About this event
Cybersecurity is no longer solely a technical or operational concern. As geopolitical instability, state-sponsored attacks, AI-enabled threats and growing dependence on interconnected digital infrastructure reshape the global operating environment, cyber resilience has become a critical board-level responsibility.
Boards must be prepared to oversee increasingly complex cyber risks while ensuring that their organisations can withstand disruption, maintain critical operations and recover effectively when incidents occur.
This webinar will examine the board’s role in strengthening cyber resilience, preparing for crisis and safeguarding organisational continuity. It will explore the governance implications of digital sovereignty, cross-border data, critical-infrastructure protection and the increasing convergence of cybersecurity and national security.
The discussion will also consider how regional conflict, sanctions, supply-chain vulnerabilities, hybrid threats and fragmentation within the global digital ecosystem are changing the risks faced by organisations operating across sectors and borders.
From cybersecurity to organisational resilience
Cyber resilience extends beyond preventing an attack. It encompasses an organisation’s ability to anticipate, withstand, respond to and recover from cyber incidents while continuing to deliver its most important services.
For boards, this requires cyber risk to be integrated into governance, enterprise risk management, crisis preparedness and business-continuity planning. It also requires directors to understand the organisation’s dependence on external technology providers, digital infrastructure and interconnected supply chains.
Digital sovereignty introduces a further set of governance questions. Organisations must consider where their data is stored, who controls the infrastructure on which they depend, which legal jurisdictions apply and how geopolitical tensions could affect access to essential systems and services.
Join us to explore
- The board’s role in overseeing cyber risk and organisational resilience.
- How geopolitical conflict and hybrid threats are changing the cybersecurity landscape.
- Preparing for AI-enabled and state-sponsored cyber threats.
- Crisis preparedness, operational resilience and business continuity.
- Digital sovereignty and the governance of cross-border data.
- Supply-chain and third-party technology vulnerabilities.
- Governance safeguards for critical infrastructure.
- Cybersecurity risks affecting energy, finance, logistics, aviation and government.
- The growing relationship between corporate cyber resilience and national security.
- The implications of sanctions, geopolitical instability and global digital fragmentation.
Key questions
- How should boards prepare for cyber incidents connected to geopolitical conflict?
- Is the global digital ecosystem fragmenting into competing blocs?
- What governance safeguards are required for critical infrastructure?
- How should boards oversee digital sovereignty and cross-border data?
- How can organisations strengthen resilience across interconnected supply chains and third-party systems?
- What happens when international institutions cannot contain geopolitical escalation?
- At what point does cyber resilience become a matter of national security?
Our Speakers
Helen van Orton
Founder and Managing Director — Directorly
Helen van Orton is an experienced board director specialising in governance and artificial intelligence. She helps boards and executives build practical AI capability and strengthen decision-making. Her background spans digital transformation, customer experience and operations, with leadership experience at organisations including Air New Zealand, Vodafone, Westpac and American Express.
Radwane Saad
Managing Director and Cyber Strategy Lead, Middle East and Africa — Accenture
Radwane Saad brings over 16 years’ experience in cybersecurity consulting. His expertise spans cybersecurity strategy, governance, risk and compliance, third-party risk and enterprise security architecture. He holds a PhD in Cybersecurity from Télécom ParisTech and advises executives and boards on strengthening organisational resilience.
Joy Waked
Senior Manager, Cybersecurity Strategy, Middle East — Accenture
Joy Waked brings over 11 years’ consulting and technology experience across the Middle East. Expertise includes cybersecurity strategy, data privacy, regulatory compliance, AI security and governance. Joy helps organisations translate complex risks into practical strategies and transformation programmes, drawing on experience at Accenture, Deloitte and KPMG.
