Meet the expert: John A. Wheeler to speak at #RISK Digital

Streaming live January 24 and 25, #RISK Digital gives global audiences the chance to improve understanding about how to mitigate risks, reduce compliance breaches and improve business performance.

John A. Wheeler is Senior Advisor, Risk and Technology for AuditBoard, and Founder and CEO at Wheelhouse Advisors. He will appear at #RISK Digital to discuss the rise of remote working, the impact of technology on the workplace and the role of workplace design in employee engagement and productivity.

We caught up with John for more on his career story, and for an introduction into the topics up for debate in his #RISK Digital session.

Could you outline your professional pathway so far? 

My unique career background has equipped me to be a trusted advisor in the risk management technology and cybersecurity arena. Prior to my current involvement and role at AuditBoard, my career spans three decades, with each decade representing a different focus. 

The first decade of my career focused on the Healthcare industry with roles in IT consulting at two global firms and executive financial management at a major US academic research and healthcare provider. 

In the second decade, I shifted my focus to the Financial Services industry. I had several senior executive roles in internal audit, compliance, and risk management for a very large US financial institution. Then, I became an independent consultant advising large companies looking to build enterprise risk management programs. 

The third decade of my career was focused on cross-industry market research as a lead analyst for a global research and advisory firm. My research coverage included governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) and integrated risk management (IRM) technology solutions. 

What trends or tech developments should organisations be aware of as they build risk management programmes? 

The major challenge facing companies today is their need for greater maturity in their risk management practices. Most have underinvested in risk management as a discipline and overinvested in simply complying with the latest set of regulations. 

This investment approach has led to the development of fragmented views of risk across organisations that adds little business value. To succeed, CEOs and their executive team demand an integrated view of risk that provides both a strategic and tactical understanding. They also need a better understanding and visibility of the emerging digital landscape with its rapidly expanding universe of risks.

How big an impact are remote / flexible working cultures having on businesses’ risk landscape?

Remote / flexible working cultures have accelerated the investment in digital transformation that represents an ever-larger threat to organisations. 

While there are many benefits to the new way of working, the rapid onset of new digital products, services, and processes has created a highly dynamic and opaque risk environment. 

Companies must have a solid understanding of how the digital realm factors into the resiliency of their business. The only way to manage these new risks is through an integrated risk management methodology and supporting technology.