AI Governance Is Now a Business Priority, Not a Future Issue

APRA Member Therese McCarthy Hockey's remarks to the 2026 AFIA Risk Summit are a timely reminder that AI governance is no longer a “future issue” for financial institutions.

AI is already being used in decision-making, customer-facing processes, fraud detection, claims handling, software development and cyber defence. But as adoption accelerates, so do the risks.

APRA’s message is clear, organisations need to understand how AI is being used, where it sits in critical operations, what data it touches, which third parties are involved, and what happens if access to a key AI provider is disrupted.

This is particularly important for financial institutions, but the same message applies to businesses more broadly. AI can create real efficiencies, but only where it is supported by clear governance, risk controls, accountability, oversight and contingency planning.

At Hash Elevens, we help businesses take a practical and commercially sensible approach to AI adoption. This includes AI readiness reviews, governance frameworks, policy support, risk mapping and practical controls to help organisations adopt AI with greater confidence.

Read the full APRA speech here.

Need help strengthening your AI governance? Get in touch with Hash Elevens.