Governing AI Forum 2026

Join us from 8:00am to register, grab a coffee and take your seat ahead of the forum opening at 8:30am. 

Formal welcome to the 2026 Governing AI Forum

Opening the Governing AI Forum, this session will explore how AI is reshaping the environment boards operate in. As the technology evolves rapidly, directors are being challenged to understand both its opportunities and its risks – from strategy and workforce impacts to ethics, governance and long-term value creation. Drawing on global developments and emerging trends, this session will examine the questions boards need to be considering now.

In this fast fact session Campbell Featherstone explores the evolving landscape of AI regulation, legal risk and global trends, and what boards should be doing now to prepare. Drawing on international developments and the New Zealand context, the discussion will examine emerging frameworks, liability considerations and the growing expectations being placed on directors.

As AI adoption grows, boards are under increasing pressure to oversee its responsible use. In this keynote, Dr Karaitiana Taiuru will explore the ethical issues AI raises, including bias, trust and Māori data sovereignty.

The session will look at how AI systems can reinforce existing inequities, along with the governance considerations around Māori data, ownership and cultural impact. It will also discuss the role boards play in making sure ethical thinking is built into decision-making and oversight. The session will conclude with audience Q&A.

Join Kim Gordon and Mike Grenfell for a practical session on using AI agents to support board work. Learn how AI can help streamline board reading, track industry trends and identify emerging issues. During the session, attendees will set up their own AI agents and leave with tools they can start using straight away. Please bring a laptop to take part.

What happens when AI is given a seat at the board table?

In this session, Brandon Hutcheson will share a real-world case study from a European organisation using an AI “board director” to support governance processes. Rather than replacing human judgement, the AI is used to test decision-making, challenge bias and assess how conclusions are reached.

The session will explore how the technology works in practice, where it adds value, and its limitations. It will also look at how AI can help boards challenge assumptions, improve transparency and support more informed decision-making.

AI is changing the way audits are carried out, offering faster analysis, deeper insights and new ways to strengthen assurance. In this session, Darby Healey from KPMG will explore how AI is being used in audit today – from analysing large data sets to identifying anomalies and supporting risk assessment.

The session will examine what is working in practice, the risks organisations need to be aware of, and what boards should be asking as AI adoption grows. It will also explore how these insights can apply more broadly across governance, oversight and decision-making.

As a bonus Fast Facts session, Brandon Hutcheson will unpack the cyber risks and governance implications of quantum computing, including why boards should be paying attention now.

Directors will gain practical insight into emerging threats, key questions to ask management, and the risks of “harvest now, decrypt later” - where data collected today could be exposed in the future.

Join Jade Tang Taylor for a practical discussion on what AI means for not-for-profit boards. This session will focus less on the technology itself and more on the governance questions directors need to be thinking about as AI becomes part of day-to-day organisational decision-making.

Jade will explore what is already changing for many NFPs, where AI is often being used informally and governance approaches are still evolving. The session will cover the risks to be aware of, the questions boards should be asking, and practical ways to start bringing AI into governance conversations.

What does effective AI use look like in the boardroom today? In this keynote, Claudia Batten will share practical insights from her governance experience, how she is thinking about governance in an AI world and how directors are using AI in and out of the boardroom.

Rather than theory, this is about real-world application. Directors will gain a clearer understanding of what “good” looks like and how to apply it in their own governance context. A Q&A will follow.

In this fast fact session, Bineeta Nand will explore how directors can gain confidence that AI systems are well governed, reliable and ready for audit scrutiny.

Drawing on KPMG’s Trusted AI framework, the session will look at how organisations are managing oversight across the AI lifecycle – from early use cases through to deployment and ongoing monitoring. It will cover what good practice looks like, including clear accountability, documented controls and managing risks such as bias, model uncertainty and generative AI “hallucinations”.

What does applying AI look like in practice – and what should boards be paying attention to? Simon Curran, Chief Development & Culture Officer at Rokt, will share how the company is integrating AI into its day-to-day operations, with a focus on people, ways of working and organisational design – not just the technology itself.

The session will explore how AI is changing the way decisions are made, how teams work and how value is created. It will also look at the governance questions this raises for boards, including how to oversee change at pace and balance opportunity with risk when there is no clear playbook.

Herman Visagie wraps up the day with a practical reflection on the key themes, insights and conversations from the programme. He will highlight the implications for boards and directors, with a focus on practical next steps and actions to take back to your organisations.

The Governing AI forum 2026 ends