Keynote Speaker · AI Governance

AI Governance Keynote Speaker for Boards, Executives, and Technology Conferences

For organizations that need to govern AI as if real regulation is coming — because it is, and the organizations that wait are the ones that will scramble.

Years

200+

Assessments

Keynotes

Books Published

Why Carl for Your Audience on AI Governance

AI governance is the rare topic where every leadership team knows they need a position and almost no one is sure what that position should be. The regulatory picture is fragmenting faster than internal policy can keep up — sectoral guidance from HHS, evolving FTC enforcement signals, state-level AI laws, the EU AI Act influencing US-headquartered companies with European footprints, and a patchwork of disclosure requirements that vary by industry and jurisdiction. Most organizations have published an AI usage policy and called the work done. It isn't.

Carl B. Johnson sits at the intersection of AI, privacy, cybersecurity, and compliance — the four disciplines that AI governance actually requires to be coordinated. As CISO at Cleared Systems, he advises organizations on AI governance frameworks that account for regulatory uncertainty rather than ignoring it, and his work on HIPAA-and-AI in healthcare has been a leading edge of how AI compliance is being practiced today.

For boards, executive offsites, technology conferences, and corporate leadership programs, Carl delivers AI governance content that's grounded in current practice rather than thought-leadership abstraction. The audience leaves with a working understanding of the regulatory trajectory, the specific governance gaps most organizations have, and the decision framework leadership can use to actually move forward.

Available Sessions on AI Governance

Signature Keynote

The Future of Compliance: AI, Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Regulation

Where the convergence of AI, privacy, and regulation is heading and how organizations can prepare today for what is coming. Covers the regulatory trajectory across jurisdictions, the practical governance patterns emerging from organizations that are getting this right, the specific AI risk categories that boards need to track, and the "no-regrets" governance moves leaders can make this quarter even amid regulatory uncertainty.

Best forBoards, executive offsites, technology conferences, leadership summits Duration45–90 minutes

Executive Briefing

AI Governance for the Boardroom

Focused briefing built specifically for board-level audiences. Translates the AI governance landscape into the questions directors should be asking management, the oversight patterns that distinguish boards getting this right, and the disclosure-and-accountability framework that limits liability exposure as the regulatory picture sharpens.

Best forCorporate boards, audit and risk committees, governance committees Duration20–30 minutes plus discussion

Workshop

Building an AI Governance Framework That Holds Up

Hands-on session for executives and senior leaders responsible for actually building AI governance — chief privacy officers, chief compliance officers, CISOs, general counsel, and heads of risk. Walks through framework architecture, the cross-functional accountability model that actually works, AI use-case classification and risk-tiering, vendor and third-party AI governance, and the documentation patterns that demonstrate program maturity to regulators.

Best forCISO, CPO, CCO, GC, and senior risk leadership Duration3–4 hours

Download the One-Sheet

Get a printable, shareable PDF of this topic — perfect for circulating to your event committee or program chair. Includes the same sessions, audience profile, and FAQs as this page in a 2-page format.

Download AI Governance Keynote Speaker One-Sheet

Who This Is For

Audiences responsible for setting AI governance direction — or the technology and risk audiences that need to translate that direction into actual practice.

Corporate boards and audit committees
Executive leadership offsites
Technology and innovation conferences
Privacy and compliance summits
CISO and security leadership events
Industry-specific AI conferences
General counsel and legal-leadership programs
Risk management association events

What Audiences Walk Away With

A clear-eyed view of where AI regulation is actually heading across US and international jurisdictions
The "no-regrets" governance moves any organization can make right now, regardless of how the regulatory picture sharpens
A practical framework for tiering AI use cases by risk and regulatory exposure
The specific governance gaps most organizations have but haven't seen yet
The cross-functional accountability model that distinguishes effective AI governance from policy-on-paper
Board-level vocabulary for discussing AI risk that translates to actual oversight

Questions Boards and Tech Conference Organizers Ask

Will this be too policy-focused for a tech audience?

No. Tech audiences are some of the most engaged on AI governance because they're the people who actually implement the controls. The signature keynote balances the regulatory trajectory with the practical implementation reality — the thing tech audiences usually find missing in compliance-led talks.

Will this be too technical for a board audience?

No. The board-level briefing is deliberately calibrated for non-technical directors. Carl's specialty is translating complex governance and regulatory questions into the decisions and oversight patterns boards can actually use.

Can the keynote be sector-specific?

Yes. AI governance is meaningfully different in healthcare, financial services, defense, technology, and education, among other sectors. Carl tailors the regulatory landscape coverage and practical examples to whichever sector the audience is operating in.

Does Carl have a position on the EU AI Act for US companies?

Yes. The EU AI Act is influencing US-headquartered companies with any European footprint, and the extraterritorial reach affects organizations that don't think of themselves as having EU exposure. The keynote covers what the practical compliance burden looks like for US organizations and the strategic decisions companies are making about it.

What's the right format for an executive offsite vs. a public conference?

Offsites usually want the full signature keynote followed by a longer Q&A or facilitated discussion — the audience is there to engage substantively rather than absorb. Public conferences typically want the keynote in standard 45-minute format with audience questions. Carl can do either or combine formats.

Can Carl participate in a panel rather than deliver a keynote?

Yes. Panels and fireside chats on AI governance are a frequent format. Carl is comfortable in panel structures and can also moderate panels for organizers who want senior compliance experience in the moderator role.