Practical AI Governance: Standards, Laws and Operational Core of Responsible AI

Tatjana Evas, Legal and Policy Officer, AI Office, European Commission, DG CONNECT

Chiara Giovannini, Deputy Director-General, Senior Manager Policy & Innovation, ANEC

Nathan Marlor, Head of Data and AI, Version 1

Vasileios Rovilos, Senior EU Policy Manager, Credo AI

Enterprises must now navigate a shifting landscape of AI policy, varying from principles and voluntary frameworks to enforceable and actionable AI laws and standards. As companies and institutions across sectors respond to overlapping demands from legislators, standards bodies, investors and consumers, they must move from intent to impact — embedding responsible AI not as a compliance checkbox, but as a core operational imperative. This panel will examine what it takes to implement AI governance at scale so that it becomes an AI-opportunity enabler at the enterprise level. It will bring together enterprise, standards and regulatory voices to address key questions: What role do technical standards play in implementing the AI Act and other governance frameworks? How can early industry engagement and cross-sector collaboration ensure AI governance is practical, future-proof and context-sensitive? What are the company-focused, legal and infrastructural barriers to scaling AI governance across sectors? How are companies balancing fragmented compliance demands while striving for global coherence and consistency? What levers — from public procurement to internal incentives — can accelerate the adoption of responsible AI practices?

What you will learn:

• A thorough understanding of why aligning legal obligations with technical standards is essential for moving beyond aspirational principles toward practical, enforceable AI governance. 
• How enterprises can shift from compliance intent to measurable impact, by integrating sector-specific risk mitigation into everyday processes and decision-making.
• Strategic insights into overcoming regulatory fragmentation, leveraging public procurement and collaboration and building governance structures that enable responsible AI innovation at scale.