Key trends from proxy season 2026

Key trends from proxy season 2026: In this episode of the corporate governance podcast, we’ll unpack the latest trends that have taken shareholder attention, including ESG and AI.

On this episode of the Corporate Governance Podcast, we’ll be doing a final wrap-up of the 2026 proxy season. 

There are some fascinating takeaways from the last few months in areas like shareholder activism, the impact of ESG following severe backlash, and, most of all, AI. We’re especially interested in how AI is influencing decisions around shareholder activism and what that’s going to look like in practice in the years ahead. Could AI soon be making – or at least helping to make – decisions on behalf of activists and other stakeholders?

Our guest for this episode is Aaron Boles, President of Kingsdale Advisors in Toronto, Canada, to discuss all this. Aaron is a seasoned financial services and corporate governance professional. He has an extensive history in investor relations roles in both Canada and the United States. 

We’ll unpack Kingsdale’s Early 2026 Proxy Season Insights Report, which has a lot of key findings on top of the striking statistic that, this proxy season, activism has risen 28%.

Aaron Boles is President of Kingsdale Advisors. His career in financial services spans multiple disciplines in the areas of capital markets, investor relations, banking, advocacy and asset management. 

Before joining Kingsdale, Aaron served on the Executive Leadership Team of the Canadian Bankers Association, where he advocated on behalf of more than 60 Canadian and foreign banks for sound regulatory policies to advance Canada’s economy and enhance the financial resilience of all Canadians. 

Aaron was also the Country Head in the Corporate Communications and Investor Relations division of Macquarie Bank’s Canadian operations. The Australian institution offered corporate securities, investment banking, wealth management and other services across the country, which Aaron and his team oversaw from an investor relations, marketing and reputational perspective. As Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications for TSX-listed renewable power firm Capstone Infrastructure Corporation, Aaron was a key executive in the successful sale of Capstone to a UK-based private equity firm. The management team secured a 44% premium for shareholders, and the now-privately held company continues to grow its portfolio of power-generating assets in Canada.

The Corporate Governance Podcast is your taster of what’s new in governance worldwide. The modern director understands that boardroom responsibilities have dramatically increased, and old norms are being challenged by new ideals around sustainable business that respect all stakeholders – not just shareholders. 

Because of this, corporate governance education is an invaluable addition to a director’s skillset—something that will help you stand out amongst your colleagues. 

CGI offers dedicated diplomas in corporate governance and ESG, as well as numerous other certificates and membership opportunities focusing on the areas of governance you’re passionate about. 

They’re delivered entirely online and self-paced – meaning you can learn and study at a rate that suits you. 

To learn more or enrol, check out our courses. We look forward to working with you in the future.