This fall, the Romanian Independent Directors Association and Chapter Zero Romania invite you to the lead event on corporate governance of the year.
 The Lit Boardroom will take place on October 31, 2024, in Bucharest, at Marmorosh Hotel, Vienna Conference Room and aims to engage high profile speakers who are able to provide valuable insight into the key challenges the boards are facing today.
 The conference will focus on how to effectively navigate the rapidly changing corporate landscape, with the increasing presence of new technologies, coupled with the mandatory commitments toward sustainability, ruled by both European and local regulatory bodies. The conference aims to equip directors with practical insights and takeaways, enabling them to adopt more dynamic, informed strategies and to enhance their decision-making, governance, and strategic oversight.
 The structure allows for a balance between knowledge-sharing, networking, and interactive discussions to maximize participant engagement.
Stay close for more details as our agenda and guests are officially confirmed, but first, save the date and make sure you reserve your seat in our audience!

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Agenda:

08:30 – 09:00 Networking Session
09:00 – 09:05 Opening speech: Alina Prahoveanu, AAI Chairwoman, INED Posta Romana SA
09:05 – 09:15 Keynote Speech 1: Minister Bogdan Gruia Ivan, The Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization
09:15 – 09:25 Keynote Speech 2: Rytis Ambrazevičius, ecoDA Chairman, President of the Baltic Institute of Corporate Governance
09:25 – 10:35 Panel 1: New technologies and emergent opportunities and risks
     Moderator: Rytis Ambrazevičius, ecoDA Chairman, President of the Baltic Institute of Corporate Governance
     Panelists:
     Andrew Kakabadse, Chair of Envisia Boards of Elite, Professor at Henley Business School
     Aurelia Costache, AI and Data Leader, E&Y Romania
     Mircea Busuioceanu, Vice President, Raiffeisen Bank Romania
     George Bădița, CEO of ixodron
     Ana-Maria Busoniu, General Director, Information Body for the Promotion of the Information Society
     Uros Zust, Partner at Forvis Mazars Slovenia
10:35 – 10:45 Q&A Session: Interactive session with audience participation
10:45 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 11:10 Keynote Speech 3: Minister Sebastian Burduja, The Ministry of Energy
11:10 – 11:20 Keynote Speech 4: Pavle Djurić, senior counsel, EBRD.
11:20 – 11:30 Keynote Speech 5: Beatrice Richez-Baum, Director General ecoDa
11:30 – 12:35 Panel 2: Sustainability: The twisted way between the talk & walk (60 min)
     Moderator: Simona Fatu, Board Director, Advisor, AAI Vicepresident
     Panelists:
     Radu Hanga, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Bucharest Stock Exchange, Chairman of the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges, Board Member Envisia Boards of Elite
     Oana Grosanu, Executive Director, Sustainability Embassy in Romania
     Dragos Neacsu, NED of Electrica SA, CEO of GS1 Romania
     Raluca Nicolescu, Deputy General Director, BID
     Codrut Nicolau, Founder Sustain Future
12:35 – 12:45 Q&A Session: Interactive session with audience participation (10 min)
12:45 – 13:00 The 4 A: Eugen Lascu, Managing Partner, Thepesia Corporate Advisory
13:00 – 13:05 Closing session, Alina Prahoveanu, AAI Chairwoman, INED Posta Romana SA

Guests:

Radu Hanga

Radu Hanga is the Chairman of the Board of Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) since 2020. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial markets, holding several positions on the Boards of Directors of listed companies, as well as being between 2015 and 2020 President of the Association of Asset Managers in Romania.
He has an extensive experience in the financial markets and followed the Strategy Execution Program (INSEAD), the MBA Program (IDE), postgraduate studies in Business Administration (European Institute for Business Administration UBB), specialization in International Financial System (IBR in partnership with Chartered Institute of Bankers Scotland), Erasmus Program (University of East London).

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Sebastian-Ioan Burduja

Sebastian-Ioan Burduja is the Romanian Minister of Energy, appointed in June 2023. He has previously served as the Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, between May 2022 and June 2023. Since December 2020 he has been elected to the Romanian Parliament and is also the President of the Bucharest branch of the National Liberal Party
. Before starting his political career, he acted as the Founding President of the League of Romanian Students Abroad (LSRS), now the largest Romanian non-profit network in the world, and the co-founder of the CAESAR Foundation, a think tank connecting 500 top Romanian and international policy experts.
. Previously, he served as a Regional Development Specialist for the World Bank in Washington, D.C., focusing on Europe and Central Asia. Mr. Burduja has also worked for Dalberg Global Development Advisors, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, McKinsey & Co., and the National Endowment for Democracy.
. He graduated from the Stanford University as member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society⁠ with a major in Politics and sub-specializations in Economy and Sociology. From 2008 to 2011, he continued his studies at Harvard University, being a David Rubenstein⁠'s fellow and graduating two master's programs: MBA from Harvard Business School and MPP from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He was honored in 2009 and 2010 with outstanding academic achievement, including the "First Year Honors" and "Second Year Honors" awards given to the best students at Harvard Business School. Mr. Burduja holds a PhD in Economics and International Affairs from the Romanian Academy of Economic Studies, with the "Summa Cum Laude" qualification.

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Bogdan Ivan

Bogdan Ivan is the Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitization, the youngest minister in the Romanian Government. Under his leadership, in January 2024, the Ministry upgraded Romania’s cybersecurity legislation by specifying precise and short-term deadlines for reporting and evaluating cyber threats. In July 2024, the Romanian Government adopted the National AI Strategy, also drafted by MCID.
Minister Ivan was elected in the Romanian Chamber of Deputies in 2020. He was the vice-president of the Committee for Information and Communications Technology in the Chamber. As an MP, Bogdan Ivan initiated laws that laid the foundation for Romania's digital transformation, the most important being the Law on the Interoperability of Public Sector Databases. As a Minister, he signed into force the technical legislation that enables all public institutions to automatically exchange information.

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Andrew Kakabadse

Professor Andrew Kakabadse joined Henley Business School in July 2013 after 30 years at Cranfield School of Management, where he finished as Professor of International Management Development and was awarded the honour of Emeritus Professor.
Andrew has consulted and lectured in the UK, Europe, USA, SE Asia, China, Japan, Russia, Georgia, the Gulf States, India and Australia. He was also Vice Chancellor of the International Academy of Management and has been Chairman of the Division of Occupational Psychology, British Psychological Society, 2001.
His current areas of interest focus on improving the performance of top executives, top executive teams and boards, excellence in consultancy practice, leadership, corporate governance, conflict resolution and international relations. His top team database covers 34 nations and many thousands of private and public sector organisations. The study of the strategic skills of top teams has now extended into Japan, China, Hong Kong and the USA.

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Béatrice Richez-Baum

Béatrice Richez-Baum is a Doctor of Law specializing in European Law, with additional training from the Paris Bar School. She began her career in Brussels, where she supported various European organizations in their advocacy efforts. In 2000, she joined the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a legal expert, advising on legal and regulatory matters.
She later returned to Brussels to establish ecoDa, the European Confederation of Directors Associations, where she played a significant role in expanding ecoDa's reach and strengthening relationships with EU institutions. Appointed Director General in 2017, she has focused on monitoring European legislative developments and ensuring that board members' perspectives are considered in Brussels. In 2022, she introduced the European Board Diploma, designed to enhance the qualifications of European board members.
In addition to her work with ecoDa, Béatrice Richez-Baum has published several articles on EU advocacy and European company law. She serves as an Advisory Board member at LANZCAPE and Chapter Zero Brussels, and she previously sat on the Boards of the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE) and the Club of Rome – EU Chapter.

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Oana Groșanu

Oana Groșanu, Executive Director, Sustainability Embassy in Romania
Seasoned communication professional and enthusiastic sustainability advocate, Oana has over 17 years of experience in PR, marketing, event and project management in the private and non-profit sectors, and in international environments. She graduated from the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Letters, Communication and Public Relations specialization, and she holds a master's degree in "Models of communication and public relations".
In 2020, she joined the Sustainability Embassy in Romania (SER), a non-governmental organization launched in 2018, with the mission to promote sustainability in the business environment, facilitating the transition to the new economic model, where companies can solve social and environmental problems without sacrificing economic efficiency and profit. Since 2022, she is the executive director of the organization, acting as spokesperson, overseeing the NGO's operations, and steering towards achieving its mission effectively.
SER’s flagship program is Sustainable Romania Coalition, the first non-political platform for sustainable development in Romania. Part of the monitoring and action plan framework of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Romania, the Coalition is officially recognized by the Romanian Government as the main dialogue partner on public policy issues focusing on sustainability and sustainable development in Romania for the next 10 years. The community gathers over 160 responsible companies, committed NGOs and socially active opinion leaders willing to contribute to bringing closer the moment when Romanians live in a healthy environment, a fair and prosperous society.

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Simona Fătu

Simona is a specialist in organizational governance with over 17 years of experience in executive and non-executive leadership roles within international companies, private companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, as well as state-majority-owned companies. Simona has specialized knowledge in key sectors, encompassing financial services, energy, mineral resources, real estate, aviation, and maritime transportation. Her expertise spans across corporate governance and top-level management, business strategy and growth, as well as corporate finance, risk management, and internal managerial control systems.
Simona has obtained the Advisor ESG-ISB certification from the International Association for Sustainable Economy (IASE), and she possesses a diploma in "Board Practice and Directorship" awarded by the Henley Business School at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.
She serves as a governance lecturer in several educational institutes and is a co-author of the Manual for the Leaders of Entities Authorized, Regulated, and Supervised by the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF), published in 2022 by the Institute of Financial Studies.

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Mircea Busuioceanu

With over 25 years of experience in the banking sector, Mircea is Vice President of the Risk Division of Raiffeisen Bank Romania. A graduate of the Faculty of Banking Finance - Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, he started his career in 1996, and since 2002 he has been part of the Raiffeisen team, a banking institution where he held several roles in the risk management area, before taking up his current position - Chief Risk Officer in 2011.
He holds an EMBA from the University of Sheffield, has also studied at INSEAD and Henley Business School (UK), where he obtained a Master of Arts in Board Practice & Directorship.
Since 2023, Mircea is a member of the Board of Directors of the Romanian Banking Association.

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Alina Prahoveanu

Alina Prahoveanu combines her entrepreneurial passion and more than 20 years of leadership experience in her present roles as Chair of the Independent Director Association and INED of Posta Romana SA. She is a skilled financial specialist who works in both non-executive and executive capacities. Alina is a supporter of the principles of good governance, which include responsibility, accountability, competence, probity and integrity, transparency, and independent and critical thought. With an MA in Boards Practice and Directorship and a PhD in Economics, Alina is dedicated to lifelong learning. Her voluntary involvement in professional associations is part of her commitment to leave a better place for future generations.

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George Bădița

George is founder and CEO of ixodron. Under his leadership, ixodron became a fast-growing IT&C company and, most important, imposed itself as a pioneer in hyperconverged infrastructure & hybrid cloud, and cybersecurity solutions.
Following ixodron’s success, George launched ixomed, expanding the business into the healthcare sector, with the goal of implementing the most innovative medical AI solutions available globally within Romanian hospitals and clinics.
He is passionate about new technologies, business strategy and entrepreneurship.

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Rytis Ambrazevičius

Rytis Ambrazevičius is the President of the Baltic Institute of Corporate Governance (BICG), a non-profit and non-governmental initiative promoting leading corporate governance practices in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. He is also the chair of the Board of the European Confederation of Directors Associations (ecoDa), and a member of Education Committee of this Confederation as well as the active member of various working groups related to corporate governance topics.
Rytis is a professionally certified Board member and Chair and has extensive Board experience, such as chairing the Board of state-controlled and listed company Klaipėdos nafta, during the implementation of the LNG terminal project. He was an independent chairman of EPSO-G, state-owned energy transmission and exchange holding company tasked with the implementation of strategic gas and electricity infrastructure development projects and integration into the EU markets, Chair of the Board at Topo Grupė, the largest seller of home electronics in Lithuania.
Rytis serves as the independent Board director and chairman of the Audit, Risk and Sustainability Committee of Vilnius Water, the largest water management company in the Baltics.

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Eugen Lascu

Eugen Lascu is a renowned financial expert with over 20 years of experience in accounting and corporate finance. He has held executive positions such as CFO and CEO at S.C. Romtehnica R.A., as well as leadership roles at Raiffeisen Bank Romania. Currently, he serves as Managing Partner at Thepesia Corporate Advisory and is an Honorary Consul of the Republic of Malta. With extensive expertise in commercial financing, M&A, and strategic management, Eugen is certified in Change and Turnaround Management. He is also the author of several innovative concepts patented with ORDA and has conducted research in the field.

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Uroš Žust

Uros is a Partner at Forvis Mazars Slovenia, responsible for the Adriatic region. He has more than 19 years of experience working in information systems auditing, compliance, cyber security, security reviews, risk and governance in a wide range of companies and entities, both in Europe and USA, where he lived and worked for 5 years, mostly on PCAOB audits and cyber security governance.
Uros has another professional passion – public speaking and raising awareness for information and cyber security. He has moderated multiple conferences, led numerous round tables and delivered presentations in multiple countries on the topics of cybersecurity, auditing and IT standards compliance.

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Aurelia Costache

Aurelia Costache is the AI & Data Leader of EY in Romania. With more than 26 years of experience, Aurelia is passionate about bringing to market innovative, technology-based solutions that create new opportunities for organizations.
With vast experience in digital transformation for large organizations, having led multiple high scale implementations throughout her career, Aurelia is currently working with clients to integrate GenAI into the wider Hyper-automation agenda.
A champion for women in tech and business, her holistic approach to clients’ business transformation has enabled her to advise Boards of leading companies on their digital transformation and automation strategy and be at the forefront of driving innovation and strategic growth in the digital age.

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Codruț Nicolau

Codruț Nicolau has almost three decades of expertise as a former banker and business professional and is one of the leading ESG specialists in Romania.
During his impressive career, spanning almost 30 years, he has held key roles on the executive and supervisory boards of multinational banks and corporations, even serving as CEO.
His entrepreneurial spirit led him to found Sustain Future, a company dedicated to providing comprehensive training for senior corporate management and specialised ESG teams; providing advice to investors and companies, emphasising the integration of 'sustainability' into their core strategies at every stage; and raising awareness among the general public, educators, entrepreneurial circles and policy makers about the imperative need for a new business framework for shaping the future economy.

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Raluca Nicolescu

Raluca is a transformation leader with 20+ years’ experience in designing and delivering financial products and business solutions. She changed the funding model of Raiffeisen Bank after the 2008 crisis, introduced new digital products and services to support the SME segment, transforming the way that customers interact with the bank.
She has a diversified skills set and experience, including commercial banking, sustainable finance, agile product management, digital transformation, risk management, portfolio management, treasury.
In November 2023, Raluca accepted the challenge to coordinate the financial and treasury activities and the ESG strategy for BID, from the position of deputy general director (CFO).

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Dragos Neacsu

Dragos Neacsu is an independent, non-executive director of SE ELECTRICA SA since April 2021, and a member of the Strategy and Corporate Governance Committee since May 2023. He is the initiator and Chairman of the Climate Governance and Public Policies Committee and was member of the Audit and Risk Committee (May 2021-July 2023).
In parallel, Mr. Neacsu is the CEO of GS1 Romania, part of an international federation that brings together 118 non-profit national associations that are focused on developing and promoting standards for coding, serialization, and traceability in business communication.
Mr. Dragos Neacsu has extensive professional experience in investment management and financial markets, including serving as an independent member of the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) Board of Governors and member of the Audit Committee, from February 2020 to February 2024.

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Ana-Maria Busoniu

Ana-Maria Busoniu has been the General Director of the Intermediate Body for the Promotion of the Information Society, within the Authority for the Digitization of Romania, since October 2021. Starting this year, she also heads the National Coordination Center (NCC-RO), which is part of a new European management framework that includes the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) in Bucharest and a network of 27 national coordination centers.
Mrs. Ana-Maria Bușoniu began her work in European fund management in 2014 at the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, where she was involved in programming and evaluation activities within the Managing Authority for the Large Infrastructure Operational Program, the Human Capital Operational Program, and as General Director of the Competitiveness Operational Program. In 2019, she was appointed Secretary of State within the same ministry.

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Pavle Djurić

Pavle Djurić, Associate Director, Senior Counsel, Corporate Governance, EBRD
Pavle Djurić is a senior counsel in the Legal Transition Team (LTT) of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Pavle is actively involved in the EBRD’s work on corporate governance in the Bank’s countries of operations, which encompasses both working directly with EBRD’s investee companies in order to strengthen their governance arrangements and policy dialogue with country authorities to assist the development of effective legal and regulatory frameworks that support sound corporate governance. He also participates in the Assessment of Corporate Governance Legislation and Practices in the EBRD Countries of Operations.
Prior to joining the EBRD in July 2016, Pavle has worked at the National Bank of Serbia, where he was Head of Legal Division in the Bank Supervision Department.

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Expected Outcomes:

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of:

• How to govern AI and cybersecurity risks at the board level and how to foster exploiting opportunities
• Key strategies for adapting to sustainability regulations
• Practical tools and frameworks that board members can immediately implement in their organizations

 The white papers, produced after the event, will provide a summary of key takeaways and practical ideas for participants to reference and share with their boards.

Sponsors and Partners