Sunday, June 1, 2025
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2:00 – 3:00pm | Hallmarks of Best-in-Class Investor Days Investor days have become common, critical events for companies to engage with the investment community, serving as the ideal means to educate investors and analysts on a company’s investment thesis, long-term vision, and business model. When successfully executed, investor days result in deep and broad-based education, provide access to management and the leadership bench, and serve as an internal forcing function. However, with investor days being a more ubiquitous communication channel for companies today, differentiating and attracting investment capital has become that much more challenging. Our leading-edge research and panel identify the hallmarks that differentiate best-in-class investor days and provide strategic and tactical ideas for consideration. Sponsored by Corbin Solutions Spotlight New to NIRI2025, the Solution Spotlight will feature focused, solutions-based product demos designed to help you discover new tools and resources that can enhance your investor relations practice. Featuring Q4 and Virtua Research |
| 3:00 – 4:00pm | Advocating for IR: How Members Help Drive Change in DC A core pillar of NIRI’s mission is advocating on key issues affecting the IR profession and public companies. By representing members from all sectors and market caps, NIRI ensures the diverse voices of the IR community are heard in Washington, D.C. This member benefit is particularly critical in today’s fast-changing regulatory and legislative environment. Join this informal discussion to learn about NIRI’s top advocacy priorities and how you can get involved to effect change in D.C. The IR Situation Room A carefully structured, collaborative session that gives attendees an opportunity to work together to solve each other’s real-life IR challenges in a consultation-style setting. |
| 4:30 – 5:00pm | New to NIRI Conference Orientation Meet other first-time conference attendees and learn what you need to know to optimize your NIRI2025 experience. |
| 5:30 – 7:00pm | Opening Reception in the IR Showcase Meet new colleagues, connect with old friends, and engage with our sponsors over drinks and bites in the IR Showcase. |
Monday, June 2, 2025
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:30 – 8:30am | Breakfast in the IR Showcase |
| 8:30 – 9:30am | The Promise of Capitalism: Past, Present and a Brighter Future Capitalism has provided myriad benefits including incredible wealth creation that has reduced poverty around the world. But this economic system isn’t without weaknesses such as income inequality, retirement and job insecurity, among others. In this fireside chat, two renowned economic and capital markets experts will briefly explore the past, current and potential future of capitalism, including consideration of the influences of the capital markets and Washington, and identify opportunities for public companies and others to drive positive change. Audience members will be invited to engage through Q&A. |
| 9:30 – 10:15am | Trends in Index Investing. Why does the IRO care? A core pillar of NIRI’s mission is advocating on key issues affecting the IR profession and public companies. By representing members from all sectors and market caps, NIRI ensures the diverse voices of the IR community are heard in Washington, D.C. This member benefit is particularly critical in today’s fast-changing regulatory and legislative environment. Join this informal discussion to learn about NIRI’s top advocacy priorities and how you can get involved to effect change in D.C. |
| 10:15 – 11:00am | Supercharge Your Connection The best business relationships and most successful teams are rooted in trust and meaningful connection. Yet too often, our conversations—with colleagues, clients, and even friends—feel rushed and transactional. Imagine your impact if you could maximize connection opportunities at every turn. In this engaging keynote, you’ll discover the three fundamental ways that humans build connection and see these principles in action in your own life. You’ll learn how to shift your conversations from transactional to relational, even if time is tight. Whether you feel grateful when someone else breaks the ice or you are a master of connection, you’ll walk away with practical techniques to use with your colleagues, clients, friends and even relative strangers to optimize connection in your life. Let’s supercharge your ability to connect well! This interactive, connection-oriented experience rapidly creates connections with other event attendees, as you begin your conference experience. This event isn’t just about learning from experts on the stage; it’s about building a robust network of IR peers that you can call on over time. |
| 11:00am – 1:00pm | IR Showcase: Exhibits, Express Talks, Lunch Express Talks: Generative AI: Launching a New Era in Investment Intelligence (sponsored by AlphaSense) Investor Day that Sticks: Story & Experiences that Shape Perception (sponsored by OUTKREATE) There’s a New Consensus in Town (sponsored by Maiden Century) Rethink IR (sponsored by Leave a Mark) |
| 11:30am – 1:45pm | Senior Roundtable Lunch: Strategic IR Leadership in a Time of Economic and Shareholder Transformation Join Yvonne Hao— former private equity investor, operations executive, and most recently, former Secretary of Economic Development for Massachusetts—for a dynamic and timely conversation on the evolving role of investor relations in today’s shifting economic and shareholder landscape. Drawing from her experience across the private and public sectors, Yvonne will explore how IR professionals can navigate macroeconomic headwinds, activist pressures, proxy influence, and boardroom dynamics with strategic clarity and purpose. This session is sponsored by AlphaSense. |
| 1:00 – 1:50pm | Education Sessions Reclaim Your Day: How AI Transforms Tactical IR to Enable Strategic IR IR is both strategic and administrative. Participate in this demo-based panel to discuss how AI can streamline administrative and tactical tasks, freeing you to focus on high-value strategic initiatives. This panel explores how AI is reshaping the IR landscape by streamlining repetitive processes, enhancing workflow efficiency, and enabling IR professionals to drive greater impact. Gain practical insights on leveraging AI effectively while navigating challenges like information security and system integration. Walk away with actionable strategies, real-world examples, and see live demos to modernize your IR workflow. Capital Markets 101: Foundational Concepts for IROs This is a back-to-basics session on capital markets and how they connect those who need money to those who have money to invest, helping to fuel economic growth and development. We’ll cover types of markets, the participants, instruments, and regulatory considerations that compose the capital markets ecosystem. Is ESG Waxing or Waning? The New Era of ESG/Sustainability With the Trump administration now in office and Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, the regulatory and political landscape for ESG investing and reporting is shifting rapidly. The administration has taken steps to roll back ESG-related rules, reduce the emphasis on climate-related disclosures, and challenge the integration of ESG factors in investment decision-making. This session will examine the most significant changes to date—including regulatory rollbacks, shifts in SEC guidance, and proposed legislation—and what they mean for IR. Participants will learn how to adapt their strategies, disclosures, and communications to align with new expectations, navigate uncertainty, and maintain credibility with a broad range of stakeholders in a polarized ESG environment. The Investor View: Non-Traditional Tools for Assessing IR Messaging Today’s investors go beyond simply listening to what’s said in earnings calls, presentations, and meetings. They apply a wide range of sophisticated tools – both human and technological – to interpret the nuances behind investor relations (IR) messaging. These include reading nonverbal cues such as body language and facial expressions, analyzing vocal tone and inflection for emotional subtext, and leveraging advanced natural language processing (NLP) and semantic algorithms to extract sentiment and intent from both spoken and written communications. This session will raise awareness among IR professionals of the full spectrum of methods used by investors to gather insight, many of which operate outside the bounds of traditional financial analysis. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how their verbal and nonverbal communication may be perceived, and how to tailor their messaging more effectively in an environment where every cue counts. |
| 2:00 – 2:50pm | Education Sessions The Future of IR Capabilities, Content, Communication and Engagement (sponsored by Breakwater Capital Markets) As global volatility, the compounding and interconnectedness of risks, and uncertainty intensify, public companies must adapt their investor communication and engagement strategies, not only to withstand disruptions but to thrive in this high-stakes environment. In this highly interactive session, we will: • Outline the top macro trends that are driving the recalibration of valuation at an unprecedented velocity • Frame how investor communication and engagement will transform to “meet the moment” • Work together to identify together how key IR solutions & capabilities will need to evolve • Close with a brief overview of the IR future-proofing checklist IRO: Critical Junction Between Company and Activist Investor Relations Officers (IROs) are uniquely positioned at the intersection of the market and the company, making their role crucial in identifying and mitigating potential activist threats. This session will explore the tactics used by IROs to gather and convey investor feedback, ensuring that the CEO and Board are fully informed about market sentiments and perceptions. The Predictive Power of AI in Capital Markets – Transforming IR Through Data-Driven Insights The intersection of AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics is reshaping how investor relations professionals engage with capital markets. As institutional investors increasingly leverage advanced data analytics, IR professionals must evolve from traditional communicators to strategic interpreters of market signals. This panel will explore how AI-driven insights, ranging from sentiment analysis and predictive modeling to risk forecasting, can help IR teams proactively anticipate market dynamics. Podcasts, Posts, Tweets, and More: Exploring New Communication Channels to Cast a Wider Net Social media and AI are challenging our standard investor engagement methods and channels. How should IROs think about updating their communication styles and channels, including redesigned press releases, social media posts, and C-suite participation on podcasts or pre-recorded video messages, particularly when considering a broader investor audience besides traditional institutional investors? |
| 3:00 – 3:30pm | Break in the IR Showcase Express Talk: What’s Next for IR: AI Agents and the Future of Workflow Automation (sponsored by Irwin) Step into the future of investor relations. AI is moving beyond simple automation to intelligent agents that can work on your behalf. But what does that mean for IR? This session will break down AI agents in simple terms, explaining how they differ from the AI you’re familiar with today and how you can start experimenting with their potential. Through a live demonstration, see an AI agent in action, streamlining a common IR task. Walk away with a clear, practical understanding of what AI can do for you today—and what’s coming next. No technical expertise required. |
| 3:30 – 4:20pm | Education Sessions Turn Unpredictability into Opportunity: Leverage AI Workflows to Elevate IR (sponsored by Nasdaq) Join Nasdaq’s Head of Product Strategy for IR, James Tickner, for a panel session on new and emerging trends around AI in capital markets. Catch up with the latest insights and best practices on enterprise adoption, the future of agents, and critical considerations around safety and governance. How are intelligent workflows helping your peers elevate their investor engagement programs? We’ll be joined by exciting guests on our panel to address topics like: IR trends and priorities from this year’s Nasdaq Pulse Report findings that set the stage for 2025. What could the future of CRM interfaces look like with the evolution of agents? What does the future of intelligent targeting look like? How can I demonstrate the value of enabling AI to my board/C-Suite if they’re on the fence? What are the top uses of intelligent workflows in IR across my peers? How can generative AI help with being proactive on emerging market trends and accessing rapid peer insights? How are shareholders using AI and how should my company be thinking competitively? And many more. From Communication to Collaboration: Enhancing Board-IR Dynamics This session will delve into the critical dynamics between the Board of Directors and the Investor Relations team, exploring how a robust relationship can drive strategic success and shareholder value. Participants will gain insights into the expectations and needs of the Board, and how IR can effectively meet these demands through strategic communication and value-driven interactions. ESG Communications – Best Practices Investors take many different approaches to elevating a company’s ESG efforts – from very deep dives to topline reviews. This session will focus on communicating your company’s “ESG Story” to all audiences – the ESG focused funds and large active owners. Next-Level Presenting: Public Speaking for the Perpetual Communicator As IROs, we are often speaking in numerous forums and with varied audiences, including boards, C-suites, investors, analysts, bankers and more. However, when was the last time we had formal training for public speaking or negotiation and persuasion skills? This interactive public speaking workshop is the perfect crash course for the advanced communicator to take their interpersonal communication skills to the next level. |
| 4:30 – 5:45pm | Industry Breakout Discussions |
| 6:00 – 7:00pm | Networking Reception in the IR Showcase |
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:30 – 8:30am | Breakfast in the IR Showcase |
| 8:30 – 9:20am | Navigating Change: The Role of Sound Governance and Adaptable Leadership In a rapidly evolving world, the unprecedented speed of change demands agile responses supported by a robust governance structure. Organizations must remain flexible and responsive to changing circumstances, make informed decisions and maintain direction despite uncertainty, while also navigate the need for transparency with investors and other stakeholders. Join us for an engaging conversation with industry experts who will share insights, experiences, and practical advice on how to: – Establish a strong governance structure to ensure accountability and transparency. – Identify and mitigate risks to protect organizational assets and ensure long-term stability. – Build financial resiliency to withstand economic fluctuations and crises. – Guide and inspire your team by adapting, communicating, and building trust. |
| 9:20 – 10:15am | Shareholder Activism: What’s New in 2025 Shareholder activism remains robust in 2025. These campaigns include a mix of established and new activists, across market caps and geographies. IR is on the front line for first and ongoing interaction with shareholder activists. Hear candid insights from an activist shareholder on how to constructively engage with activists and better understand how to drive mutually beneficial outcomes. |
| 10:15 – 11:00am | Strategic Insights for Investor Relations: Navigating Today’s Economic Landscape In an era of significant economic policy shifts and market volatility, it’s critical for investor relations professionals to understand the factors likely to impact their company, industry, and the capital markets. This session will bring together diverse perspectives on the most pressing economic questions of today. Attendees will gain valuable insights into market trends and economic forecasts to enhance strategic decision-making and stakeholder communications while navigating the uncertainties ahead. |
| 11:00am – 1:00pm | IR Showcase: Exhibits, Express Talks, Lunch Express Talks: Building an Effective Creation Process For Shareholder Engagement (sponsored by DFIN) Building Trust Through Unified Stories: How IR and PR Collaboration Drives Investor Confidence (sponsored by Notified) The Reality of Digital IR: Audience, Content, and Engagement Drivers (sponsored by IDX) |
| 1:00 – 1:50pm | Education Sessions Investor Story Time: Crafting Your Value Proposition Effectively communicating a strong investor value proposition is a challenge many IROs and executives face. This interactive workshop will guide participants through a clear framework for identifying, packaging, and presenting their company’s unique value. Using real-world examples, attendees will leave with actionable tools to articulate their investment thesis in a compelling and memorable way. Parlez-vous IR? Translating Investor Relations to the Organization Investor Relations is in a unique position to train the organization on understanding the company from an External View / Capital Markets perspective. By understanding how the street reacts to the company’s strategies and results, the organization will be better equipped to know when and how to provide critical information to Investor Relations. This session is for IR professionals getting ready for an IPO, or IR professionals at a public company that want ideas to upskill their organization to become IR ambassadors. Beyond the Cold Call: Targeting New Investors In addition to maintaining strong relationships with existing investors, IROs are continually working to build new relationships with investors, including traditional names and unique targets. However, this is an exercise that often stumps even the most tenured IROs. This session will present data-based, actionable strategies for identifying and connecting with new target investors, particularly when there is no budget for external targeting support. Secure AI in IR: Unlocking Efficiency Without Compromising Security (sponsored by Q4) AI is transforming investor relations, but security concerns often hold teams back from unlocking its full potential. From handling sensitive corporate data to ensuring compliance, IROs need to trust that AI technology is robust, secure, and designed to protect their company’s most critical information. This interactive session moves beyond theory to showcase real-world, secure AI solutions that IR teams are already using—complete with built-in safeguards to protect sensitive data. And as AI continues to evolve, so does its ability to streamline IR workflows. Why invest in a separate CRM when an AI-powered IR Ops platform can handle it all? With automated note-taking, instant recall of investor interactions, and AI-generated emails and reminders, there’s no need for redundant tools in your tech stack. Industry leaders will cover how AI can be securely and effectively integrated into your IR operations while sharing practical use cases that enhance efficiency, build trust, and unlock deeper data insights—all while ensuring security and compliance. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve while keeping your data where it belongs: with you. |
| 2:00 – 2:50pm | Education Sessions Insights from the Proxy Season This session will discuss lessons learned from the latest proxy season, analyzing trends in investor voting policies and proxy advisor recommendations impacting public companies in 2025. Perception to Reality: Involving the Investor Perspective in Corporate Strategic Planning Many IROs are not only responsible for investor relations but also play key roles in strategic planning, M&A, and corporate communication. This session explores practical ways to bridge these responsibilities, integrating investor perceptions and feedback into the broader corporate strategic planning process. The Scoop from the Sell Side: Maximizing Relationships to Drive Optimal Coverage The sell-side plays a critical role in the investor relations ecosystem, yet its potential is often underutilized by IROs. As equity research models evolve, understanding the dynamics of these relationships is increasingly important. Join industry analysts as they share their perspectives on what makes for exceptional investor relations, how IR professionals can optimize their relationships with analysts, and the key factors driving their decisions around coverage, ratings, and investor access. |
| 3:00 – 3:30pm | Break in the IR Showcase |
| 3:30 – 4:20pm | Education Sessions Twenty Questions, Zero Pressure: Share Stories and Strategies with Your Peers Leveraging the power of the IR community is critical in times of disruption. Join your colleagues and peers in small group discussions about how they are approaching the challenges of today and sharing lessons learned from the challenges of the past. NIRI2025 brings together a wealth of experience and knowledge from IR professionals, IR providers, and other related disciplines. There is no better opportunity to gain insight and perspective from your peers who face many of the same challenges and scenarios as you do daily. Through twenty questions and prompts, this interactive and fun session will offer participants the chance to share their experiences, their predictions/trends for the future, and take away new approaches to tackling the IR challenges of today. Driving Strategic Success: How Investor Relations and FP&A Can Partner Effectively In today’s business environment, the alignment between IR and FP&A has never been more critical. This partnership holds the key to driving strategic success by combining FP&A’s financial insights with IR’s investor-facing expertise. This session will explore the essential elements of building collaboration between these functions to create a unified approach to strategic decision-making, financial storytelling and long-term value creation. Capital Markets Deep Dive In today’s uncertain and fast-moving market environment, IROs are facing heightened expectations to stay informed, adaptable, and proactive. This session brings together seasoned banking and IR professionals to explore where the sell-side sees the markets heading, the growing influence of passive ownership, and how IROs can more effectively engage with investors. The panel will also examine the evolving role of hedge funds, the state of IPOs and SPACs, and the impact of fixed income activity on investor relations. From roadshows, to investor days, to working with Corporate Access, attendees will leave with practical strategies to stay visible, relevant, and impactful in today’s complex landscape. |
| 4:30 – 6:30pm | Closing Reception |