Steering Risk and Governance Through Geopolitical Turbulence

Steering Risk and Governance Through Geopolitical Turbulence

How Boards Can Navigate Geopolitical Risk and Uncertainty

On 2 July 2026, the Global Advisory Alliance and the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA) hosted an executive briefing exploring how boards and governance professionals can strengthen organisational resilience in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment.

The discussion examined why geopolitical risk has become a board-level governance issue rather than simply another item on the corporate risk register. Drawing on perspectives from corporate governance, political risk advisory and institutional investment, the panel explored practical actions boards can take to strengthen oversight, improve strategic decision-making and prepare organisations for a more fragmented global landscape.

The conversation focused on one central question: How can boards build governance practices that enable organisations to anticipate geopolitical change, manage uncertainty and identify strategic opportunities?

Our panellists:

• Funmi Ekundayo – Group Managing Director and CEO, STL Capital Group, and President, Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA)

• Richard Howitt – Senior Advisor, Frank Bold. Former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and former CEO of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)

• George Dallas – Head of Content, European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI). Former Policy Director, International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN), Director of Corporate Governance at F&C Investments, and Managing Director at Standard & Poor's (now S&P Global)

• Claudine Fry – Geostrategic Advisory Partner, Control Risks. Claudine leads the firm's global issues team and advises clients on geopolitical developments, terrorism and regulatory risk. She has been recognised as a leading expert in Political Risk in the Chambers and Partners Crisis & Risk Management 2025 guide

Host: Keith Morrow – Non-Executive Director, board advisor and consultant specialising in strategy design and implementation, operational effectiveness and corporate governance. Founder of Kamolyn Ltd and founding advisor to the Global Advisory Alliance

Key takeaways

The discussion highlighted six practical actions boards and governance professionals can take to strengthen organisational resilience in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment.

1. Treat geopolitical risk as a board responsibility

“Geopolitical risk is driving every kind of risk you can imagine.”  -Claudine Fry

Geopolitical developments increasingly shape strategy, supply chains, investment, regulation, technology and reputation. Boards need to move beyond treating geopolitics as a specialist risk issue and integrate it into strategic decision-making.

2. Make scenario planning part of board practice

“My main plug would be for scenario planning.”  -Richard Howitt

Boards should regularly test strategic decisions against plausible geopolitical scenarios rather than simply react to events. Scenario planning can expose vulnerabilities, strengthen preparedness and support better decisions in uncertain conditions.

3. Build geopolitical capability across the board

Directors cannot oversee risks they do not understand. Boards should invest in ongoing education, draw on external expertise where needed and regularly assess whether they have the knowledge and skills to oversee geopolitical developments.

4. Give geopolitical risk clear ownership

Many organisations still lack clear executive ownership of geopolitical risk. Assigning responsibility, backed by appropriate resources and board oversight, helps ensure emerging risks and opportunities reach decision-makers before they become business issues.

5. Look beyond Europe and North America

“The traditional way in which many emerging markets looked to the West... is changing.”  -George Dallas

Boards should avoid viewing geopolitical developments solely through a Western lens. Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America are increasingly important sources of growth, investment and innovation, while presenting distinct political, regulatory and supply-chain dynamics. Understanding these perspectives can strengthen strategic decision-making.

6. Turn geopolitical insight into competitive advantage

“Managing geopolitical risk means... identifying opportunity.” -Claudine Fry

Geopolitical intelligence should do more than protect the organisation from risk. It can inform capital allocation, strengthen supply chains, identify new markets and help organisations anticipate change. The goal is not simply resilience, but better strategic decisions and the ability to act on emerging opportunities.
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