Mary A.

Francis

C-Suite Advisor

Chevron

San Ramon,

California

2026 Cohort

Industry

Energy

Area of Expertise

General Counsel/Legal

Immediately Qualified to Serve

Nominating and Governance

Previous Board Experience

Nonprofit

MBA-trained law and corporate governance executive with international management experience in transactions, compliance, investigations, and corporate matters at Chevron, a global energy company. Skilled problem solver, talent developer and thought leader with proven record of quickly mastering and leading through new business and legal challenges. Frequent speaker and author on topics of corporate governance and leadership. After practicing at major law firms in Chicago and San Francisco, Mary joined Chevron in 2002 as senior trademark counsel, supporting global marketing and communications teams on brand protection, anti-counterfeiting and sponsorship programs. She was soon identified for leadership development and was assigned to lead the legal team for Chevron’s shipping company, where she advised on operational, commercial and emergency response matters, including hostage and threatened piracy situations. Her responsibilities grew to include the pipeline legal team. She was then appointed General Counsel of Chevron’s Asia Pacific Exploration & Production Company where she was resident in Singapore. There she oversaw and supported teams of lawyers throughout Southeast Asia during a time of major capital project development and numerous portfolio transactions. She returned to the U.S. to become Chief Corporate Counsel, where she oversaw lawyers providing specialty legal support across all lines of Chevron business, including compliance investigations, and environmental, intellectual property, employment, real estate, and technology law matters. While in this role, Mary developed and launched a company-wide legal pro bono program and served as its executive sponsor.

Since 2015 Mary has served as Corporate Secretary and Chief Governance Officer at Chevron, providing advice and counsel on governance matters to Chevron’s Board of Directors and senior executives. She also serves on Chevron’s Law Function Executive Committee. As Corporate Secretary, she has provided governance support for numerous public company acquisitions and the recent move of Chevron’s corporate headquarters from California to Texas. She represents Chevron in engagements on environmental/social/governance matters with key investors, proxy advisors, influencers and activists. She is passionate about communicating proactively and effectively and she led a thorough redesign of Chevron’s proxy statement, which was recognized as “Proxy Statement of the Year (Large Cap) in 2023. Her team was recognized as “Governance Team of the Year (Large Cap) in 2025. Mary has served as chair of Chevron’s Employee Political Action Committee and as executive sponsor of Chevron’s Executive Women’s Group.

Code of Conduct: Governing Data & Emerging Tech

Boards are no longer observers of emerging technology; they are stewards of how it’s governed. This panel goes beyond awareness to examine how directors can structure oversight, define accountability, and measure governance effectiveness in AI, data use, and digital innovation. Panelists will share practical strategies for building governance systems that ensure transparency, ethical decision-making, and responsible innovation at scale.

Speakers include: Sita Lowman, Nithya Das, Suresh Sharma, Byron Loflin

Your First Board Meeting: A Director’s Playbook

Designed for aspiring and newly appointed directors, this session offers practical guidance on how to step confidently into your first boardroom. Learn what to expect in early meetings, how to contribute with purpose, and how to quickly build credibility and trust among seasoned peers. Gain insight into board dynamics, unspoken protocols, and the critical questions new directors should be ready to ask and answer.

Tactics that Work: Case Studies in Navigating Shareholder Activism

In this tactical, director-focused session, participants will engage in case-based exercises to dissect real campaigns and pressure scenarios. From activist letters to proxy fights, explore how boards can craft strategic responses that reinforce governance integrity, protect corporate reputation, and align with long-term priorities. Walk away with actionable tactics and frameworks to strengthen board preparedness in the face of growing investor scrutiny.

Inside the Boardroom: Resilience Planning in Action

This interactive session places directors inside the boardroom during moments of disruption. Through tabletop exercises and real-world scenarios, participants will explore how boards can apply structured frameworks to assess geopolitical risk, anticipate threats, and make decisive decisions under pressure. Designed as a classroom-style session, this breakout provides practical tools to strengthen oversight and build a proactive board response strategy in an increasingly uncertain world.

Reputation & Response: How Boards Navigate Shareholder Activism

As shareholder activism intensifies, boards face mounting pressure to defend strategy, protect corporate reputation, and engage stakeholders with clarity. This panel brings together seasoned directors to explore how boards can respond effectively while maintaining credibility, board alignment, and stakeholder trust. Hear real-world insights on navigating activism in today’s high-stakes, high-visibility environment.

Speakers include: Gaby Sulzberger, David Cahoy, Rachael Coffey, Eduardo Gallego

Navigating Global Markets: Trade, Tariffs, and Supply Chain Strategy

As global disruptions reshape business models, this panel will explore how boards can navigate the practical complexities of trade, tariffs, and supply chain shifts across regions. Panelists will share how directors are guiding companies through regulatory changes, sourcing challenges, and new market risks, while seizing opportunities for growth and operational agility.

Speakers include: Titi Cole, Mia Mends

Strengthening Oversight: Risk Management and Board Resilience

This keynote will equip directors to think globally about risk through the lens of geopolitical foresight, cross-border tensions, and long-term instability. Learn how boards can strengthen oversight and guide enterprise-wide resilience by anticipating disruption and embedding a proactive risk culture in a changing world.

Speakers include: Rodger Baker