The pace of change means businesses can no longer just sit on the sidelines and wait for conditions to improve: they must be ready to act decisively and take calculated risks even when the path ahead may be unclear.
The Global Risk Landscape 2026 report shows that risks once managed in isolation are now interconnected, fast‑moving and amplified by geopolitical instability, technological disruption and economic volatility. For today’s business leaders, change and disruption are expected, demanding a more agile and risk-aware approach to decision-making.
Drawing on insights from 500 C-suite executives across major global markets, the report explores how organisations can respond by rethinking how risk is understood, owned and acted upon. It highlights where organisations are most exposed in 2026 and identifies where traditional risk management approaches may be limiting their ability to respond.
The findings show a growing divide between organisations that treat risk as a siloed, defensive function and those that embed it across the business. The latter are using risk not just to protect value, but to support better, faster decision-making.
In an environment where inaction can carry significant consequences, the ability to act with confidence, even with incomplete information, is becoming a competitive advantage.
55%
of business leaders say that short-term operational pressures frequently override their long-term or predictive risk planning
52%
say they struggle to identify which risk signals truly matter
While the global findings highlight the scale and complexity of today’s risk environment, many of these pressures are playing out acutely in Australia, often with additional regulatory, geographic and market-specific nuances.
Geopolitical tensions are being felt through supply chain disruption and trade uncertainty and at the same time, cyber threats continue to escalate as the rapid adoption of AI exposes gaps in data quality, controls and organisational readiness.
The challenge for Australian leaders is translating awareness into coordinated, enterprise-wide action. As highlighted in the report, risk is still too often managed in silos, despite being inherently interconnected. This is particularly relevant in Australia, where organisations must balance global risk exposure with local regulatory obligations and operational realities.
The pace of change means businesses can no longer just sit on the sidelines and wait for conditions to improve: they must be ready to act decisively and take calculated risks even when the path ahead may be unclear.
BDO’s risk advisory team supports organisations navigating complex and interconnected risks. Our expertise spans governance, cyber, AI, fraud and more, helping clients strengthen resilience and make more confident decisions. Contact our team today.
