The ESG Boardroom

22nd - 23rd April 2026

Dusit Thani Hotel, Dubai - U.A.E.

This comprehensive two-day program equips board members and senior leaders with the essential ESG knowledge required to oversee organizational strategy, risk, and performance in line with global reporting and governance expectations.

Grounded in the GRI Standards framework, the training builds a strong foundation in sustainability reporting, materiality assessment, stakeholder engagement, and disclosure practices. Participants will also gain an understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate risk, carbon footprint fundamentals, and the board’s role in ensuring ethical, transparent, and impact-driven governance.

Using real-world case studies, interactive discussions, and a climate literacy exercise, this training provides board-level clarity on how ESG drives enterprise value, regulatory compliance, and long-term resilience.

Charlene Nawar

Charlene Nawar is a Sustainability and ESG Specialist with more than 15 years of experience across the GCC, combining a strong foundation in corporate law with advanced expertise in sustainability strategy, governance, and reporting.

Learning Outcomes

Key Topics

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

Understand the global ESG landscape and its implications for board-level oversight.
Explain the structure, purpose, and requirements of the GRI Standards.
Identify and prioritize material ESG topics using a GRI-aligned approach.
Connect ESG priorities to corporate strategy, risk management, and stakeholder expectations.
Interpret sustainability disclosures and evaluate the quality of ESG reporting.
Understand the SDGs and how they guide responsible business action.
Gain basic literacy in carbon accounting (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) and climate-related risks.
Recognize the board’s role in climate oversight and decarbonization pathways.
Strengthen decision-making through ESG integration and ethical governance.
Engage in informed discussions using real case studies and hands-on exercises.

Reason

To Attend This Training

Strengthen Governance & Reduce Risk – Gain clarity on board-level ESG responsibilities, regulatory expectations, and global best practices.
Enhance Strategic Decision-Making – Learn how ESG affects financial performance, long-term value creation, and competitive positioning.
Improve Reporting Quality & Credibility – Apply the GRI Standards to ensure transparent, standardized, and stakeholder-aligned disclosures.
Build Climate Literacy – Understand climate science, carbon emissions, and transition risks through practical experience.
Align with Global Expectations – Position your organization to meet expectations from investors, regulators, rating agencies, and international frameworks such as GRI, ISSB, SDGs, and COP commitments.
Learn from Real Examples – Explore board-level ESG case studies from multinational companies, regional leaders, and sustainability innovators.
Drive Impact, Not Compliance – Shift from reporting-focused ESG to purpose-led leadership and measurable outcomes.

Course

Details

DAY 01

GRI Foundations, Materiality & Strategic Alignment

Session 1: Introduction to ESG for Boards

The evolution of ESG: key drivers, trends, and global momentum
Why ESG matters for boards: fiduciary duties & governance expectations
Regulatory landscape: GRI, ISSB, CSRD, stock-exchange mandates
ESG & enterprise value creation
Stakeholder capitalism and purpose-driven governance

Session 2: GRI Standards Fundamentals

What the GRI Standards are and what they are designed to achieve
Universal, sector, and topic-specific Standards
Reporting principles and key definitions
Understanding “in accordance with” and GRI-referenced reporting

Session 3: Materiality Assessment

Determining impacts, risks, and opportunities
Identifying material topics using the GRI process
Collecting stakeholder input and linking to board oversight
Reading and interpreting a materiality matrix
How boards use materiality outcomes to guide strategy

Session 4: Reporting on Material Topics & the GRI Content Index

Structuring high-quality ESG disclosures
GRI Content Index and quality expectations
Ensuring completeness, accuracy, and reliability

Session 5: UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

How SDGs can strengthen strategy and stakeholder credibility
Prioritizing SDGs based on materiality
SDG indicators & measuring contribution
Examples of high-impact SDG alignment

Workshop & Group Activity:

Hands-on practice through local case studies

DAY 02

Climate Literacy, Carbon Basics, Governance & Board Oversight

Session 6: Climate Change & Transition Risks for Boards

Climate science essentials
Physical vs. transition risks (TCFD/ISSB lens)
Corporate exposure to climate risk (sector-specific examples)
GCC Net Zero commitments and regulatory expectations

Session 7: Carbon Footprint Fundamentals

What is a carbon footprint?
Scopes 1, 2, and 3 explained
Emission hotspots across industries
Introduction to net-zero and decarbonization pathways
What boards should ask when reviewing carbon data

Session 8: ESG Governance, Policies & Accountability

Creating effective ESG governance frameworks
Board committees, ESG charters, and internal accountability structures
Linking executive compensation to ESG
Oversight of human rights, supply chain, and ethics
Board-level red flags in ESG governance

Session 9: ESG Reporting, Assurance & Avoiding Greenwashing

How boards evaluate sustainability reports
Key KPIs boards should monitor (environmental, social, governance)
Internal controls for ESG data
When and why independent assurance is required
Identifying weak disclosures or misleading claims

Session 10: The ESG-Ready Board — Leadership, Culture & Future Trends

Leadership mindsets needed for sustainability transformation
Innovation, circularity, and long-term systems thinking
Anticipatory governance and futures scenarios
Global megatrends shaping ESG for the next decade

Workshop & Case Study:

Hands on climate literacy activity to understand

Course Fees

Registration Fees:

Book 1 delegate - Pay USD 2,795
Book 2- 3 delegates Pay USD 2,595
Book 4 or more -Pay USD 2,395

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