Governing AI for growth, trust and accountability: what boards should be asking in 2026

AI is not a standalone innovation issue. For boards, general counsel and compliance leaders, it sits at the point where governance, cyber resilience, data accountability and regulatory exposure converge.

As organisations accelerate adoption, the gap between policy and practice is becoming harder to ignore. Shadow AI use, growing dependence on third-party technology providers, inappropriate and/or ill-judged use of AI by employees, evolving regulatory obligations and increasingly sophisticated impersonation threats are creating risk in places many businesses are not yet properly equipped to see, let alone govern.

Join us for a practical discussion for board directors, in-house legal teams, compliance professionals and those responsible for data protection and risk, focused on the questions organisations should be asking now to strengthen oversight, challenge assumptions and prepare for what comes next, with a clear view of the issues that will matter most in 2026 and the practical steps to take now.

We will cover a range of topics including:

• Shadow AI – do you know what your organisation is actually using?
• AI literacy and board accountability – are leaders equipped to make informed decisions?
• AI‑enabled people decisions – how AI is being used in recruitment, progression and workforce analytics
• AI in the workforce- how are employees using AI and what risks could this pose to organisations
• The EU AI Act – what high-risk AI governance requires in practice and who is likely to be impacted
• Impersonation fraud and data theft – are your controls still fit for purpose?
• Supply chain resilience – where third-party technology risk is really sitting

The session will be followed by a light lunch, which will provide plenty of opportunity for further discussion and networking.

Speakers:

• Joanne Vengadesan, partner, IP,IT and commercial, Penningtons Manches Cooper
• Gemma Woodhouse, partner, employment, Penningtons Manches Cooper
• Phillip D’Costa, partner, commercial dispute resolution, Penningtons Manches Cooper
•  Mustafa Iqbal, partner, technology, consulting, Crowe
• Buki Obayiuwana, managing director,  AI, change and transformation consulting, Crowe

If you have any queries, or to register your interest, please email Kelly Ray.