Board Stewardship Webinar Series: Cybersecurity In The AI Era

Board Stewardship is pleased to announce the next edition of its flagship monthly webinar series, ‘Stewardship in the Boardroom,’ scheduled for Friday, July 4, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 6:15 PM IST. Titled “Cybersecurity in the AI Era,” this session will bring together a distinguished panel of experts to explore the evolving responsibilities of board members in a rapidly digitising world, where cyber threats are escalating and AI is redefining decision-making processes.
As a premier platform committed to enabling future-ready Boards, Board Stewardship has curated this discussion to reflect the pressing need for Directors, especially Independent Directors, to deepen their understanding of emerging digital risks and technological shifts. The webinar will open with a welcome address by Vikesh Wallia, Managing Director and Editor of Board Stewardship, setting the tone for an afternoon of compelling insights and practical takeaways. This will be followed by a keynote address from Dr. Ish Anand, Founder & CEO of Relia Smart Global Advisory (FZE), UAE, who will underscore the criticality of Board-level engagement on cybersecurity. “In the AI Era, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern—it’s a boardroom imperative. As intelligent systems reshape threat landscapes, Boards must lead with foresight, accountability, and resilience. I look forward to exploring how governance can keep pace with evolving digital risks,” Dr. Anand observes.
The session will feature an engaging panel discussion titled “Cybersecurity – A Boardroom Watch,” led by Mayurakshi Ray, Independent Director and CXO Advisor, along with Yukti Arora, Co-founder & CEO of Aumyaa Consulting; Muralidharan Ramachandran, Independent Director and Consultant; and Gaurav Mahajan, Partner at The Precept Law Offices. The discussion will cover the increasing strategic importance of cybersecurity, with panellists highlighting how Boards must move beyond operational oversight to a more integrated role in safeguarding reputation, ensuring regulatory compliance, and embedding resilience into the enterprise framework.
Mayurakshi Ray notes, “In today’s hyper-connected digital landscape, technology serves as both the backbone and the enabler of business operations. A strong cybersecurity strategy and operational framework is no longer optional—it is a core business imperative. It safeguards reputation, builds and maintains trust, ensures business continuity, supports regulatory compliance, manages enterprise risks, and upholds fiduciary responsibilities. Given the growing urgency to keep cybersecurity at the forefront of business priorities, Boards must play a pivotal role in embedding it into the governance agenda. Board stewardship is not just about strengthening oversight of existing technologies and security protocols—it is also about ensuring that Boards actively champion and integrate cybersecurity into their governance of emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and blockchain, along with the broader business transformations they drive.”
Yukti Arora adds, “When trust is the currency of business, cybersecurity becomes the Board’s most valuable asset—and its greatest vulnerability.”
Muralidharan Ramachandran points out, “AI is reshaping businesses by enhancing productivity, streamlining operations, and unlocking new models of value creation. However, its adoption also brings significant cybersecurity challenges, which have become a top priority for Boards. While AI strengthens threat detection capabilities, it simultaneously empowers malicious actors with sophisticated tools such as deepfakes and AI-driven malware. To stay ahead, organisations must invest in AI-enabled defences, safeguard data privacy, and foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness across all levels.”
Gaurav Mahajan says, “Cybersecurity is now a boardroom priority. With AI driving decisions and handling sensitive data, the risks are higher than ever. Boards must treat it as core to governance—essential for trust, compliance, and resilience in light of laws like the DPDP Act and SEBI’s cyber mandates.”
A second panel discussion, “AI in the Chair,” will dive deeper into the governance implications of AI in strategic decision-making. Panellists for this session include Sandeep Arora, CEO of Sunxora Solutions and Former President – Digital Experiences at Datamatics; Sriharsha Narasimhan, Independent Director and former CTO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Abhijit Kabra, Independent Director and former MD at Accenture; and Dinesh Arora, Founder & CEO of Finnulate by FTN Solutions. The conversation will focus on how AI is no longer a peripheral concern but a core issue in the boardroom, requiring ethical, transparent, and purpose-driven oversight. “AI is no longer at the edge of strategy—it’s at the heart of boardroom conversations,” says Sandeep Arora, who encourages Directors to approach AI with both enthusiasm and caution.
“AI is a strategic necessity. Boards must understand its impact and adopt it responsibly to drive innovation, build resilience, and stay competitive. Those who ignore AI risk falling behind in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape,” Sriharsha Narasimhan believes.
Dinesh Arora emphasises the importance of guiding AI’s use with responsibility and foresight, while Abhijit Kabra calls for Boards to rise above trend-driven adoption and lead with intent and vision.
Supported by Knowledge Partner BoardPAC and Corporate Partners Relia Smart Global Advisory (FZE) and JHS, this session reinforces Board Stewardship’s commitment to equipping boardrooms in India and beyond with the insights needed to lead through complexity, disruption, and innovation. In an era where stakeholder expectations are rising and governance landscapes are evolving, this timely webinar offers Directors, senior leaders, compliance professionals, and aspiring board members an invaluable opportunity to deepen their stewardship and stay future-ready.