Director Podcast  AI governance in the boardroom

In this Director episode, Ben Walker is joined by Dr Erin Young (IoD Head of Innovation and Technology Policy), Pauline Norstrom (member of the IoD Science, Innovation and Technology Expert Advisory Group, founder and CEO of Anekanta®, and creator of the Anekanta® 12 Principles of AI Governance), and Mario Thomas (Chartered Director, Fellow of the IoD, and enterprise transformation leader) to discuss the evolving role of boards in governing AI responsibly.

Together, they address key questions: What does good board-level AI governance actually look like? How can non-technical directors challenge complex systems with confidence? And which principles are most urgent for boards to act on now?

Full guest bios: 

Dr Erin Young

Dr. Erin Young leads the IoD’s policy, strategy and thought leadership work on technology, science and innovation.

Before joining the IoD, Erin was Project Co-Lead and Research Fellow in Public Policy at The Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s National Institute for Data Science and AI, where her work influenced the UK’s National AI Strategy and AI Opportunities Action Plan. Previously, Erin held positions at the United Nations (UN IIEP-UNESCO) in Paris, Kantar/WPP in London, MediaX at Stanford University, and Thomson Reuters in New York City, across policy, strategic communications, research, stakeholder engagement and government affairs.

Erin sits on the Strategy Steering Board for the City of London Corporation’s Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce and advises the Hg Foundation on AI, skills and inequalities. She is frequently featured in high-profile media and presents across business and government including the European Parliament, GCHQ, KKR and the UK Science and Innovation Network (FCDO/DSIT) at British Embassies and Consulates globally.

Erin holds a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge, an MSc (Distinction) in Education (Learning and Technology) from the University of Oxford, a PGC in International Business Practice, Finance and Organisational Behaviour from St Mary’s University, and a Ph.D. (D.Phil) in Science and Technology Studies (STS) from the University of Oxford.

Pauline Norstrom

Pauline Norstrom, LLB (Hons), FRSA, FIoD, FBCS, is the Founder and CEO of Anekanta®, a specialist AI strategy, governance, and risk intelligence company. Under her leadership, Anekanta® has developed proprietary AI risk and governance frameworks recognised by the UK Government and the OECD. She also authored the Anekanta® 12 Principles of AI Governance, adopted by the Institute of Directors (IoD), and created CPD-certified training designed to embed these principles at board level. Anekanta® is also a member of the AI Pact, pioneering EU AI Act compliance and AI Literacy best practice. Working with a global client base, Pauline leads a team of expert associates to deliver tailored solutions for Responsible AI adoption in high-stakes sectors.

A recognised pioneer in AI strategy and governance, Pauline has shaped best practice for more than 20 years in analytics, digital evidence, and biometric technologies. She guided the development of the new British Standard BS 9347, aligning it with international AI governance principles, and contributes to the ART/1 national committee for AI standards, aligned with the EU AI Act. She also played a key role in launching ISO/IEC 42001 with the British Standards Institute, the first international AI management system standard.

Pauline holds a first-class honours degree in Law, which included a specialist project on the EU AI Act and AI liability, in addition to a CPD certified qualification in artificial intelligence from the University of Oxford Said Business School. She has served as a statutory director on multiple global boards of technology companies, driving innovation, restructure, and growth, supported by leadership and strategy credentials from the IoD. Alongside her role as a non-executive director of a national association, she advises a range of organisations in the EU and USA on innovation, strategy, and technology.

Mario Thomas

Mario Thomas is a Chartered Director (2006) and Fellow (2015) of the Institute of Directors with three decades of experience guiding enterprise transformation. An influential thought leader on AI governance and digital transformation, he works at the intersection of technology and business, publishing extensively about the practical challenges boards face when navigating technological change. His insights were recently referenced in the IoD’s AI Governance in the Boardroom guidance.

Mario’s journey from software engineer to CEO and board director has equipped him with unique perspectives on enterprise-wide change. Having led complex transformations across sectors including finance, retail, media, and technology, he brings practical boardroom experience to discussions about AI adoption and governance. His frameworks for business transformation, including the AI Stages of Adoption, Five Pillars of AI capability, and the Well-Advised strategic priorities, provide boards with structured approaches to scaling innovation whilst managing risk.

With a decade at Amazon Web Services in multiple roles across functions, Mario currently leads internal transformation through AI whilst maintaining his independent thought leadership. He guest lectures at the London School of Economics on their Data Science and AI for Executives programme, sharing insights on implementing AI-driven transformation. He has held multiple executive and non-executive board positions, including founding and leading a technology company through successful digital transformation.

Mario holds a BSc in Software Engineering and is a Data Science alumnus of the London School of Economics. Through his writing and speaking engagements, he shares practical insights on how boards can successfully lead their organisations through AI-driven transformation.