Rate My Professor Irene-Marie Esser

Esser's research focuses on corporate governance, company law, and corporate social responsibility, employing doctrinal and empirical approaches in the contexts of the UK, EU, and South Africa. She teaches Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Company Law at the University of Glasgow and supervises postgraduate research students. Selected key publications include 'The emergence of ‘comply or explain’ as a global model for corporate governance codes' (European Business Law Review, 2022), 'Engaging stakeholders in corporate decision-making through strategic reporting: an empirical study of FTSE 100 companies' Parts 1 (2018) and 2 (2020) co-authored with Iain MacNeil, and 'Shareholder protection philosophy in terms of the Companies Act 71 of 2008' (Tydskrif vir Hedendaagse Romeins-Hollandse Reg, 2016, with P.A. Delport), which received the prize for the best article published in 2016 in that journal. She served as External Consultant to the King IV Committee on Corporate Governance in South Africa, with direct quotes from her co-authored articles incorporated into the King IV Report. Notable awards and honors encompass UNISA’s Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Research (2009), Women in Research Award as the youngest staff member with a doctorate (2009), and National Research Foundation Thuthuka Grants (2007-2010). Esser has delivered accredited workshops on board governance at the University of Johannesburg since 2009, serves on the editorial board of the European Business Law Review, and acts as an examiner for ACCA's South African Business Law module.