Exclusive Breakfast Briefing Overview September 2026
Strategic Decision-Making in an Uncertain World – Breakfast Briefing Summary | ISRM & Clew
How do leaders make good decisions when certainty is impossible?
On 24 September 2026, senior leaders from across risk, resilience, security and business gathered at the National Liberal Club in London for an Exclusive Breakfast Briefing hosted by the Institute of Strategic Risk Management (ISRM) in partnership with Clew.
The discussion explored how organisations can strengthen strategic decision-making in an increasingly uncertain world, moving beyond frameworks and processes to focus on leadership judgement, communication, preparedness and collaboration.
One message stood out:
“Risk management needs to move from administration to management.”
Risk must become relevant to business decisions
A recurring theme was the need to communicate risk in language that business leaders understand.
Risk management should not simply identify threats or administer processes. It should help organisations understand their choices, challenge assumptions, protect reputation and pursue opportunities with greater confidence.
Preparation must be tested, not assumed
Participants emphasised that resilience cannot be demonstrated through documented plans alone.
Scenario planning, realistic exercises and decision-making training are essential to building the confidence and judgement leaders need when information is incomplete.
Trusted relationships, clear accountability and effective command structures must exist before disruption occurs.
The human element remains decisive
Technology, governance and frameworks can support decisions, but they cannot replace human judgement.
The discussions reinforced the importance of organisational culture, constructive challenge, trust and empowering leaders to act without waiting for perfect information.
Frameworks support decisions, but ultimately people make the call.
What every leader should hear
At the conclusion of the briefing, participants were invited to reflect on two questions: What did you learn today? and What message will you share?
Five key messages emerged:
- Make risk meaningful: Connect risk management to business decisions, strategy and opportunity.
- Test before disruption: Exercise decision-making, leadership and response capabilities under realistic pressure.
- Put people at the centre: Build cultures of trust, challenge and clear accountability.
- Collaborate beyond boundaries: Strengthen relationships and share perspectives across organisations and sectors.
- Enable informed risk-taking: Use risk management to support strategic choices, not simply constrain them.
The morning reinforced a fundamental leadership challenge: resilience is not achieved by eliminating uncertainty, but by developing the capability to make effective decisions despite it.
Thank you to our speakers Tania Carvalho, Rina Singh and Patrick Parker, our emcee Richard Brooks, and everyone who contributed their perspectives and experience.
The continued collaboration between ISRM and Clew reflects a shared commitment to advancing practical risk management, stronger leadership and organisational resilience.
Read the full Exclusive Breakfast Briefing Summary for further insights, participant reflections and practical leadership takeaways.
