GACO Risk on the Rock – Beyond the Obvious: Introducing Our Third Keynote Speaker

We are thrilled to introduce the third keynote speaker for the upcoming GACO 2026 Flagship Event, Risk on the Rock, taking place on Wednesday, 16th September 2026.

In keeping with our conference theme, “Beyond the Obvious”, we are delighted to welcome globally recognised expert in strategy, crisis management, and ethical leadership, Dr José R. Hernandez.

When navigating complex regulatory pressures and corporate crises, looking "beyond the obvious" requires leaders to look deeper into the root causes of ethical misconduct and understand how to genuinely rebuild trust. Dr Hernandez brings a wealth of international, multi-jurisdictional experience advising corporate boards and multinational firms through their most sensitive governance and criminal matters.

About Dr José R. Hernandez

Dr José R. Hernandez, Ph.D., is the founder and CEO of Ortus Strategies, where he advises multinational companies and corporate boards on complex criminal, regulatory, and governance challenges.

• Global & Professional Background: A professional accountant holding Salvadoran, Canadian, and Dutch nationalities, Dr Hernandez is a former PwC partner. He holds a doctorate in economics and business administration from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where he also serves as guest faculty.
• Author & Thought Leader: He is the author of Broken Business: The Anatomy of Scandals and How Leaders Restore Trust (Second Edition, 2026), which was shortlisted for Management Book of the Year and has been published internationally in English, German, Dutch, and Korean.

In his keynote session, Dr Hernandez will draw upon his proven framework for navigating scandals, demonstrating how commitment to ethical leadership and authentic integrity remains an organisation's strongest defence in protecting its reputation with regulators, investors, and the public.
Save the Date!

• Event: Risk on the Rock
• Theme: Beyond the Obvious
• Date: Wednesday, 16th September 2026
• Time: 11:30 to 17:30

Spaces for this biennial flagship event are filling up quickly. Please reserve the afternoon in your diary — further details and booking instructions will follow shortly!