November 7, 2024
The recent GRC Summit, proudly hosted by Secretariat in collaboration with The Wealth Today, brought together more than 300 industry leaders, government officials, and financial experts to discuss crucial topics including governance, risk, cybersecurity, AML, ethical leadership, crisis management, and emerging technologies.
We are excited to spotlight takeaways from some of our esteemed participants who attended the GRC Summit. In doing so, we aim to provide insights and diverse perspectives that emerged from our discussions. These highlights underscore the collaborative spirit and innovative thinking that defined the event.
“The Summit was a great forum to hear insights from senior, influential leaders on important, topical issues and discuss the latest developments in the financial industry. It provided a fantastic opportunity to network, build connections, and facilitate deeper relationships with colleagues throughout the UAE and Asia.
“The event’s panels allowed for a range of perspectives to be shared, ensuring the audience could fully understand how different actors in the market (regulators, corporates, consultants, etc.) approach the same issues.”
— Greg Hallahan, Managing Director
“I had the privilege of moderating a panel discussion on whistleblower programs alongside a distinguished panel of experts. It was an honor to share insights and underscore the importance of cultivating environments that encourage internal reporting of misconduct and promoting a strong speak-up culture in today’s global landscape.
“The Summit allows leading experts to share insights on how to adapt to an ever-evolving legal landscape, helping corporations, regulators, and consultants feel better equipped to navigate today’s complex global environment.”
— Stephen Millington, Managing Director
“The diversity of perspectives offered at the Summit brought tremendous value to conversations about the most critical GRC challenges we’re facing today. We were fortunate to hear from industry leaders, and our discussions were enriched by contributions from top global firms.
“This event perfectly reflected Secretariat’s belief in the power of collective learning, allowing us to share knowledge and help shape the future of Governance, Risk, and Compliance.”
— Bhavin Shah, Managing Director
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the speakers and attendees who made this event a success. Together, we are driving innovation in our industry and building a more resilient, compliant world.
A New Perspective on Spatial Heterogeneity in African Development
Nicolas Suarez, an economist at Secretariat, together with Pascaline Dupas and Zhongyi Tang, present “A New Perspective on Spatial Heterogeneity in African Development”, which addresses the long standing debate on the effect of national institutions on development outcomes.
Assessing Material Adverse Event Clauses Amid Iran Conflict
In a recent Law360 article, Amran Nawaz and Ralph Stobwasser examine how MAE provisions are being tested amid ongoing regional disruption and the financial analysis needed to support or challenge them.
Ralph Stowasser and Tarek Bleik contributed a chapter to the GIR Europe, Middle East and Africa Investigations Review 2026, “The Convergence of Anti-corruption, Counter-fraud and Financial Integrity in the GCC: What it Means for Investigations”, examining how financial crime enforcement and investigative expectations are evolving across the region.