Your Must-See List for the 2026 Global Ethics Summit

Every Global Ethics Summit offers more content than any one person can attend. For Chief Ethics and Compliance Officers, the challenge is not whether the agenda is strong, but where to focus.

If you are planning your Summit schedule and asking, “What should I absolutely not miss?” this curated list highlights the sessions, themes, and conversations that consistently rise to the top for senior ethics and compliance leaders.

Think of this as your Summit short list.

Speak the Language of the Board With Data-Driven Stories

Why it is on the must-see list: Board engagement remains one of the most persistent pressure points for CECOs. This plenary directly addresses how leaders are using data to tell clearer, more compelling stories about program impact, without overwhelming or oversimplifying.

Featuring senior compliance leaders from organizations such as Amgen, JLL, AT&T, and Circana, this session sets the tone for the Summit by grounding ethics and compliance in business-relevant narrative and evidence .

• Best for: CECOs preparing for board, audit committee, or executive updates.

From Fear to Trust: Combatting the Realities & Perceptions of Retaliation

Why it is on the must-see list: Fear of retaliation continues to undermine speak-up programs, even in mature organizations. This plenary moves beyond acknowledging the problem to examining how leaders are addressing it in practice.

With perspectives from Ecolab, EXL Service, and USAA, the session explores the role of managers, leadership signals, and structural protections in rebuilding employee trust .

• Best for: CECOs focused on culture, reporting, and employee trust.

AI Innovations in Ethics & Compliance: Superstar Agent or Don’t Believe the Hype?

Why it is on the must-see list: AI is no longer optional, and neither is governing it. And as we wrote previously, what you need is solid AI insight, not hype.  

This main-stage discussion brings together leaders from Amazon, Meta, and Prudential Financial to share how AI is actually being used in ethics and compliance programs, where it is delivering value, and where it introduces new risk .

• Best for: CECOs navigating AI adoption, governance, or board questions on technology risk.

Could AI Be Your New Investigations Partner?

Why it is on the must-see list: For many attendees, this breakout is where AI becomes tangible.

The session focuses on real use cases, from triage to root cause analysis, and addresses how organizations are managing concerns around bias, explainability, and privacy when AI enters the investigations process .

• Best for: CECOs and investigations leaders looking for practical, defensible applications of AI.

Weathering the Storm: Ethical Leadership in Moments of Crisis

Why it is on the must-see list: Ethics and compliance leaders are increasingly asked to support executive teams during moments of instability, geopolitical disruption, regulatory change, leadership turnover, or public scrutiny.

This plenary draws on experiences from leaders at Intel, Ahold Delhaize, and Morrison Foerster to explore how integrity leadership shows up when decisions are hardest and visibility is highest .

• Best for: CECOs operating in volatile or highly scrutinized environments.

Always On, Always Aware: The New Standard for Third-Party Risk Management

Why it is on the must-see list: Third-party risk no longer begins and ends with onboarding.

This breakout examines how leading organizations are moving toward continuous, lifecycle-based third-party risk management, using automation, triggers, and cross-functional collaboration to identify emerging issues earlier.

• Best for: CECOs responsible for third-party, supply chain, or value-chain risk.

Capturing the Spirit of DEI While Adhering to the Letter of the Law

Why it is on the must-see list: Few topics are creating as much uncertainty for ethics and compliance leaders as DEI.

This plenary explores how organizations are navigating evolving legal expectations while remaining aligned with values and stakeholder commitments, without oversimplifying a complex, high-stakes issue .

• Best for: CECOs advising leadership on DEI, culture, and governance trade-offs.

Peer-to-Peer Conversations and Programs in Action

Why they are on every must-see list: Ask returning attendees where they get truly unique value from the Global Ethics Summit, and many will point here.

These small-group, practitioner-led sessions allow CECOs to:

• Validate decisions with peers
• Learn how others executed similar initiatives
• Speak candidly about challenges and trade-offs

They are intentionally limited in size and require pre-registration, making early planning essential .

Best for: CECOs who want honest conversation with peers who have faced the same risks, challenges, and opportunities that you have.

Start Planning Your Personal Must-See Agenda

Attendees who get the most from the Summit typically:

• Anchor their schedule around plenary sessions
• Choose 1–2 deep-dive breakouts aligned to current priorities
• Reserve time for peer-to-peer conversations
• Leave space for informal networking and reflection

The 2026 agenda was explicitly designed to support this kind of intentional planning, with longer sessions and clearer session types.

You can explore the full agenda, session details, and registration options at AttendGES.com.

Whether this is your first Global Ethics Summit or your fifth, having a clear must-see list ensures you leave with insight, alignment, and confidence that will help you bring your E&C program to the next level.

See you at the Summit!