In the UK, the US and many other countries, existing board election processes mean shareholders rely almost entirely on existing board members to identify board candidates. In the vast majority of cases, shareholders have no real say over who is chosen to represent their interests and those of the company they own. Board nomination committees are sub-committees of the board itself. Over the last 10 years, Sweden has moved away from such a system. This report examines the Swedish experience of shareholders taking this key governance function into their own hands. The report also considers lessons that can be drawn for governance in the UK and other countries with dispersed shareholdings.  It  concludes with an agenda for action by listed companies, institutional investors, the Institutional Shareholders Committee  and the Financial Reporting Council.