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The Diligent Elevate Awards shine a spotlight on the trailblazers transforming governance, risk, compliance and audit — and showing what’s possible with AI-powered innovation.
From a global base of more than 25,000 customers, Diligent identified an honorary list of 100+ organizations with exemplary leadership driving their organizations forward. From this group, 50 finalists were selected for their leadership across legal, risk, audit, compliance, boards, and public and nonprofit sectors. Ultimately, we’re pleased to announce and celebrate, live at Elevate, nine inspirational clients who accelerate decisions with AI, turn complex risk into opportunities, and unlock meaningful, lasting impact for their organizations.
Whether they’re charting a new course for their organizations or setting best practices for their industries, these leaders are raising the bar — and inspiring us all.
The Boardroom AI Innovator award recognizes leaders who are bringing AI into the boardroom in a strategic, responsible way to improve oversight, streamline board operations and enable better decisions.
Assistant Corporate Secretary and Executive Administrator, Algoma Steel Inc.
Anita is using Diligent Boards and GovernAI to turn board books, minutes and quarterly confirmations into standardized, AI‑driven workflows. In a highly regulated industrial environment, her work has improved speed, consistency and director experience — while shaping the future of responsible AI adoption through close partnership with Diligent’s product teams.
“I’m honoured to be recognized as a Boardroom AI Innovator. AI is reshaping how boards see risk, opportunity, and accountability, and our goal is to use it to build a smarter, more transparent governance model that is ready for the future.”
Head of Digital Solutions, Novartis AG
As a flagship early adopter of Diligent’s GovernAI platform, Matthias led the first global AI trial at Novartis, embedding AI‑driven solutions into board and executive workflows to strengthen oversight and accelerate decision‑making responsibly.
“I am very honored to receive this award. I have so much enjoyed all the discussions with Diligent’s AI team. For me, AI in this context is not about technology for its own sake, but about enabling better decisions—more insight, more clarity, and ultimately stronger governance. Looking ahead, I am convinced that we are only at the beginning of what is possible, and I am excited to continue shaping how AI can responsibly support boards.”
Chief of Staff, Barclays Corporate Secretariat, Barclays
Sarah has demonstrated how a global financial institution can safely and effectively adopt AI to make governance workloads more sustainable. Through structured AI trials and close co‑design with Diligent, she has helped validate AI‑enabled governance at scale in one of the world’s most regulated environments.
“It is absolute honour to win the Diligent Elevate Boardroom AI Innovator Award. I feel incredibly privileged to be in a position to drive meaningful change through AI and partner with so many equally passionate colleagues and industry peers.”
Finalists:
The Community Trust Builder award recognizes public‑sector leaders strengthening transparency and trust.
Director of Board Operations / Interim Secretary of the Board of Regents, University of Colorado
Amber supports one of the most visible governing bodies in higher education, using Diligent Community and Livestream Manager to expand public access to meetings and reinforce confidence in board processes.
“Building trust in public institutions starts with transparency, consistency, and a deep commitment to serving others. I’m honored to do this work alongside colleagues who care deeply about strengthening our communities.”
Finalists:
This award celebrates leaders using AI‑driven insight to modernize risk, audit and assurance.
Senior Internal Auditor, Novelis Inc.
Dana has transformed disconnected operational data into AI‑powered analytics and executive dashboards that provide continuous, trusted insight for leadership and audit committees — redefining how assurance supports governance decisions.
“AI can significantly enhance how we plan and deliver assurance engagements. The pace of change is energizing and brings a clear opportunity to strengthen quality, expand coverage, and increase stakeholder value. By adopting AI-enabled analytics, we can move from periodic snapshots to more timely, continuous insight.”
Finalists:
The Governance Pioneer award honors leaders who go beyond traditional governance responsibilities to modernize processes and connect legal, risk and compliance.
Senior Director, Associate General Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary, TIAA
Jeanne has transformed governance at a highly regulated financial institution by centralizing entity data in Diligent, streamlining board and committee operations, and improving the flow of critical information. Her work demonstrates how Diligent can serve as the backbone of integrated, AI‑enabled governance.
“As the Governance Pioneer award recipient at this year's Diligent Elevate Awards, I am honored to be recognized as a corporate governance leader — driving meaningful progress in best practices for scalable legal entity management technology via the Diligent Entities platform.”
Finalists:
The GRC Conductor award recognizes General Counsel and legal leaders who orchestrate enterprise governance, risk and compliance with clarity and discipline in an AI era.
Global Vice President, AI, Security, Resiliency & IT Legal, Dell Technologies
Lavonne operates at the intersection of legal, security, resiliency and AI — using Diligent to connect workflows, align risk posture and maintain accountability across a Fortune‑scale organization.
“Modern GRC doesn’t slow AI and technology adoption—it makes scalable innovation possible. Effective governance is the accelerator for responsible AI, aligning risk, compliance, security, privacy, and resiliency with business objectives to enable innovation at speed. In an AI‑driven world, strong governance empowers legal and GRC leaders to move beyond subject‑matter expertise and embed trust into foundational business processes, allowing teams to innovate boldly, responsibly, and at scale.”
General Counsel, CBCL Limited
Melanie brings together cross‑functional teams, champions modern governance practices and consistently turns big, aspirational ideas into tangible outcomes for her organization. Melanie is the person who doesn’t just identify opportunities for improvement – she builds the momentum, alignment, and accountability needed to deliver real change.
“I’m honoured to be recognized as a Corporate Changemaker alongside other leaders who are modernizing governance through responsible AI use. This award showcases that meaningful change happens when innovation is paired with discipline, ensuring that AI is used as a tool to augment strong risk, audit, and compliance foundations. I’m proud to be part of an organization that supports an ongoing governance journey toward better leadership and stronger outcomes. It’s been a pleasure to work with the Diligent team throughout this process.”
Finalists:
The Mission Trailblazer award honors nonprofit and higher‑education leaders advancing mission impact through strong governance.
Assistant Secretary of the University, Rochester Institute of Technology
Denise has modernized board operations and records at RIT using BoardEffect, enabling more efficient, secure and mission‑aligned collaboration across trustees and stakeholders.
Being named a Mission Trailblazer is meaningful to me because it highlights the value RIT places on collaboration and thoughtful governance. I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute behind the scenes in support of our trustees and leadership, and to help advance long‑term impact and institutional stewardship.
Finalists:
If you joined us at Elevate or would like to see the topics and themes discussed, explore the Elevate 2026 highlights here.
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AI action plan worksheet for GRC leaders
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AI action plan worksheet for public sector GRC leaders
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AI action plan worksheet for public sector GRC leaders
Download this essential AI action plan worksheet for public sector GRC leaders, designed to help you navigate the complexities of AI implementation in governance, risk, and compliance. This practical 90-day template guides you in setting clear goals, assessing AI maturity, prioritizing use cases, and establishing necessary oversight to ensure transparency and accountability. Take the first step towards a controlled and evidence-ready approach to AI in your organization.
