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Governance Outlook 2026: Charting the Future of Board Leadership in Asia-Pacific

Boards across the Asia-Pacific region are steering through unprecedented change.

The new Governance Outlook Report 2026 from Diligent Institute, in partnership with the Governance Institute of Australia (GIA) and the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID), reveals how directors are rethinking their priorities, as technological disruption pushes up against rising stakeholder expectations.

Based on a survey of over 200 senior leaders from listed companies, government agencies and not-for-profit organisations across the region, the report sheds light on the evolving DNA of good governance – from digital readiness and cyber resilience to ethical artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and boardroom capability building.

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Research shows technology, AI and cybersecurity now dominate board agendas.

Governance in Transition

The report also highlights a widening gap between innovation and oversight. While over half of organisations have incorporated AI in some form, fewer than 40% have established dedicated oversight committees or conducted AI audits.

The findings underline a key challenge for directors: how to accelerate transformation without losing sight of trust, transparency and ethics.

47%

rank cyber and data-privacy risks as their top strategic concern

45%

are actively deploying AI technologies across their business

65%

name digital transformation as the single most pressing board discussion topic for 2026

Boards are coming to terms with the pace of change.

The Boardroom Skill Shift

Together, these shifts signal a boardroom moving from reactive oversight to proactive, long-term stewardship.

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Digital technology expertise

Seventy percent of respondents identified digital technology expertise as their most urgent upskilling need.

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Legal, regulatory & compliance knowledge

Legal, regulatory and compliance knowledge ranked second (47%), reflecting the quickening pace of policy change in sectors such as banking, insurance and energy.

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Strategic dialogue, greater diversity

Beyond technical competence, directors are calling for more time for strategic dialogue, greater diversity and increased exposure to external experts.

Why Download the Report

Governance Outlook 2026 provides a grounded view of how boards across Asia-Pacific are adapting to this fast-moving landscape. Inside, you’ll find:

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APAC Perspective

Comparative insights between Australian and Asian boardrooms on digital transformation, growth priorities and regulatory pressure

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AI in Governance

Exclusive data on how directors are governing AI, from GenAI to Agentic AI

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Future of Boards

Benchmarks on board composition, skills gaps and governance effectiveness

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Board Agenda

Practical implications for board chairs, company secretaries and senior executives preparing for the future of governance

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Whether you’re a director, C-suite leader or governance professional, these insights will help you anticipate tomorrow’s challenges and position yourself for what’s next.

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Download the Governance Outlook Report 2026 to understand where governance is heading in the near future, and what your board must do to lead the way.