Senior Advisor Role

Professor Esser serves as Senior Advisor to the IoD Centre for Corporate Governance, contributing to the Institute of Directors' mission to promote good governance standards across the UK and internationally. In this role, she provides expert academic insight on corporate governance policy, board effectiveness, and the evolving role of non-executive directors.

NEDs Reimagined Report

NEDs Reimagined: A Post-Higgs Review of the Role of Non-Executive Directors

Co-authored landmark report for the IoD examining the evolving role of non-executive directors more than twenty years after the Higgs Review. The report reassesses NED responsibilities, challenges, and effectiveness in modern corporate governance.

IoD Centre for Corporate Governance, 2026

Further Publications

Non-Executive Director Remuneration in the UK: Share Options as an Option?

IoD Business Paper co-authored with Professor Iain MacNeil, examining whether share options are an appropriate form of remuneration for non-executive directors and the governance implications of moving away from traditional fixed-fee arrangements.

IoD Centre for Corporate Governance, April 2026

IoD Commission: Business. A Force for Good?

The IoD Commission, chaired by Lord Rees of Easton OBE, undertakes an evidence-based assessment of how business creates economic, social, and environmental value, concluding with practical recommendations for directors, boards, and policymakers.

Events

Reimagining Non-Executive Directors

Launch event for the NEDs Reimagined report, bringing together directors, governance professionals, and policymakers to discuss the future of the non-executive director role.

3 February 2026 · IoD, London

IoD Biography

View Professor Esser's full biography on the Institute of Directors website.