In an era of intensifying regulatory scrutiny, shifting geopolitical priorities, and rapid technological advancements, the GRC Today Forum 2025 delivered critical insights for investigations and compliance professionals navigating this evolving landscape. Hosted by The Wealth Today and ADGM in Abu Dhabi, the forum gathered leading industry experts to explore how institutions can enhance governance and develop proactive risk management strategies amidst an increasingly stringent financial environment. 

As a proud sponsor of this year’s GRC Forum, Secretariat was honored to help shape this dialogue, sharing data-driven insights on jurisdictional vulnerabilities and strategic approaches to building resilient compliance frameworks.  

Our experts’ contributions and panel discussions—particularly our presentation on the Global Financial and Economic Crime Outlook 2025 and the Secretariat Economic Crime Index (SECI)—were met with positive feedback and reinforced our role as a leading authority helping organizations navigate the interconnected challenges of global compliance and financial crime prevention.   

Key Themes and Takeaways 

1. Bridging the C-Suite and Compliance: A Strategic Imperative 

The evolving relationship between compliance and C-suite professionals was a key discussion topic throughout the forum. In the panel “(Re)defining the Compliance and C-Suite Relationship,” moderated by Bhavin Shah, experts emphasized that compliance can no longer be a reactive obligation— it’s a strategic function that enables trust and informs critical decisions. When business leaders prioritize compliance strategies, they ensure regulatory alignment while driving long-term resilience. 

2. Regulatory Frameworks Are Evolving—So Must Institutions 

Regulatory frameworks are evolving to meet the demands of a more complex and interconnected financial landscape. Touching on international standards, financial crime, and operational resilience, the closing panel, “Regulatory Priorities and Enhancements to Regulatory Frameworks,” moderated by Ralph Stobwasser, emphasized that regulatory change is about smarter, more adaptive oversight. Institutions must embed foresight into their compliance strategies to stay aligned with shifting expectations and global enforcement priorities. 

3. AI Integration in Risk and Compliance 

AI was a recurring theme across multiple sessions, with real-world use cases demonstrating how organizations are integrating AI solutions into their business functions. From revolutionary RegTech technology to fraud detection and regulatory reporting, AI is reshaping compliance operations—but panelists emphasized the need for thoughtful integration, governed by transparency and ethics. As financial crime techniques evolve, institutions must leverage AI not only as a tool for detection but also as a strategic component of their broader risk management frameworks. 

4. Developing Frameworks for Emerging FinTech, Crypto, and DeFi Technologies 

The rise of digital finance presents opportunities and regulatory challenges. As FinTech and crypto ecosystems mature, institutions must build flexible, tech-enabled compliance frameworks that adapt to evolving licensing regimes, cross-border requirements, and digital asset scrutiny. 

5. Modernizing AML Toward Integrated Financial Crime Prevention 

Anti-money laundering (AML) efforts must evolve from siloed programs to integrated, enterprise-wide strategies. The forum highlighted the need for real-time data sharing, cross-functional collaboration, and unified risk views to combat increasingly sophisticated financial crime threats. 

6. Data-Driven Risk Management 

Tools like SECI and AI-powered analytics enable organizations to identify, respond to, and mitigate risk in real time. Organizations that understand and invest in these tools are better equipped to anticipate risk and demonstrate regulatory readiness in a rapidly evolving environment. 

These themes built directly on the momentum of the Global Investigations and Disputes Forum (GIDF), which Secretariat proudly cohosted with The Wealth Today last month in Dubai. While the GIDF explored the investigative and enforcement side of global risk—focusing on cross-border investigations, AI and blockchain in dispute resolution, and corporate integrity—the GRC Forum extended that conversation into the operational heart of compliance. Together, the two events offered a comprehensive view of the risk lifecycle, from identification and investigation to prevention, governance, and long-term resilience.  

At Secretariat, we’re proud to contribute to this global dialogue and help our clients navigate today’s complex regulatory landscape with confidence and clarity. 

Secretariat Experts and Colleagues at the GRC Today Forum: