Riyadh summit to highlight next-gen governance and strategic innovation

Experts speak during a session at last year’s GPRC Summit in Riyadh. (File photo)
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Updated 24 January 2026
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Riyadh summit to highlight next-gen governance and strategic innovation

RIYADH: The fourth annual Governance, Performance, Risk, and Compliance Summit, themed “Integration for Strategic Performance,” will begin on Monday in Riyadh, aiming to transform regulatory systems from oversight tools into drivers of innovation and growth.

Inge Vasshus, chair of the organizing committee, said: “The summit seeks to foster a corporate culture where risk management and compliance are seamlessly embedded into strategic operations.”

Day 1 will open with a keynote titled “Risk Is Our Business,” focusing on shifting from documentation-based approaches to strategic risk integration.

The agenda includes panel discussions with representatives from the Center for Governance, the Royal Commission for AlUla, and the GCC Board Directors Institute, examining the integration of governance, risk, and compliance into Saudi companies’ strategies.

Speakers will also present case studies from Saudi institutions and PIF-backed companies, highlighting the impact of governance practices, the role of artificial intelligence in sustainability, and the link between sustainability and competitive governance.

Day 2 focuses on practical applications, starting with a session on managing supplier and third-party risks in complex organizations. This will be followed by a discussion on future governance frameworks and their alignment with international standards and Saudi Vision 2030.

The program will include a session on its impact on the risk management function, as well as a dedicated session on establishing AI governance frameworks.

It will further explore the evolution of the Gulf’s compliance function from a regulatory obligation into a driver of operational efficiency.

In addition, workshops will address applying “zero-trust” principles to AI agent security, the shift from reactive to proactive risk management, and the impact of individual dominance on board effectiveness.


Jeddah students get closer look at electric motorsport

Updated 24 January 2026
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Jeddah students get closer look at electric motorsport

  • A PIF-linked initiative highlights technical and engineering careers behind electric racing events

JEDDAH: Students from local and international schools in Jeddah were introduced to STEM-related career pathways in electric motorsport this week, as part of an education program linked to the UIM E1 World Championship held on the Red Sea.

The sessions formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners, to familiarize students aged eight to 18 with science, technology, engineering and mathematics through electric racing and sustainability-focused industries.

The sessions for students formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners. (Supplied)

The programme took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access designed to show how engineering, data, broadcast technology and event operations function within professional motorsport.

According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• The program took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access.

• Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.

• According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year. 

John Williams, managing director at E1, told Arab News: “The PIF is absolutely vital to everything we do here at the E1. They were crucial initial investment partner since the start of the championship and they continue to support us in a number of ways and more specifically around the Driving Force program.”

The sessions for students formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners. (Supplied)

Elaborating more on the program, he said: “What we are doing is presenting and showing these students the available careers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as careers in sports, not only pilots but also engineers and mechanics.”

Williams added that the main key to the program was bringing a new generation to the mechanism of sport.

“We are introducing to these exciting new technologies around the race but it could be our technology on the boat or our broadcast products, as well as how to manage the event its self. There are a range of opportunities to show it to the children in addition to enjoying the excitement of the race and meeting the pilots.”

The program’s Jeddah activities began at King Abdulaziz University’s faculty of maritime studies, where students took part in a hands-on workshop focused on STEM careers in the motorsport and sustainability areas conducted by technology experts and famous water pilots such as Dani Clos, Emma Kimilainen and Patricia Pita.

Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.

They also enjoyed exclusive behind-the-scenes access at the E1 Jeddah GP, pilot meet-and-greets, and front-row seats to watch the RaceBird boats in action.