Global Experts at AIoD and SSE Joint Side Event During COP17 to Drive Board Action on Nature and Sustainability
YEREVAN, ARMENIA — Following a high-level dialogue with global standard setters, the Armenian Institute of Directors (AIoD) and the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges (UN SSE) Initiative shifted the focus directly to the corporate boardroom during their COP17 side event, "From Disclosure to Decision: Board Oversight of Information on Nature and Sustainability."
The event featured a dynamic panel discussion titled "From Oversight to Action," moderated by Armenuhi Hovakimyan, CEO of the AIoD. The session tackled the practical realities of equipping corporate directors to oversee complex, hyper-local nature data and integrate it into strategic business resilience.
The stellar lineup of market leaders and governance experts included:
Candice Dott, Director of Market Engagement, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)
Tiffany Grabski, SSE Academy Head, UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges (UN SSE)
Mardi McBrien, Senior Director of Corporate Performance and Accountability, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Arsen Nazaryan, Partner and Head of Advisory Services, Nexia Armenia.
The conversation unfolded by addressing a pressing reality: as new, complex reporting demands reach the boardroom, directors need dedicated frameworks to navigate them. To set the stage, the panelists explored the strategic value of targeted tools, such as the TNFD’s Asking Better Questions on Nature guide and the UN SSE and IFC Model Guidance for Board-Level Oversight of ISSB-aligned Reporting. The consensus was clear that rather than serving as mere compliance checklists, these tools are designed to fill critical gaps in corporate governance, helping directors truly understand how natural capital impacts their business models.
However, a major hurdle quickly emerged in the discussion: the illusion of "perfect data." Because nature-related data is inherently location-specific and relies heavily on rapidly evolving science, Candice Dott and Mardi McBrien urged directors to abandon the wait for complete certainty. Instead, they emphasized that modern boards must build the confidence to act on imperfect, developing information to ensure strategic resilience.
Bringing these global concepts down to earth, Arsen Nazaryan grounded the frameworks in regional reality. He highlighted exactly which sectors in Armenia are currently most exposed to nature-related risks and laid out realistic, high-impact first steps that local boards with limited resources can take over the next twelve months. To support this transition, Tiffany Grabski pointed to the vital role that stock exchanges play worldwide, serving as hubs that educate markets and provide the ongoing training directors need to oversee this data credibly.
The session culminated in an inspiring rapid-fire round, with each panelist sharing their immediate hopes for the boardrooms in 12 months. Ultimately, the discussion left attendees with actionable takeaways and reinforced the AIoD’s commitment to leading this critical conversation, ensuring that regional directors are fully prepared to turn global sustainability goals into local economic resilience.
