Diligent Honors Global GRC Leaders Driving AI Innovation at 2026 Elevate Awards

Awards recognize 100 organizations making the Honor Roll for advancing responsible AI use in governance, risk and compliance

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Diligent, the AI leader in governance, risk and compliance (GRC) SaaS solutions, today announced the winners of the 2026 Diligent Elevate Awards, honoring leaders who accelerate decisions with AI, turn complex risk into opportunities, and unlock meaningful, lasting impact for their organizations. Awards were presented at Elevate, Diligent’s premier GRC conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Our clients are the innovators driving real transformation across governance, risk and compliance,” said Brian Stafford, CEO of Diligent. “The 2026 Elevate Awards celebrate leaders who cut through complexity, clarify risk and elevate governance with AI. These honorees are pushing what’s possible in their organizations and proving that stronger oversight leads to better decisions and greater trust.”

From a global base of more than 25,000 customers, 100 organizations were selected for the Elevate Honor Roll, with 50 executives recognized for excellence across legal, risk, audit, compliance, boards, and public and nonprofit sectors.

The 2026 Diligent Elevate Awards Winners announced:

Boardroom AI Innovator: For board leaders using AI to strengthen oversight

• Anita Casola, Assistant Corporate Secretary and Executive Administrator, Algoma Steel Inc.
  “AI is reshaping how boards see risk, opportunity, and accountability, and our goal is to use it to build a smarter, more transparent governance model that is ready for the future.”
  
  
• Matthias Haenggi, Head of Digital Solutions, Novartis AG
  “AI in this context is not about technology for its own sake, but about enabling better decisions—more insight, more clarity, and ultimately stronger governance. Looking ahead, I am convinced that we are only at the beginning of what is possible.”
  
  
• Sarah Hollinsworth, Chief of Staff, Barclays Corporate Secretariat, Barclays
  “I feel incredibly privileged to be in a position to drive meaningful change through AI and partner with so many equally passionate colleagues and industry peers.”

Community Trust Builder: For public-sector leaders strengthening trust and delivering mission-driven results

• Amber McDonnell, Director of Board Operations & Interim Secretary of the Board of Regents, University of Colorado
  “Building trust in public institutions starts with transparency, consistency, and a deep commitment to serving others. I’m honored to do this work alongside colleagues who care deeply about strengthening our communities.”

Corporate Changemaker: For leaders using AI to transform governance and strengthen assurance

• Dana Boyd, Senior Internal Auditor, Novelis, Inc.
  “AI can significantly enhance how we plan and deliver assurance engagements. The pace of change is energizing and brings a clear opportunity to strengthen quality, expand coverage, and increase stakeholder value. By adopting AI-enabled analytics, we can move from periodic snapshots to more timely, continuous insight.”

Governance Pioneer: For legal and governance professionals pushing the function forward

• Jeanne Zelnick, Senior Director, Associate GC & Assistant Corporate Secretary, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA)
  “I am honored to be recognized as a corporate governance leader—driving meaningful progress in best practices for scalable legal entity management technology.”

GRC Conductor: For general counsels orchestrating risk, compliance and governance through AI

• Lavonne Burke, Global Vice President, AI, Security, Resiliency & IT Legal, Dell Technologies
  "Effective governance is the accelerator for responsible AI, aligning risk, compliance, security, privacy, and resiliency with business objectives. In an AI‑driven world, strong governance empowers legal and GRC leaders to move beyond subject‑matter expertise and embed trust into foundational business processes."
  
  
• Melanie McGrath, General Counsel, CBCL Limited
  “This award showcases that meaningful change happens when innovation is paired with discipline, ensuring that AI is used as a tool to augment strong risk, audit, and compliance foundations. I’m proud to be part of an organization that supports an ongoing governance journey toward better leadership and stronger outcomes.”

Mission Trailblazer: For nonprofit and higher-education leaders driving meaningful mission impact

• Denise Acton, Assistant Secretary of the University, Rochester Institute of Technology
  “Being named a Mission Trailblazer is meaningful to me because it highlights the value RIT places on collaboration and thoughtful governance. I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute behind the scenes in support of our trustees and leadership, and to help advance long‑term impact and institutional stewardship.”

Further details on the work and impact behind each 2026 Elevate Award winner are available at: https://www.diligent.com/resources/blog/elevate-award-winners.

About Diligent
Diligent is the AI leader in governance, risk and compliance (GRC) SaaS solutions, helping more than 1 million users and 700,000 board members to clarify risk and elevate governance. The Diligent One Platform gives practitioners, the C-Suite and the board a consolidated view of their entire GRC practice so they can more effectively manage risk, build greater resilience and make better decisions, faster. Learn more at diligent.com

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