Episode 8: AI Governance and Compliance with John Rood

Host Lucinda Carney is joined by John Rood, Founder of Perceptual, for a timely discussion on AI governance and compliance and why it is fast becoming a critical part of organisational compliance culture. They explore emerging regulation such as the EU AI Act, the risks of bias and unfair outcomes in high impact areas like HR and finance, and why AI governance must be a shared responsibility across the business, not owned by one function alone. John also shares practical steps organisations can take now, from clear AI use policies and training to proportionate governance frameworks that balance innovation with ethical and regulatory expectations.Key TakeawaysAI governance must be owned across the organisation, not siloed in HR, IT, or compliance, as unmanaged use creates risks around bias, fairness, and accountability.Market and customer expectations are driving AI compliance now, even when regulation is still evolving or inconsistently enforced.AI that affects real people carries higher risk, particularly in areas like hiring, finance, and education, making ethical oversight and transparency essential.Clear AI use policies and baseline AI literacy are essential foundations, helping employees use AI safely and responsibly in everyday work.Strong AI governance is a long-term strategic investment, enabling organisations to balance innovation with trust, ethics and regulatory resilience.Valuable ResourcesWhy Actus Oversight? Stay ahead of FCA Consumer Duty with Actus Oversight. The smart solution for regulated firms. Our platform delivers real-time dashboards, key compliance tracking metrics, and automatic ownership, giving you complete visibility and control with ease. ✅ Simplify Consumer Duty compliance ✅ Ensure accountability with automated ownership ✅ Gain actionable analytics through real-time data 🔍 Learn more about Actus Oversight here: Discover Actus OversightFind the perfect solution tailored to for your organisation. Why not take a look at our purpose-built compliance tools specially designed for financial services and get the answers you've been searching for: Click here to BrowseAbout Actus SoftwareActus helps HR and business leaders drive performance and engagement through flexible HR software and expert resources.🌐 Discover Actus Software: https://actus.co.uk/Follow Lucinda Carney on LinkedIn for more compliance and leadership insights. About The Guest, John RoodJohn Rood is an entrepreneur and AI governance expert, and the Founder of Perceptual, where he supports organisations in implementing effective AI governance and compliance frameworks. He specialises in navigating emerging AI regulation, standards and ethical risk, helping legal, compliance and privacy teams respond to both regulatory requirements and growing customer expectations. With a background in scaling and leading high-growth businesses, including as Co-Founder and CEO of Next Step Test Preparation, a national education company, John is recognised for his practical, commercially grounded approach to responsible and compliant use of AI.John Rood offers a free 90-minute AI literacy certification for leaders, designed to help executives and board members understand the key risks,...