Manage the Risk – Create Business Opportunities
ECS Conference Presentation
The Compliance Imperative 2026: Compliance effectiveness , Ethics, whistleblowing, AI & Supply Chains
Culture and ethical leadership are one of the most important elements of a compliance and integrity program. We will explore the importance of trust, communication and organizational resilience and provide practical insights into why and how compliance failures occur even when rules are followed. We will learn the characteristics of toxic leadership and how damaging such culture is for companies. A whistleblower will share her professional story and experiences when she decided to speak up.
We will explore compliance enforcement trends and outlook for compliance in the next years and what are some of the strategies used for compliance to be relevant in these volatile times. We will look into AI use and risks and reflect on the latest supply chains and best practices in mitigating these.
Have you ever asked yourself questions like this:
- Have we made progress in the last years in eradicating corruption.
- Why resilience and trust are central to effective compliance.
- How leaders can cultivate environments where integrity is chosen, not imposed.
- What are characteristics of toxic leadership in an organization – some case studies.
- Where key risks enter AI systems and what critical questions compliance officers should ask across AI lifecycle?
- Whistleblower sharing her professional experiences regarding internal reporting, retaliation, legal procedures, responses of civil society and personal consequences for speaking up.
- What is outlook for compliance in next 3-5 years?
- How does compliance remain effective considering volatile geopolitical system, technological disruption (AI), ever increasing number of laws to comply with without increasing compliance budgets?
- What are enforcement trends in next years?
- Ethical challenges in healthcare?
- Update on supply chain risks.
OUR PLANS
ECS conference pricing
Dates: 21 – 22 October 2026
If you are a student, special conditions apply, please reach out to constance.hawgood@risk-in.com
650 CHF (1)
For ECS members
(1) ECS membership subscription before June 30, 2026
ECS member special rate valid until 30 June:
590 CHF instead of 650 CHF.
Enter code ECS26EB at checkout.
Any questions, please contact: constance.hawgood@risk-in.com
1099 CHF (2) (3)
For non-Members
(2) includes one year membership to ECS (3) Student pricing doesn't include membership
ECS team
Patrick Wellens
Role at the conference:
Co-Host ECS conference
Patrick Wellens has 30 years’ professional experience in Governance, Ethics, Compliance, and have been involved in numerous complex and sensitive investigations across all continents. As a country and global divisional compliance officer with a pharma company based in Zurich and as a senior manager with Deloitte, he has extensive experience in developing, implementing, overseeing, and communicating an effective Compliance Program with all necessary standards, processes, and controls. In his current role with a multinational pharma company, he is actively involved in the global design and implementation of a third-party risk management solution.
Patrick is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Compliance and Ethics Officer (CCEP-I), Certified Risk Assurance Manager (CRMA). He is a member of the editorial board of Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, Vice Chair of Ethics and Compliance Switzerland, a not-for-profit association which promotes organizational ethics and compliance, a member of Association of Certified Fraud Examiners advisory council and an Advisory Panel member to the Association of Corporate Investigators.
Cecilia Garcia Podoley
Role at the conference:
Co-Host ECS conference
Cecilia Garcia Podoley is a multilingual lawyer, ethics and compliance expert and AI governance specialist, as well as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
Since 2005 she leads global ethics and compliance programs, across different industries and types of organisations. She is currently a board member of Ethics and Compliance Switzerland (ECS) and collaborates with other not-for-profit organisations. As a specialist in the intersection of ethics and new technologies, she leverages her insights and experience to shape responsible business practices in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Cecilia is also a speaker and free-lance writer on ethics and AI.
Call for Sponsors
Sponsorships opportunities will be evaluated according to the following principles: interested ECS member companies /individuals will be given priority for sponsorship opportunities and requests from non-ECS membership companies will be handled on a first come first serve basis.
Interested companies that would like to become a sponsor should contact ceciliagp@pm.me and patrickwellens@hotmail.com