Celebrating 15 Years

Deneen

Donnley

General Counsel

Con Edison

New York,

New York

Industry

Utilities

Area of Expertise

Legal

Immediately Qualified to Serve

Audit

Previous Board Experience

Nonprofit, Private

Known as a strategic, resourceful, and collaborative leader with a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion and a wealth of experience as a legal and business leader in fast paced, dynamic, and highly regulated businesses. Deneen has worked for several Fortune 500 companies with a focus on financial services. She has 20 years of corporate governance experience, serving as a corporate secretary for various major financial institutions. With a tenacious appetite for working in ever evolving industries, Deneen currently serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Consolidated Edison, Inc., one of the nation’s largest investorowned energy companies, with approximately $15 billion in annual revenues, over $69 billion in assets, and over 14,000 employees. Deneen manages a 200-person legal and compliance team.

Deneen previously served as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary for USAA, a Fortune 150 diversified financial services company with approximately $30+ billion in revenue, $158 billion in assets, over 34,000 employees, and 13 million members. She was a strategic advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and to the board of directors. As Executive Vice President, Deneen was a member of USAA’s Executive Council and contributed to a broad range of strategic, management, and commercial initiatives, including leading legal aspects of mutual fund and brokerage divestitures, Victory Capital and Charles Schwab. As part of Deneen’s role, she oversaw corporate governance, board matters, risk management, employee issues, and commercial agreements. She served as EVP, General Counsel, and Secretary for USAA Bank from 2010-2015.

Before joining USAA, Deneen served as the Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary for ING Direct USA, responsible for managing legal and compliance matters, including a significant acquisition of an online brokerage company. Prior to ING DIRECT USA, she served as a banking attorney for Pepper Hamilton LLP and a staff attorney for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Deneen is a graduate of the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University School of Law in New York. Deneen served on the General Counsel Steering Committee of the National Association of Corporate Directors, receiving a Board Leadership Fellow designation from the organization.

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.

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.

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.

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.