listed companies. In her role as Deputy Company Secretary at BAE Systems plc, she leads a results-driven multidisciplinary team.
Maddie Scrafton
Managing Director
UK Governance Services
Computershare
Maddie leads Computershare’s Entity Governance and Compliance teams, providing managed services and governance advisory services to company secretaries and their teams.
Previous roles include Head of Governance for the board at HSBC, Company Secretary for an AIM listed group and Senior Manager at EY.
Alia Fazal
Head of Corporate GovernanceBP PLC
Over the past 20 years, Alia has worked at multiple FTSE 100 companies across diverse industries including financial services and real estate. Alia is a member of the Best Practice Principles Oversight Committee, the Chartered Governance Institute’s Cosec Forum and also the Accreditation Panel for Board Performance Reviewers, having worked on the Institute’s code of practice and supporting guidance for listed companies. Recognised in the Governance Hot100 on two separate occasions, Alia was awarded Governance Professional of the Year in 2024 by the Institute.
In Association with
Computershare (ASX: CPU) is a global market leader in transfer agency and share registration, employee equity plans, mortgage servicing, proxy solicitation and stakeholder communications. We also specialise in corporate trust, bankruptcy, class action and a range of other diversified financial and governance services.
Founded in 1978, Computershare is renowned for its expertise in high integrity data management, high volume transaction processing and reconciliations, payments and stakeholder engagement. Many of the world’s leading organisations use us to streamline and maximise the value of relationships with their investors, employees, creditors and customers. For more information, visit www.computershare.com