Photo: Professor Nada Kakabadse with colleagues at Hebei Finance University in China.

Professor Nada Kakabadse, a globally recognised authority on governance, leadership, and ethics at Henley Business School (UK), has embarked on a major international research initiative in partnership with colleagues at Hebei Finance University in China.

The two-year project, titled ‘Design of a Digital and Intelligent Security Governance System for Financial Institutions,’ is being funded by the Hubei Provincial Government, and is exploring the integration of artificial intelligence and digital technologies into financial security governance.

As part of the initial research phase, Professor Kakabadse has spent two weeks in China conducting in-depth interviews with senior executives from leading financial institutions and top-tier AI firms.

These on-the-ground engagements have provided critical insight into the emerging challenges and innovations driving digital transformation in financial governance.

With expertise spanning AI ethics, organisational trust, and regulatory frameworks, Professor Kakabadse brings a unique perspective to the project.

She notes that the convergence of AI and financial regulation is a rapidly growing area of concern for institutions globally. As digital threats evolve, there is an urgent need to design intelligent governance systems that ensure resilience, accountability, and ethical oversight.

“This collaboration represents a timely and vital contribution to the future of secure and trustworthy financial systems in the digital age,” adds Professor Kakabadse.