Why global perspectives matter in governance

Tobias has a legal background and more than ten years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors in Germany, working as a consultant and lawyer for enterprises, trade associations and a law firm.

What is the value of attending the NSW Governance and Risk Management Forum?

Policy, governance, and regulation are not just national questions – they are inherently international. What I am looking to gain is the Australian perspective. I can contribute a European and broader international viewpoint, but as an overseas member of the Governance Institute of Australia, I am particularly interested in understanding the local context. This forum is an ideal setting for that exchange.

What’s the big issue for you in risk and governance today?

AI governance is certainly one of the central issues. We have spent considerable time discussing traditional AI governance over recent years. However, with agentic AI on the horizon, new and more complex challenges are emerging, not only for legislators but also for organisations. At the same time, we are seeing a broader shift from one‑off, static compliance towards continuous, lifecycle‑based governance of AI systems. The Governance Institute of Australia’s recent whitepaper captures these developments and their implications particularly well.

What’s the main challenge for an organisation confronting AI?

The breadth of the technology and its potential applications make it inherently challenging. A sensible starting point is to establish a robust AI governance structure. Many organisations have already begun doing this. The real challenge now is keeping pace with rapid technological development.

We can already see from frameworks such as the European Union’s AI Act that a risk-based approach, particularly for high-risk systems, requires ongoing oversight across the entire lifecycle, from design to deployment and monitoring. That raises the bar significantly for organisations.

Governance frameworks must remain flexible and adaptive. Maintaining trust both internally and with customers is critical, and effective governance is central to achieving that.