Attended the recent Australian Institute of Company Directors Tech Governance Forum this week and came away reflecting on just how rapidly technology governance expectations are evolving for Boards and executives.

A few themes strongly resonated throughout the discussions:

• Technology governance is no longer just an “IT issue” — it is now a core strategic, operational and governance priority.

• Boards need greater visibility over where organisational data sits, how it is used, and the cyber risks attached to it.

• Third-party and vendor reliance continues to grow, increasing the importance of regular review, oversight and resilience planning.

• Cyber resilience is becoming as important as cyber prevention. Organisations need tested response plans, clear accountabilities and confidence their controls are genuinely operating effectively.

• The pace of technological change means Boards increasingly need digital, cyber and transformation capability around the table — alongside curiosity and a willingness to ask challenging questions.

• Successful transformation programs are strategy-led, cross-functional and require visible executive sponsorship. Clear objectives, outcomes and metrics remain critical.

• Trust, ethics and safeguards around AI and emerging technologies will become defining governance issues over the coming years.

One particularly interesting discussion centred around Quantum Computing/Anthropic Mythos and the potential future implications for existing encryption and security settings. While still emerging, the consensus was clear — organisations should already be thinking about future readiness.

My key takeaways:

Boards do not need to become technology experts — but they do need sufficient understanding, oversight and confidence to govern technology-enabled organisations effectively.

An insightful and highly relevant forum for directors, executives and risk professionals navigating increasingly digital operating environments.