The course “Empowering Directors: Driving Informed and Risk-Ready Board Leadership” was held from 26–29 January 2026 at Makati Diamond Residences, Makati City, Philippines, exclusively for the Board of Directors of the National Development Bank of Palau (NDBP). Designed to strengthen Board-level governance, risk oversight, and strategic leadership, the program responded to the increasing complexity of development banking and the evolving responsibilities of directors in small-island economies.
The program opened with welcome remarks from ADFIAP Secretary General Mr. Enrique Florencio, who underscored the Association’s commitment to supporting NDBP’s institutional strengthening and highlighted the importance of equipping Boards of Directors with the tools, frameworks, and global perspectives needed to lead development banks effectively. He emphasized that NDBP’s mandate is central to Palau’s socio-economic progress and that strong, informed, and values-driven governance is essential to sustaining impact in areas such as infrastructure, housing, MSME development, and sustainable industries.
The course recognized NDBP’s critical role in Palau’s development landscape and emphasized the Board’s responsibility to ensure institutional soundness, accountability, and regulatory compliance. Over four days, the participants engaged in a structured exploration of governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) within the context of development finance institutions. Sessions covered the foundations of governance and development banking leadership; the roles and responsibilities of Board members; distinctions between development and commercial banking; compliance and regulatory expectations; and the Board’s role in overseeing risk management, audit, and ethical leadership.
The program successfully concluded with participant reflections, the articulation of Board leadership commitments, and the formulation of action plans to be implemented at NDBP. While participants identified priority governance and risk initiatives to bring back to Palau.
The program, which was highly rated, was attended by NDBP Board Chairperson Rhinehart Silas, Vice Chairperson Everdil Rechebei, and Board Members Dorotheo Nagata, Lynna Thomas, and Ralph Moses. Participant feedback affirms that the program significantly strengthened the Board’s capacity for informed, risk-ready, and values-driven leadership, reinforcing alignment with global standards and NDBP’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive development in Palau.
