A recent article published by Governance-Intelligence, “Mind the gap: confronting the global shortage of governance talent” by Natalie Bannerman, examines a pressing issue: the global shortage of skilled professionals in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC).
The piece outlines how demand for governance expertise is increasing as organizations face more complex regulatory and risk environments, yet the talent pipeline is not keeping pace. This gap has the potential to affect the resilience and effectiveness of governance functions worldwide.
Bannerman’s article further explores the drivers of this shortage, including the growing complexity of governance responsibilities, the competition for professionals with cross-disciplinary skills, and the perception of governance roles as narrowly administrative rather than strategically critical. She also highlights how organizations and industry bodies are beginning to address the gap through training, professional development, and raising awareness of governance as a career path.
While Bannerman’s article brings forward the scale of the challenge, LRN’s Chief Advisory Officer, Ty Francis, offers additional perspective on why the shortage matters for organizations today:
“Strong governance is not just about meeting regulatory requirements—it’s about embedding integrity, accountability, and ethical decision-making into the fabric of an organization. The current shortage of governance talent reinforces the need to invest in people, build cross-functional expertise, and elevate GRC as a strategic priority.”
Why this matters—and why you should read more
- Strategic urgency: The shortage of GRC talent is not only a hiring concern—it represents a structural risk to organizational resilience.
- Cross-functional competence: Governance requires expertise across multiple disciplines, making talent development a long-term necessity.
- Expert insight: Commentary from leaders such as Ty Francis highlights both the risks of inaction and the importance of proactive planning.
Read Natalie Bannerman’s full article on Governance Intelligence here.
