This Episode: AI Governance and Compliance with John Rood
Host Lucinda Carney is joined by John Rood, Founder of Perceptual, for a timely discussion on Artificial Intelligence governance and compliance and why it is fast becoming a critical part of organisational compliance culture. They explore emerging regulation such as the EU AI Act, the risks of bias and unfair outcomes in high impact areas like HR and finance, and why AI governance must be a shared responsibility across the business, not owned by one function alone. John also shares practical steps organisations can take now, from clear AI use policies and training to proportionate governance frameworks that balance innovation with ethical and regulatory expectations.
Key Takeaways
- AI governance must be owned across the organisation, not siloed in HR, IT, or compliance, as unmanaged use creates risks around bias, fairness, and accountability.
- Market and customer expectations are driving AI compliance now, even when regulation is still evolving or inconsistently enforced.
- AI that affects real people carries higher risk, particularly in areas like hiring, finance, and education, making ethical oversight and transparency essential.
- Clear AI use policies and baseline AI literacy are essential foundations, helping employees use AI safely and responsibly in everyday work.
- Strong AI governance is a long-term strategic investment, enabling organisations to balance innovation with trust, ethics and regulatory resilience.
Valuable Resources
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About The Guest, John Rood
John Rood is an entrepreneur and AI governance expert, and the Founder of Perceptual, where he supports organisations in implementing effective AI governance and compliance frameworks. He specialises in navigating emerging regulation, standards and ethical risk, helping legal, compliance and privacy teams respond to both regulatory requirements and growing customer expectations. With a background in scaling and leading high-growth businesses, including as Co-Founder and CEO of Next Step Test Preparation, a national education company, John is recognised for his practical, commercially grounded approach to responsible and compliant use of AI.
John Rood offers a free 90-minute AI literacy certification for leaders, designed to help executives and board members understand the key risks, ethical challenges and emerging governance frameworks around AI. The course includes a short assessment and provides a practical foundation for responsibly overseeing AI use within an organisation.
Get Free Access Here: https://proceptual.com/free-ai-literacy/
Contact John
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrood1/
Proceptual: https://proceptual.com/
About The Host, Lucinda Carney
Lucinda Carney is a Chartered Psychologist, CEO of Actus Software, and host of the award-nominated, chart-topping HR Uprising Podcast. With over 20 years’ experience in organisational development and leadership, Lucinda has worked across a wide range of industries helping HR professionals establish behavioural change and accountability. Her passion for collaboration led her to create the HR Uprising community, empowering HR professionals to ‘rise up’ together. Now, Lucinda brings her expertise into a new space, exploring the human side of compliance through expert conversations with industry leaders and practicing compliance professionals.
Contact Method
- Join the HR Uprising LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13714397/
- Email: Lucinda@advancechange.co.uk
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucindacarney/
- X / Twitter: @lucindacarney
- Instagram: @hruprising
- Facebook: @hruprising
- YouTube: Channel
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