Helle Bank Jorgensen
CEO and Founder
Helle Bank Jorgensen, the CEO and founder of Competent Boards, is an internationally recognized voice on governance, sustainability, climate, and nature.
Beyond her work with Competent Boards, Helle has initiated several pioneering projects. These include the world’s first green account, the first integrated report, the first holistic supply chain program and many other innovative business solutions, including her latest endeavour the Amazon bestseller The Future Boardroom: How to Transform in Turbulent Times.
Originally from Denmark and a business lawyer and certified public accountant by training, she currently resides in Canada. Before founding Competent Boards, she was a partner at PwC.
Helle frequently contributes to Financial Times’ Agenda, Board Agenda, and has been featured in interviews by numerous prominent publications.
Public speaking
Helle is a regular keynote speaker, moderator, and panelist for major event hosts, including:
- Finance Executives International (FEI)
- The Wall Street Journal Sustainable Business Forums
- GreenFin
- The Conference Board
- International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)
- Institute of Directors of India and the Philippines
- World Economic Forum
- Reuters Responsible Business Summits
- edie23
- Good Governance Academy
- A4s Sustainability Summit
- League of Corporate Foundations
- Academy of International Business
- Nasdaq
Amazon bestselling author
The re-election of Donald Trump and the global rise of populism have dramatically changed the picture for business leaders today. Far from the world they envisaged of tumbling trade barriers, they face a new wave of trade protectionism on top of the fallout from an enormously costly pandemic, destructive wars, natural disasters, and festering inequality.
And now, corporate leaders are shying away from their earlier embrace of progressive environmental and social policies, such as ESG (environmental, social, and governance issues) and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).
Does this mean that the drive for corporate sustainability has crashed and burned?
Author Helle Bank Jorgensen, who advises corporate boards around the world on how to deal with turbulent times, says the answer is a resounding No. Corporations still face urgent demands from regulators, politicians, customers, and other stakeholders to clean up their environmental behavior and treat people fairly. This gives board members the complicated task of steering organizations that are facing conflicting demands from many quarters.
Helle is the author of Amazon bestseller Stewards of the Future: A Guide for Competent Boards.
The book gives invaluable guidance on what boards must do if the businesses they guide are to respond successfully to today’s enormous economic, environmental, and social challenges.
Through practical examples, guides, and real-life experiences, this highly praised book will help any business leader who wants to keep up with new environmental, ethical, financial, and societal demands.
Awards
Helle’s work has been widely recognized, including:
- INvolve Advocate Role Model 2024
- Inducted into the Corporate Governance Hall of Fame by IR (Investor Relation) Magazine in 2024
- Corporate Governance Lifetime Achievement Award 2024
- Peter Dey Governance Achievement Award from the Governance Professionals of Canada 2024
- The Globe and Mail 50 Changemakers for 2023 list
- Onalytica: Who's Who in ESG - Top 50 Influencers to Follow in 2023
- SustainabilityX® Magazine's Global 50 Women In Sustainability Award in 2022
- One of Canada's Most Powerful Women, 2022: Top 100 Award Winner by the Women's Executive Network
- One of LinkedIn's Top Voices in the Green Economy in the US and Canada in 2022
- Global Impact Award 2020, and named one of "5 people in ESG to look out for"
- Clean50 award in 2019 for outstanding contribution to clean capitalism
Other accolades
Helle serves on:
- Nasdaq Center for Board Excellence’s Insights Council
- World Economic Forum (WEF) Expert Network for Corporate Governance, Leadership, and Emerging Multinationals
- Co-chair, Global Expert Panel, Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) established by HM King Charles III
- The Non-financial Digitisation Working Group of the Impact Management Project (IMP)
- Judging panel Diligent's Modern Governance 100
- Canadian Climate Governance Experts –- a Commonwealth Climate & Law Initiative
She has served as the Chair of the European Sustainability Reporting Association (ESRA), the Global Compact Network Canada, Datamaran, and as a member of the Sustainability Advisory Panel of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and the Sustainability Policy Group of the Institute of European Accountants (FEE).
Thought leadership
Helle’s book, blogs, articles, and posts make her one of the world’s most read and followed voices in governance and sustainability, and one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices. Articles include:
- Corporate Board Member – Investors are demanding sustainability—Is Your Board Ready?
- Chief Executive – The game of risk that will make or break your company
- Environment Journal – Lessons in ESG: The road to net zero is paved by board education
- TRIUM Connects – Stewards of the Future: Can and should we count on boards to do the right thing?
- Board Agenda: Why nature is a business priority
- Thinking the Unthinkable – Talking about... why boards must think like activists with Helle Bank Jorgensen
- Real Leaders – Corporate Boards are Facing Unprecedented Pressure. Here are My Top 3 Solutions
- Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance: Crafting the ‘G’ in ESG: Accountability in the Boardroom
- Corporate Compliance Insights: New Year, Same ESG Challenges: Overstretched Boards Face Barrage of Global Regulation
- CEO World Magazine – Make stakeholder concerns your concerns. All of them
- GreenBiz - How do you redesign your supply chain in a chaotic world?
- Agenda: Six New Criteria That Future-Fit Boards Must Have in Their Skills Matrix