Beyond the AI headlines: lessons for boards on value, risk and opportunity

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Join our next NED Series event in Birmingham to hear leading experts from AstraZeneca and Forvis Mazars tackle one of the most pressing boardroom questions today: How to seize the opportunities created by AI while effectively managing the risks?

Date	Time	Location
Tuesday 24 November	17:30 onwards	Forvis Mazars Birmingham office

Artificial intelligence still dominates today's headlines. Some see unprecedented opportunities for growth, productivity and innovation. Others warn of cyber threats, regulatory intervention, workforce disruption and risks that are still not fully understood.

For boards, the challenge is navigating between the hype and the reality.

As AI adoption accelerates, Non-Executive Directors are increasingly being asked to oversee decisions on governance, regulation, risk, investment and organisational readiness. So what questions should boards be asking today, and where should they focus their attention?

This session will explore:

Board-level AI governance, oversight and accountability
Emerging AI, cyber and regulatory risks
What boards should demand in terms of value creation, productivity, outcomes and ROI
The relationship between AI, economic growth and geopolitics, and the implications for boards
Practical lessons from organisations deploying AI at scale

Our speakers will share first-hand perspectives from industry, economics and AI advisory, followed by discussion and audience Q&A.

Speakers

Olawale Alimi
Senior Director, R&D Data & AI Policy (Data & AI Risk and Compliance), AstraZeneca

Olawale leads AI governance, risk and compliance within AstraZeneca’s R&D function, with responsibility for shaping and embedding ethical and responsible AI frameworks at scale. Drawing on AstraZeneca’s experience, he will share lessons on operationalising AI governance, managing regulatory and ethical risk, and supporting innovation.

George Lagarias
Chief Economist, Forvis Mazars

Sofia Ihsan
AI Consulting Leader, Forvis Mazars

As with all NED Series events, this will be a peer-to-peer discussion focused on practical insights, real-world experiences and the issues boards need to be considering now and in the future.

The evening will include:

Drinks and refreshments
Networking with fellow NEDs and business leaders

Why attend?

The NED Series by Forvis Mazars is a growing community, exploring the issues that matter most to today’s boards. From AI and climate risk to cybersecurity and stakeholder expectations, each session is shaped by NEDs themselves, addressing real boardroom challenges.