ACi Whistleblowing Investigations Forum 2026:
Where Good Intentions meet hard questions
Whistleblowing cases are among the most sensitive and high-risk matters organisations face, and the way they are handled is under increasing scrutiny. When concerns are raised, the response can have significant consequences for employees, leadership teams, organisational culture, reputation, regulatory relationships and public trust.
Against an increasingly complex legal and regulatory landscape, organisations are expected to balance strict legal and regulatory requirements with the need to respond fairly, proportionately and effectively. Good intentions and having empathy alone are no longer sufficient to withstand scrutiny. Organisations are expected to continually challenge whether their processes are delivering the right outcomes and have the confidence to ask the difficult questions: What is working well? Where are the risks? And where does change need to happen?
Kindly hosted by Eversheds Sutherland, the ACi Whistleblowing Forum 2026 has been designed to move beyond theory and provide practical, pragmatic guidance for those responsible for managing whistleblowing concerns and investigations as well as facilitate asking the hard questions.
Through a seminar-style programme of expert presentations, interactive discussions, real-world case studies, panel sessions and roundtable exercises, delegates will explore every stage of the whistleblowing investigation process, from the initial disclosure through to investigation, decision-making and conclusion.
Rather than focusing solely on legal principles, the Forum will examine the practical challenges organisations encounter in real cases, encouraging open discussion, shared learning and the opportunity to ask the hard questions about current practice. Delegates will gain valuable insight into what works well, where investigations commonly fall short, and the practical steps that can be taken to strengthen processes and improve outcomes.
The programme will explore what happens when whistleblowing processes succeed and, importantly, when they fail.
Key topics include:
- Whistleblowing investigation planning and handling
- Consequence management and organisational decision-making
- Employment Tribunal scrutiny and lessons from litigation
- Effective interview techniques and evidence gathering
- Recognising and addressing unconscious bias
- Crisis communications and reputational risk
- Meeting the growing expectations of regulators, stakeholders and society
To view the full agenda, click here.
Whether you are involved in legal, compliance, investigations, HR, governance, ethics or risk, the ACi Whistleblowing Forum 2026 offers a unique opportunity to learn from leading practitioners, share experiences with peers and develop practical approaches that will strengthen your organisation’s response to whistleblowing.
Why Attend?
This forum has been designed to provide practical insights that can be immediately applied within your organisation. By attending, you will:
- Learn from leading experts in corporate investigations, employment law, crisis management, and whistleblowing.
- Gain a deeper understanding of where whistleblowing investigations commonly fail and how to avoid costly mistakes.
- Explore the latest challenges facing employers, investigators, and case owners when handling complex disclosures.
- Examine real-life scenarios involving vulnerable whistleblowers, employment tribunal scrutiny, media interest, and reputational crises.
- Network with senior professionals Participate in interactive discussions, live polling, and peer-led debates on investigative bias, decision-making, and organisational accountability.
Who Should Attend?
The forum is designed for professionals with responsibility for receiving, investigating, overseeing, advising on, or governing whistleblowing concerns, including:
- Corporate Investigators
- Ethics & Compliance Professionals
- Whistleblowing Officers and Speak-Up Programme Managers
- Employment Lawyers and Legal Counsel
- HR Directors and Employee Relations Specialists
- Internal Audit Professionals
- Risk and Governance Leaders responsible for whistleblowing and/or are prescribed persons
- General Counsel and Company Secretaries
- Regulatory and Conduct Specialists who participate or investigate whistleblowing
- Fraud, Compliance and Financial Crime Investigators Non-Executive Directors and Board Members with oversight responsibilities of whistleblowing and can have SMF responsibility within the FS sector
- ESG, Culture and Integrity Professionals
- Crisis Management and Corporate Communications Professionals
Move beyond theory. Ask the hard questions. Leave with pragmatic strategies you can apply immediately within your organisation.
Date: 15 October 2026
Venue: Eversheds Sutherland, 1 Wood Street, London
Networking Drinks: 5:10pm – 7:00pm
Hosted by 
Sponsored by
