Panel discussion

The GGI Annual Lecture took place on 23 January, when we delved into the concept of scarcity, exploring not just the shortage of resources but also the scarcity that poses the most significant threat to humanity. In an era where principled and ethical leadership, committed to creating value for society and being accountable to the public, is becoming increasingly rare, this event addressed the pressing need for good governance.

Of course, scarcity is painfully real for people facing the harsh consequences of having less than they need to live comfortably. But when we look closer at how resources are allocated, scarcity dissolves like a desert mirage to reveal greed, shortsightedness and corruption.

We would like to invite you to reflect on the aspects of your life where scarcity has emerged. What can be done to address these scarcity issues?

Meet our panel

Service user champion - Dr. Anna Barnes is a compassionate force at the intersection of healthcare and social welfare. As chair of the Seaview Project in St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, Anna dedicates herself to helping marginalised individuals grappling with addiction, mental health challenges, and homelessness. By day, Anna is Associate Director for Clinical Transformation at West London & St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust, and will soon move to a new governance role at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. With a rich 30-year career spanning various facets of healthcare, Anna is committed to enhancing service users' experience, emphasising the profound impact of thoughtful design and a touch of local culture in fostering healing environments. Anna will be chairing this year’s Annual Lecture.

Author and innovator - Professor Jaideep Prabhu is the author of Frugal Innovation: How to do More with Less, and co-author of Jugaad Innovation: Think Frugal, Be Flexible, Generate Breakthrough Growth, described by The Economist as ‘the most comprehensive book yet’ on the subject of frugal innovation. In 2021, Jaideep delivered our Annual Lecture on the topic of his much-acclaimed book, How should a government be? Jaideep is Professor of Marketing and Jawaharlal Nehru Professor of Indian Business at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. He teaches business and enterprise at the University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School and directs the Centre for India & Global Business (CIGB). He has published in leading academic journals and his work has been profiled by the BBC, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, The Economist, The Financial Times, Le Monde, The New York Times, and The Times.

Health inequalities expert - This Good Governance Award will be presented by our 2021 award winner, Sir Michael Marmot, who is renowned for his extensive work on health inequalities. In 2010, he wrote the original review into health inequality in England, asking for a Fair Society, Healthy Lives, also known as The Marmot Review. A recent follow-up report showed that little has changed since the review was published. Before being appointed director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity, Sir Michael was a member of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution before becoming chair of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health set up by the World Health Organisation in 2005. Previously, he served as president of the World Medical Association and has authored several books, including The Health Gap: The Challenge of an Unequal World (2005).

Professor of governance - Andrew Corbett-Nolan, chief executive of the Good Governance Institute, is well-known as a leading thinker and commentator on modern governance and a practical facilitator and coach to boards across the public and third sectors. Heavily influenced by the work of Professor Mervyn King, Andrew sits on the board of the Johannesburg-based Good Governance Academy, which is working to influence the curricula of business schools and universities globally. And in 2020, he became a Salzburg Global Fellow for his work promoting good governance as a means of creating social value and securing a prosperous future that is better and fairer for all. Outside GGI, Andrew is a visiting professor at the Institute of Health at the University of Cumbria. He was also a visiting professor of governance at the University of Chester until 2022.

Politician and activist - Jane Davidson is Pro Vice-Chancellor Emeritus at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. She is best known as the architect of the world’s only future generations act, established in Wales in 2015. She is chair of Wales Net Zero 2035 and has made an important contribution to the work of the One Planet Standard. And she will be taking centre stage as the keynote speaker at this year's Annual Lecture. Jane will also be presented with GGI’s esteemed Good Governance Award for 2023. Jane's approach to governance hinges on evidence-driven decisions, driving organisations to adopt a One Planet Standard. She is an experienced speaker on sustainability, politics, society and education, and we look forward to her insights into practical good governance solutions that work for both people and the planet. Read more about Jane on her website.

Journalist and author - Financial Times writer Stefan Stern is the co-author of Myths of Management – what people get wrong about being the boss. His second book, How To Be A Better Leader, was published in March 2019. He is a fellow of the RSA, and continues to write for the FT and the Guardian, among others. Stefan’s career in journalism included stints at Euromoney, the BBC, Management Today magazine, and the FT, where he was the management columnist between 2006 and 2010. In 2010 Stefan was appointed visiting professor in management practice at City University Business School (formerly Cass). He also had a short spell at the PR firm Edelman, where he was director of strategy. He left to go back to full-time writing in 2013. He was also director of the High Pay Centre, a think tank looking at the issue of executive pay, between 2015 and 2018.