At Thinking Ahead, we see governance as the core enabling system of long-term investment success. Governance is not just a framework of committees, policies and controls; it is the way an organisation thinks, decides and learns over time.
Our earlier work defined the foundations of effective governance: clear roles, robust oversight, appropriate delegation and culture alignment. That work remains essential. But today’s investment environment demands more than structural soundness. It requires governance that can operate at speed, integrate complex information, and anticipate long-term risks and opportunities.
We now frame governance across three connected layers shown in the graphic below:
Together, these layers form what we call Governance 2.0, an evolution from governance as control toward governance as an intelligent, adaptive capability. Find out more about our “2.0” series under our working groups in 2026 research activities.
What is organisational alpha? Org Alpha is described as the combination of people, process, and technology components that constitute the capital of an asset owner, enabling them to achieve and produce outcomes.
Explore our website
- Our work – research content hubs and 2026 research activities
- Thinking about joining our global network? Find out more.
- Take a look at what events we have coming up or revisit our past events.
Looking to run a governance project this year?
We can help! We run projects year-round, either as part of our membership or independently. If you’d like to discuss a project, get in touch.
Thinking Ahead project case studies: Governance
If you’re interested in running a project with us or finding out more about the types of projects we run, take a look.
“The [Thinking Ahead] partnership has yielded practical frameworks. The board has integrated TAI’s research on “superteams” to improve how its members, representing both unions and the employer, work together.“
Project scope: Conduct the statutory five-year independent review of NZ Super, assessing governance, organisational design and capability against global leading practice using our dual-lens methodology.
APAC
Project scope: Advise the client assess and strengthen their organisational governance model to support their mission and enhance decision‑making effectiveness.
EMEA
Project scope: Supported the client in strengthening its investment beliefs framework to improve coherence, decision quality and governance across a complex, multi‑stakeholder organisation.
Middle East
Project scope: Work with the client conduct a holistic org-alpha review, combining surveys, interviews and board‑level diagnostics to assess and strengthen their structures and processes.
EMEA
Resources
Our research content hubs
Systems thinking
Discover more on the topic and why systems thinking is an invaluable partner and tool for addressing the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Total Portfolio Approach
TPA provides a systems‑level framework and tool to help investors navigate the many large‑scale shifts reshaping the landscape. Discover more about this investment approach via our hub.
Technology and AI
The challenges our industry faces require transformational change to adapt to a world of uncertainty and complexity. How? We’re prosposing, superteams.
People – leadership to decision making
People are at the heart of the change needed to respond to the many challenges investment organisations face today.
Watch our Beliefs video series
Beliefs are the invisible drivers of behaviour – they shape judgement, align decision‑making, expose assumptions, battle biases, and ultimately make governance more consistent, systemic and effective. Hear from our experts on the subject.
Learning from others
Asset Owner 100 Study
The Asset Owner 100 is a Thinking Ahead Institute study which gathers data on the total assets of the top 100 asset owners around the world.
Beliefs from asset owners and asset managers
A conversation with Alva Devoy