Mutual Fund Boards: Characteristics and the Pathways In
04/15/2025 08:30 AM - 10:30 AM ET
Admission
- $35.00
Location
Boston, MA
Description
Mutual Fund Boards: Characteristics and the Pathways In
Tuesday, April 15
Foley Hoag | 155 Seaport Blvd, Boston
8:30 - 10:30 am
8:30 Breakfast & Networking
9:00 Program Begins
Fewer than 2,000 directors oversee the trillions of dollars invested in registered funds in the United States. These funds represent the savings goals of retail investors, helping individuals save for retirement, college educations, and other important life goals. In 2023, females comprised about 30% of all the fund directors, and 45% of the new fund directors added that year. While fund directors share basic corporate law duties with their corporate counterparts, fund boards have a different overall focus and unique responsibilities.
This session will focus on the roles and responsibilities of registered fund directors, the characteristics of these directors, and advice on how best to get into these boardrooms. Our keynote speaker will be Carolyn McPhillips, President of the Mutual Fund Directors Forum (MFDF). Carolyn will discuss the important responsibilities of directors who serve on registered fund boards, the breadth of products in the industry, and important skills for those interested in serving on these boards. She will also highlight the activities of the MFDF, including its invaluable Director Candidate Database.
Pat Flynn, co-chair of The Boston Club’s Corporate Director Affinity Group, will also provide insights based on her 20 years as a mutual fund director.
Our Speakers
Carolyn McPhillips, President of the Mutual Fund Directors Forum
Carolyn McPhillips has been President of MFDF since June 2020, after joining MFDF in July 2005. In that time, Carolyn has played a pivotal role in evolving MFDF’s scope and reach to respond to the needs of fund boards. In Carolyn's previous MFDF roles as Senior Counsel and Counsel, she was instrumental in the development of MFDF programming and resources to assist independent directors in improving fund oversight. Immediately prior to joining the MFDF team, she lived in Naples, Italy. She was an associate in the Financial Services Group of Dechert LLP from 2000 to 2003.
Pat Flynn, Director, Columbia Funds
Pat Flynn is Professor Emeritus of Economics & Management and former dean of the Graduate School of Business at Bentley University. Her research and publications have focused on corporate governance, technology-based economic development, and on women in business. In 2011 Pat was appointed co-chair of the Working Group on Gender Equality for the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), a program that encompasses over 700 business schools in over 85 countries. In that role she helped faculty integrate gender issues into their courses, and also co-edited six PRME books on gender equality and on sustainability issues more generally. With respect to The Boston Club, Pat co-authored the annual Census of Women Directors and Executive Officers of MA Public Companies for its first 20 years. Pat has served as a director on three bank boards for a total of 10 years, and on mutual fund boards for 20 years.