CEO Memo — March 2026
Welcome to our first quarterly journal of 2026. It’s a pleasure to connect with you as part of our community of governance professionals who share a commitment to strengthening organisations and contributing to Australia’s long-term prosperity.
In a world defined by volatility and rapid change, strong governance offers the clarity and steadiness people and organisations need. Our purpose is to enable societal prosperity by strengthening the foundations that help communities and organisations thrive. Our mission is to build stronger decision-making capability by embedding the Governance Institute Pillars of Governance everywhere decisions are made. And our vision is a nation where governance is a shared strength that delivers fair, ethical outcomes, one that empowers people and organisations to act with clarity, integrity and foresight.
Building resilience together
Across every sector, governance expectations are rising, and organisations are navigating increasing complexity. Resilience, defined as our ability to anticipate, adapt and lead through change, has become a defining capability for 2026. It grows from:
- Clear governance frameworks
- Ethical decision-making structures
- Future ready skills across boards and executive teams
These themes sit at the heart of this year’s Governance Risk Management Forum (GRMF) national roadshow, where we will explore emerging challenges including ethical decision making, AI oversight and organisational capability development.
Leading the conversation on AI
We are preparing to release a new thought leadership piece on agentic AI, exploring how systems that take action, not just generate output, reshape accountability, and oversight. Our goal is to help governance professionals stay ahead of the curve. Our AI Policy will continue to evolve as regulatory expectations develop.
We are also delighted to continue our 2026 vodcast series under its new name, Risk and Reason, beginning with an episode focused on AI governance and continuous disclosure.
Strengthening the professional community
I’m pleased to share that two members – Tim Paine FGIA FCG and Peter Torre AGIA ACG have joined the Advisory Group on Corporate Governance, an achievement that speaks to both their expertise and the collective strength of our membership. We celebrate accomplishments like this as milestones for our entire community.
Advocacy that drives productivity
This year we have placed national productivity at the centre of our pre-budget submission, highlighting the importance of regulatory settings and board oversight that support confident, timely decision-making.
We have also made a detailed submission on Director ID linking, emphasising clarity, proportionality, and practical implementation to ensure system integrity without unnecessary burden.
Looking ahead
The pace of change continues to accelerate, and the stakes for boards have never been higher. Our commitment is to ensure governance remains a strategic capability, not just a compliance exercise, by equipping you with the tools, insights and networks needed for confident, ethical and high-impact decisions.
2026 will bring both challenge and opportunity. We are here to support you every step of the way, through thought leadership, practical guidance, professional development and the shared strength of our community.
Katrina Horrobin
Chief Executive Officer
Governance Institute of Australia