Director Peer Exchange

The Director Peer Exchange is an exclusive event designed for public company board members and C-level executives, taking place at the Hyatt Regency Austin in Austin, United States. This event aims to equip directors with the insights necessary to navigate the complexities of the 2026 shareholder engagement season, which is anticipated to present unprecedented challenges due to evolving regulations, heightened activism, and shifting investor priorities. The session will kick off with a fireside chat featuring Garrett Muzikowski, Managing Director of FTI Consulting's M&A, Activism & Governance team. He will share valuable insights from recent activism campaigns, explore lessons learned, and discuss new market developments impacting shareholder engagement.Following the fireside chat, a select group of public company board members will engage in an off-the-record discussion focused on leading effectively in a rapidly changing environment. Key topics will include the evolving landscape of investor priorities, the dynamics of shareholder activism, and the impact of new regulations and political climates on governance. Participants will delve into stakeholder dynamics, voting patterns, and the rise of activists targeting individual directors, which has led to increased settlements and fewer contests. Additionally, the discussions will explore legal and regulatory developments specific to Texas, offering attendees practical strategies for engaging with increasingly data-driven investors and navigating the challenges posed by AI in shareholder engagement. Participants will gain firsthand insights into the expectations of investors and how to proactively shape engagement strategies ahead of the proxy season. The event will feature two leading shareholder engagement and activism advisors who will share their playbooks from real-world experiences, helping directors understand how institutional investors assess board credibility and decision-making processes. By addressing the signals that raise red flags or build confidence in private discussions, this exchange aims to strengthen messaging, proxy disclosures, and engagement approaches in preparation for the upcoming shareholder engagement season.