Quick Links
Connect us
Directors Databank (Empannel Yourself)
Become a faculty
Blog
Become an Awards Assessor
Publications
Contact Us
A Report on - Hyderabad Regional Members' Meet 2025
The Hyderabad Regional Members' Meet 2025, organised by the Institute of Directors (IOD), Hyderabad Region, was held on June 20, 2025, at the Country Club, Begumpet, Hyderabad. The event theme was "Role of AI in Board Governance: Preparing for Digital Transformation".
This impactful gathering brought together board directors, corporate leaders, AI practitioners, enterprise architects, legal experts, and IOD members to deliberate on the rising role of Artificial Intelligence in corporate governance. With the increasing relevance of digital tools in boardroom decision-making, the event emphasized the urgent need for responsible AI adoption, strategic digital foresight, and inclusive boardroom transformation. Through keynote addresses, technical insights, and an interactive panel discussion, the session provided actionable frameworks for navigating the evolving governance landscape.
Inaugural Session
The 'Welcome Address' was delivered by:
Mr. T. V. Shiva Rao
Hon. Regional Director
Institute of Directors (IOD), Hyderabad Region
Chief Advisor, Future Labs, Hyderabad
Mr. Rao opened the event by warmly welcoming all participants and highlighting the importance of the theme. He underscored how boardrooms must evolve from legacy models to tech-enabled governance frameworks. He highlighted the need for responsible and ethical AI, rooted in fairness, transparency, and accountability, as foundational to future governance. He also outlined the session's objectives and drew attention to IOD's ongoing National and International programs and initiatives aimed at equipping boards for a tech-enabled future.
This was followed by the 'Theme Address' delivered by:
Dr. Sriram Birudavolu
Chief Executive Officer
Cyber Security Centre of Excellence,
Data Security Council of India (A NASSCOM Initiative), Hyderabad
Dr. Birudavolu focused on the strategic integration of AI in governance, emphasizing the importance of understanding AI capabilities, limitations, and risks. He highlighted the need for data quality, privacy safeguards, model selection, and domain-specific applications. Stressing the value of agentic AI for board-level automation, he advocated the use of AI for board documentation, legal tracking, and ESG-aligned performance metrics.
He highlighted the need for boards to evaluate performance not only on traditional financial metrics but also on how well they address ESG priorities, manage diverse risks including cyber, IP, operational, and financial risks, and transform internal systems for digital readiness. He concluded by encouraging directors to embrace AI not merely as a technological tool but as a core enabler of strategic value creation within a broader ecosystem. Reiterating IOD's commitment to supporting board leaders, he invited members to explore structured programs and frameworks developed to help boards navigate the AI-driven future responsibly and effectively.
This was followed by the 'Special Address' delivered by:
Mr. Vivek Mahendra
Managing Partner
Vivikta Advisory & Creatives, Hyderabad
Mr. Mahendra offered a critical and strategic view on AI's role in boardrooms. He raised thought-provoking questions about AI's necessity and applicability in corporate governance. He drew attention to underappreciated areas like enterprise architecture and AI's environmental cost, questioning the scalability of unchecked AI deployment. Highlighting risks such as data privacy, IP leaks, and skill mismatches, he proposed actionable solutions including AI oversight committees, risk audits, and digital fluency in board composition. He concluded with his proprietary “Skyscraper Framework” for AI-readiness and challenged boards to lead with ethics, foresight, and caution.
Plenary Session: Interactive Panel Discussion
Role of AI in Board Governance: Preparing for Digital Transformation
The session was moderated by:
Mr. Shujath Bin Ali
Chief Legal Officer
Fourth Partner Energy Limited, Hyderabad
Mr. Ali highlighted the increasing importance of AI literacy in the boardroom. He noted the shift from digital transformation discussions to active AI strategy planning and observed a growing FOMO (fear of missing out) across sectors regarding AI tools in HR, legal, and compliance.
The panel featured the following distinguished speakers:
1. Mr. K. Lakshmi Narasimha Moorthy
Co-Founder & CEO
nicheBrains India Private Limited, Hyderabad
2. Mr. Alhad Posam
Enterprise Business Head for India & APAC
BoardPAC Private Limited, Mumbai
Mr. Moorthy discussed AI's value in strategy formulation, scenario simulation, and early risk detection. He shared how forward-looking boards use AI to simulate market disruptions, citing AstraZeneca's pandemic strategy as an example.
Mr. Posam traced the evolution of board operations from print to digital and forecasted a future where AI-powered platforms allow boards to access historic and real-time data for informed decisions. He envisioned tools enabling directors to extract years of insights instantly to empower strategic governance.
Conclusion
The session emphasized how AI is evolving from a support function to a strategic enabler in board governance. Panelists agreed that AI literacy, ethical deployment, and robust oversight are essential to building future-ready boards. With examples from real-life implementations and cautionary perspectives, the meet reinforced AI's dual nature as both opportunity and responsibility.
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A session.
'Closing Remarks' & 'Vote of Thanks' were proposed by:
Ms. Karuna Grover
Regional Manager
Institute of Directors (IOD), Hyderabad Region
Ms. Grover extended heartfelt gratitude to all partners, speakers, and IOD members. She acknowledged the depth of insight shared and expressed appreciation for the vibrant discussions that made the event impactful. Her closing remarks captured the importance of AI-driven governance and inspired members to proactively embrace technological leadership.
The Institute of Directors (IOD) extends its sincere gratitude to its Event Partners:
Supporting Partners:
• Vivikta Advisory & Creatives
• BoardPAC Private Limited
This report is compiled by:
Ms. Karuna Grover
Regional Manager
Institute of Directors (IOD), Hyderabad Region
Back to HomeAuthor
Institute of Directors India
Bringing a Silent Revolution through the Boardroom
Institute of Directors (IOD) is an apex national association of Corporate Directors under the India's 'Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860'. Currently it is associated with over 31,000 senior executives from Govt, PSU and Private organizations of India and abroad.
Owned by: Institute of Directors, India
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the articles/ stories are the personal opinions of the author. IOD/ Editor is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information in those articles. The information, facts or opinions expressed in the articles/ speeches do not reflect the views of IOD/ Editor and IOD/ Editor does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
