Governance

At the Institute for Strategic Risk and Security (ISRS), governance is a commitment to ethical leadership, operational integrity, and global accountability. We operate under Swiss NGO standards and maintain high levels of transparency and trust across all areas of our work.

Board of Directors

ISRS is guided by an international Board of Directors who bring deep expertise in cybersecurity, diplomacy, infrastructure, democratic development, and strategic risk. The Board provides fiduciary oversight, strategic direction, and support in developing high-trust partnerships.

Board Members:

• Dr. David Venable (Chairman) — Cybersecurity executive and former U.S. intelligence officer specializing in strategic risk and information warfare.

• Brigham McCown — National security and infrastructure expert; former administrator Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, former head of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and professor of law and policy.

• Mykola Volkivskyi — Ukrainian parliamentary advisor and founder of the First International Ukrainian Foundation of Development.

• Jason Worlledge — European Regional Director at the International Republican Institute and co-founder of the Warsaw Security Forum.

The Board meets quarterly to provide strategic oversight and approve major initiatives. Directors serve renewable terms and are selected based on mission alignment, regional representation, and expertise in ISRS’s core focus areas.

Advisory Council

Our Advisory Council consists of high-level experts from the fields of defense, development, law, and emerging technology. This group provides independent insight, regional intelligence, and diplomatic support to ISRS leadership and field operations.

Council members include:

• Former senior government and military officials

• Cybersecurity and technology innovators

• Legal and international development professionals

Membership is refreshed periodically to ensure diverse perspectives, geographic balance, and evolving expertise across our areas of engagement.

Executive & Operational Structure

ISRS operates with a lean, expert-driven model designed for agility in high-stakes environments:

• Executive Team — Oversees daily operations, manages global partnerships, and drives program development

• Field Experts & Technical Advisors — Deployed for missions, training, or advisory engagements in areas such as cybersecurity, post-conflict recovery, and democratic resilience

• Global Collaborators — Formal and informal partnerships with governments, academic institutions, and NGOs around the world

This structure allows ISRS to remain agile, scalable, and locally attuned across regions and missions.

Ethical Standards & Transparency

ISRS is committed to building a foundation of trust and accountability as we grow. While we are in the early stages of development, we are actively preparing the structures necessary for long-term transparency and ethical governance. These include:

• Swiss-based compliance with NGO registration and legal frameworks

• Internal governance and ethics policies guiding leadership and decision-making

• Transparent communication with partners and stakeholders

• A commitment to publishing annual updates and financial reports as soon as applicable
  
  

As our operations expand, we will implement formal financial reporting, independent audits, and public documentation of funding sources and impact metrics.

Looking Ahead

We anticipate publishing our first annual governance and financial report in the beginning of 2026, along with a transparency portal that will include:

• Board meeting summaries

• Audited financial statements

• Programmatic impact reports

• Conflict-of-interest disclosures
  
  

Stakeholders are encouraged to reach out with questions about our governance practices. We are committed to operating with humility, integrity, and responsiveness.

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