IIM Global Network Pushes Ethical AI, Data Governance Agenda

Bennett Oghifo

The Institute of Information Management Global Network has concluded its 2026 Australia Annual Conference, Induction and Investiture Ceremony in Brisbane, Queensland, with stakeholders calling for stronger ethical frameworks, institutional accountability and data resilience to sustain public trust in the rapidly evolving digital economy.

The one-day conference, focused on the theme, “AI-Driven Transformation: Strengthening Public Trust, Ethics, and Data Resilience in a Digital Australia.” It attracted global thought leaders, technology policymakers, academics, enterprise executives, senior data governance professionals and industry stakeholders who examined the opportunities and risks associated with the growing adoption of artificial intelligence.

Delivering the keynote address, Oyedokun Ayodeji Oyewole, International President/Chairman of IIM Africa, stressed the need for transparency, accountability and ethical responsibility in the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies.

Drawing from his experience in technology, policy and institutional leadership, Oyewole said the future of digital transformation would depend largely on the level of trust underpinning AI systems and the quality of governance structures guiding their use.

According to him, “Artificial Intelligence is only as powerful as the trust that underpins it. As we accelerate digital transformation globally, we must ensure that our systems are transparent, accountable and ethically grounded. Data resilience and governance are no longer optional; they are strategic imperatives for sustainable development.”

He further highlighted the growing intersection between AI innovation, regulatory compliance and institutional trust, urging leaders across both public and private sectors to move beyond symbolic commitments to ethics and embrace deeply embedded ethical cultures within their organisations.

Oyewole warned that in an era marked by unprecedented data expansion, weak governance frameworks could undermine the promise of digital transformation, while strong accountability systems would help ensure equitable, sustainable and trustworthy outcomes for citizens and institutions.

Also speaking at the conference, Ayodhya Wathuge, an Information Systems scholar and educator at Southern Cross University on Australia’s Gold Coast, examined the widening gap between AI ethics principles and their practical implementation across institutions and industries.

Presenting a paper titled “From Principles to Practice: Building Trustworthy AI through Governance, Risk and Ethical Accountability,” Wathuge argued that although the proliferation of AI ethics frameworks represented positive progress, many organisations were yet to translate those principles into measurable governance practices.

She noted that concepts such as fairness, transparency, explainability and accountability remained largely aspirational in many institutions rather than being integrated into AI development and deployment processes.

According to her, achieving meaningful AI governance would require organisations to move beyond viewing compliance as a mere procedural obligation and instead adopt governance as a continuous and institution-wide discipline.

“Trustworthy AI is not an outcome you declare; it is a discipline you embed. Governance without accountability is policy without consequence, and risk management without ethics is control without conscience,” she said.

Wathuge further stated that organisations genuinely committed to trustworthy AI must integrate ethical standards into their operational culture, leadership structures and decision-making processes.

Drawing from her expertise in information systems and technology governance, she presented a practical framework aimed at strengthening accountability and operational trustworthiness in AI systems.

She also underscored the strategic role of information management professionals in ensuring that AI technologies remain aligned with organisational values, regulatory obligations and evolving societal expectations.

According to her, professionals in information management and governance are uniquely positioned to serve as custodians of trust in an increasingly automated digital environment. She therefore urged practitioners to incorporate ethical considerations into risk management systems, governance frameworks and technology procurement decisions.

The conference also featured a panel session moderated by Scott Spence, a senior portfolio governance and PMO leader with expertise in strategic programme delivery across Queensland.