National Bank of Canada | Including young people in the Bank’s governing bodies at National Bank of Canada

Status
Filed
AGM date
Previous AGM date
Proposal number
2
Resolution details
Company ticker
NA:CN
Resolution ask
Set targets or plans
ESG theme
  • Social
ESG sub-theme
  • Diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI)
Type of vote
Shareholder proposal
Filer type
Shareholder
Company sector
Financials
Company HQ country
Canada
Resolved clause
It is proposed that the Board of Directors of the Bank develop and make public, by the time of the 2026 annual meeting, a plan to increase the representation of young people (age 35 and under) in its governing bodies.
Supporting statement
This plan would include: • Measurable targets for youth representation on the Board and its advisory committees; • Concrete mechanisms to identify, recruit and support candidates; • An annual report on the progress made and actions taken. In a global environment marked by rapid transformations and complex economic, social and environmental challenges, financial institutions’ ability to anticipate and adapt is increasingly dependent on involving diverse, complementary voices in their decisions. Young people are still largely underrepresented in the structures of large corporations across the country, including in the banking industry. This is not only an equity issue, but also a strategic weakness. Young people are in touch with new economic, technological and social realities and have an in-depth understanding of emerging expectations, particularly in terms of sustainable finance, digital innovation and social transformation. Their participation in corporate governance would enrich strategic thinking and make it easier to predict how behaviours, markets and risks will evolve. Numerous studies have shown that diversity within governing bodies improves organizational performance, fosters innovation, increases resilience in the face of crises and enhances credibility with stakeholders.By adopting a structured, transparent plan to promote the inclusion of young people in its corporate governance, the Bank would send a strong signal of its commitment to building a more representative institution that is better anchored in the country’s reality and better prepared for tomorrow’s challenges.

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