Optimize Governance Practices and Drive Board Engagement

Kaley Childs Karaffa

Director of Board Engagement, Nasdaq Governance Solutions

Kaley is the Director of Board Engagement at Nasdaq. Prior to Nasdaq’s acquisition of Center of Board Excellence (CBE) in October 2019, Kaley was CBE’s Vice President, Client Services, Business Development & Legal from September 2015 through 2019. In her current role, and under her role at CBE, Kaley advises boards and CEOs on corporate governance matters, board and director effectiveness, CEO and leadership evaluation and performance, board and management alignment, and compliance and risk matters. She works with public, private, and nonprofit organizations in a wide range of industries globally.  Prior to joining CBE, Kaley served as General Counsel of Clarolux LLC. Before beginning an in-house practice, she practiced law in New York City with a focus in real estate, banking law, and litigation. Prior to attending law school, Kaley served as Program Director of Jefferson County Teen Court. 

Kaley is currently the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Northside Charter High School in Brooklyn, NY, serves on the patient advisory board for a privately held pharmaceutical company, and serves as on the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Patient Safety Committee and Patient & Family Advisory Council. She served as Co-Chair of the CLE Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association Corporate Counsel Section from 2015 through 2017. Kaley founded and served on the Board of Directors of YP Civitan of Greensboro from 2013 through 2016. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in Political Science from Samford University and a Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law. Kaley is admitted to practice law in the State of New York

Phil Neiswender

Head of Board Engagement AMERS and APAC, Nasdaq Governance Solutions

Phil is the Head of Board Engagement for the Americas and Asia Pacific Region at Nasdaq.  Prior to Nasdaq’s acquisition of the Center for Board Excellence (CBE), Phil was a founding investor and advisor to CBE and was the President and a member of the Board of Directors.  Phil advises the board of directors and senior management at public, private, and not for profit entities.  Phil’s clients are primarily in North America, APAC, and EMEA. Phil’s blend of experience working at public companies and startups provides a unique perspective to advise clients on compliance and governance matters. He leverages this experience in particular to help organizations address board composition and effectiveness, strategic alignment between the board and senior management, and other governance and compliance related matters.  Prior to joining CBE full-time, Phil held several senior leadership positions at both public and private companies, including Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary roles.  Throughout his career, Phil has been sought out to advise his respective boards and management teams around legal, compliance and governance matters.  Immediately prior to joining CBE, Phil was Executive Vice President for Operations & Corporate Development, and Chief Legal Officer at Xevo, Inc. (purchased by Lear Corporation; NYSE: LEA), where Phil spent a significant amount of his time in Japan, Chief Operating Officer at Garagiste, Inc., and General Counsel, Vice President of Legal at BSQUARE Corporation (NASDAQ: BSQR).  He also held both legal and business roles at Getty Images, Inc. during its season as a publicly traded Company (NYSE: GYI), and was an attorney at Graham & James, LLP and Riddell Williams, PS, in Seattle, WA.  Phil obtained his J.D. from the University of Virginia and his B.A. from the University of Washington. He is a member of the Washington State bar.

John Newell

Counsel and Manager of Public Company Practice, Goodwin Procter LLP

John Newell, a counsel in the firm's Business Law Department, works on a variety of securities, financing and corporate matters for financial institutions and industrial companies. He is a member of the firm's Capital Markets, M&A/Corporate Governance and Private Equity practices.

April Hall

Managing Editor, Directors & Boards and Private Company Director