It was good to attend the Essential Director Update – a timely reminder that good governance now requires foresight as well as oversight.
Staying on the forefront of contemporary governance demands AI and cybersecurity competency.
My key takeaways for boards and executives:
☑️ Data is the fuel: protect data integrity (accurate, consistent, timely) and focus governance where it creates the most value.
☑️ AI is everywhere, no longer just an IT challenge: adopt a human-centred approach, define guardrails around intent, and factor legal and ethical considerations into every deployment.
☑️ Balance innovation with risk: prioritise highest-value use cases, automate safety controls where possible, but don’t outsource accountability.
☑️ Cybersecurity must be risk-based: know your crown jewels, expect incidents, build crisis response plans and regularly test your defences.
☑️ People first: changing work practices will affect roles and culture; steer the transition and invest in policy and education.
Cyber Security Leadership 