Board Stewardship’s September Boardroom Insights Examines Ethics, AI and Geopolitical Risk
Board Stewardship’s September edition of its monthly live webinar series, ‘Boardroom Insights’, brought together Board leaders, Independent Directors, governance professionals and industry experts to examine three issues increasingly influencing boardroom decisions: ethics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), geopolitical risk and the evolving role of Independent Directors.
Held on September 4, 2026, with BoardPAC as the Knowledge Partner, the webinar examined how boards can respond to rapid technological change and external uncertainty while maintaining accountability, sound judgement and organisational resilience.
Opening the session, Vikesh Wallia, MD & Editor, Board Stewardship, said, “The September edition brought together issues that are increasingly interconnected in the boardroom. AI is changing how organisations operate, while geopolitical developments are changing the environment in which they operate. Both require informed oversight, independent judgement and a clear understanding of risk. Through Boardroom Insights, our aim is to create meaningful conversations that help directors and governance professionals look at these challenges from multiple perspectives.”
The opening remarks were followed by the Inaugural Address by Shailesh Haribhakti, Board Icon of India and Chairman, Advisory Board, Board Stewardship. His address drew a compelling connection between the six Nobel Prizes, offering an enlightening perspective that made the session particularly insightful and memorable.
The Keynote Address was delivered by Prakash G Rajan, Retired Chief Audit Executive, Certified Corporate Director, Board Member of 2 Global NFP Organisations and our first Fellow Member from the USA who addressed the challenges emerging from accelerating risk, digital disruption, culture, ethics and stakeholder expectations.
Reflecting on the keynote, Prakash G Rajan said, “The keynote allowed me to spotlight the pressing challenges confronting boardrooms worldwide—from accelerating risk and digital disruption to culture, ethics, and stakeholder expectations. I was encouraged by the engagement and thoughtful dialogue that followed. It’s clear that modern governance requires courage, clarity, and readiness, and I’m grateful to Board Stewardship for the opportunity to contribute to that conversation.”
Our webinar’s first ever roundtable discussion, ‘Ethics and AI – Alacrity with Integrity’, explored the governance implications of Artificial Intelligence and the need to balance technological advancement with accountability and ethical judgement. The roundtable featured Ritu Mathur, Praveen Gogia, Badmaprasath Baskaran, Anil Rustgi, Rajesh Rajalingam and Ramaprasad B K, bringing perspectives from governance, technology, consulting and corporate leadership.
The discussion underlined that AI is not simply a technology agenda. Its adoption also raises questions around oversight, responsibility, decision-making and trust.
Rajesh Rajalingam said, “I was privileged to share my perspective on AI through the Board Stewardship Monthly Webinar platform. Collaborating with fellow panellists and the moderator to shape a coherent storyline around the theme was both stimulating and intellectually enriching. The experience deepened my own thinking while contributing to a meaningful conversation on responsible AI governance. My sincere thanks to Board Stewardship, the moderator, fellow panellists and everyone who joined the discussion.”
While Praveen Gogia said, “The question is not whether every organisation needs a dedicated AI Governance Committee, but who owns AI governance. That responsibility could sit with the Audit Committee, Risk Management Committee or another Board-designated committee. What is critical is clear accountability, defined Terms of Reference and regular oversight. AI is an evolving risk, and governance cannot be left on autopilot.”
The conversation then moved to ‘Geopolitical Risk – Calm in the Storm’, examining how geopolitical developments can affect businesses and why boards need to understand their wider implications. The panel featured Preeti Mehta, Dr. Pramod Sant and Suhail Motwani.
Preeti Mehta said, “Two compelling conversations on challenges that increasingly demand the attention of Boards and business leaders. “Ethics and AI – Alacrity and Integrity” explored how Boards can harness AI-driven transformation without losing sight of accountability, judgement and trust. “Geopolitical Risk – Calm in the Storm” examined the Board’s role in navigating uncertainty, anticipating disruption and preserving strategic resilience. Together, they reinforced a central message: agility must be anchored in integrity, and preparedness in perspective.”
Suhail Motwani stated, “Enjoyed the discussions and there were some excellent takeaways across both sessions. What stood out for me was the synergy between the conversations on AI and geopolitics. The risks are very different, but many of the underlying Board questions are similar – how they translate into business risk, how deep the exposure really goes, whether management understands the dependencies, and whether the organisation has the resilience, accountability and decision-making to respond.”
The programme concluded with a Q&A Session on the Independent Directorship Journey by Vikesh Wallia, giving participants an opportunity to engage on the responsibilities and opportunities associated with Independent Directorship.
The September edition reinforced the importance of informed and responsible board oversight as organisations navigate technological change, ethical questions and geopolitical uncertainty. Through ‘Boardroom Insights’, Board Stewardship continues to create a platform for experienced professionals to exchange perspectives on issues shaping contemporary boardrooms.
Registered webinar attendees will receive the recording and detailed report of this webinar will be featured in our October e-magazine.
