Adaptability, strategic value, and General Counsel as Risk Architects in uncertain times: GC Forum GRC 2026

In a fast-moving age exemplified by AI, geopolitics, and disruption, the vital importance of adaptability, relationships, and people was emphasised by many speakers and participants who attended the second edition of the high-level GC Forum | Governance, Risk & Compliance, held in Johannesburg earlier this month. 

Held at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, the GC Forum GRC 2026 was hosted by Africa Legal in partnership with legal data and intelligence platform Afriwise, and gathered in-house leaders and teams, external counsel, governance and compliance professionals, tech leaders, and other experts from across Africa.

Described by attendees as a day of “insightful and topical discussions” and “sharing experiences, learning, and building stronger connections across Africa”, this year’s GC Forum GRC addressed “Legal Leadership in an Unpredictable World” through expert panels, interactive sessions, knowledge sharing, and practical solutions. 

Overall, it moved the conversation from understanding risk, to leading through it. 

“Probably one of the key risks is how quickly things are changing, and it doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, change is something we’re all grappling with,” said Masechaba Makgolane, Head of Legal at Thungela. “One of the key things for me from the sessions was this idea of asking the right questions. I think as General Counsel that’s our superpower, and how we can counter a lot of the uncertainty coming our way. If we’re asking the right questions, I think we’re in with a chance.”

One big question echoed throughout the GC Forum GRC 2026, as attendees shared their personal thoughts in answer to: ‘In one word, what will define legal leadership in 2027?’ The ‘One Word’ project grew into a fabulous illustration crafted in real time by talented South African artist Elsabé Ebersöhn, who was in attendance.

“What I particularly loved was how the illustration brought together the realities of business today, with the very human qualities that make someone a good leader,” said Wendy Bampton, co-founder and COO of Africa Legal. She had worked for months alongside CEO Scott Cowan and key sponsors to create a superb GC Forum GRC 2026 programme that gathered some of Africa’s most forward-thinking legal and business minds. 

Adaptability was the most common response written on the ‘One Word’ cards, followed by agility, with resilience, versatility, and optionality also featuring strongly.

“Despite all our conversations throughout the GC Forum GRC about technology, risk, regulation, and the changing role of General Counsel, so many of the responses came back to people,” noted Bampton. “Businesses need leaders who can embrace change, make difficult decisions, anticipate problems, and find solutions. But they also need people they can trust, who have the courage to speak up, and the judgement to know when something isn't right.”

For attendee Lebogang Mogotlhwane, Compliance Officer at Hollard Insurance Botswana, four themes emerged from this conversation:

• adaptability, agility and discernment: moving from interpreting the law to navigating uncertainty; 

• integrity, accountability, ethics and trust: the foundations of credible governance;

• humanity, compassion and empowerment: remembering the people behind the rules; and

• resilience, courage, innovation and collective responsibility: making governance a shared responsibility.

“I think the more we move into a technology space, the more clear it is that what differentiates businesses that are successful and will be around in the next 10 to 20 years are those that build relationships,” said Beulah Lüttig of Afriwise LawExplorer. 

People, and human leadership, remain vital in an increasingly technological age.

Deneys director Andre Vos, who moderated a panel on “The GC as Risk Architect: Designing Resilience in Uncertain Times”, shared offstage how important it was for external counsel to understand the evolving role of in-house teams and GCs, and to bring together a cross-section of leaders from around Africa at the GC Forum GRC. 

“The discussions have been fascinating, and I’m always struck by the sophistication amongst our colleagues in in-house roles,” said Vos. “As external practitioners we have a particular view of the world, but to understand the dynamics and challenges that in-house and General Counsel face is truly an eye-opener. I enjoyed that engagement and learning. Understanding their role enables us to do our jobs better.”