Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets chair says looking away is never neutral and urges boards to institutionalise dissent

The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets published a keynote by its chair, Laura van Geest, delivered on 20 March at the symposium “De bewakers van de werkelijkheid”, warning that failing to address discomfort in discussions can cause important signals to be missed and weaken both supervision and governance. She linked this risk to societal debates becoming harsher while boardrooms become more cautious, creating space for silences and unaddressed issues. The keynote called for sharper language, clear agreements on when dossiers should be reopened, and more systematic organisation of countervailing views. It also stressed the importance of “administrative safety” in governing bodies, where criticism is valued rather than penalised, to improve the quality of decisions.