Top of page

Student/Staff Portal
Global Site Navigation

School of Business and Law

Local Section Navigation
You are here: Main Content

Boardroom Blindspot: ECU Event Confronts the Cyber Risks Companies Can’t Ignore

Thursday, 31 July 2025

Tags:
  • Panellists included ethical hacker and Red Piranha CEO Adam Bennett; KBI Director Nick George; seasoned governance expert John McMath; and Jonathan McCoy, Managing Director of Casobe & Co and a respected cyber advisor.

    Panellists included ethical hacker and Red Piranha CEO Adam Bennett; KBI Director Nick George; seasoned governance expert John McMath; and Jonathan McCoy, Managing Director of Casobe & Co and a respected cyber advisor.

Related Contents

As cyber threats grow in sophistication and scale, ignoring cyber risk is no longer an option. That was the clear message from the ECU School of Business and Law (SBL) event: Boardroom Blindspot: Cyber Risk vs Corporate Reality.

The thought-provoking industry roundtable was hosted on 23 July by SBL’s Centre for Sustainability and Governance Research (CSGR).

Despite the stormy weather, attendees gathered at The Lounge at The Globe for a confronting but necessary discussion on the role of boards in governing cybersecurity.

The event brought together leaders from the security, insurance, legal and governance sectors for a deep dive into the risks boards often underestimate and what can be done about them.

More Than an IT Problem

Panellists included ethical hacker and Red Piranha CEO Adam Bennett; KBI Director Nick George; seasoned governance expert John McMath; and Jonathan McCoy, Managing Director of Casobe & Co and a respected cyber advisor.

The discussion was moderated by ECU’s Dr Pieter-Jan Bezemer, Deputy Director of CSGR and a leading researcher in boardroom dynamics.

The panel made one thing abundantly clear: cybersecurity is no longer just an IT problem. It’s permeating every sector and organisation. And boards can no longer afford to treat it as a blindspot.

“As our experts have said tonight, we don’t need every board director to become a cyber expert,” said Bezemer, “but we do need them to be able to talk about the uncomfortable stuff. Cyber risk isn’t optional anymore, it’s necessary governance.”

Panellists explored the evolving landscape of cyber threats: from state-sponsored attacks to supply chain vulnerabilities, and where traditional governance responses have fallen short.

Not All Doom and Data Breaches

While the topic may have felt daunting, the consensus was hopeful: small actions still count.

“The panel all agreed that it’s not about having the fanciest tech,” said Bezemer. “It’s about getting the basics of governance right. Ask questions. Know your systems. Build a culture that values cyber hygiene.”

The biggest takeaway was a simple but important message: in a world of ransomware and reputation risks, doing something is better than doing nothing at all.

The Future for Governance

The Centre for Sustainability and Governance Research continues to lead the conversation on real-world governance challenges, offering platforms for academics, practitioners, and industry leaders to connect.

As Bezemer summed it up: “The biggest takeaway tonight is that good governance isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about having the courage to lead when it matters most.”

Share

Skip to top of page