Successful regulation in a dynamic world
14 Oct 2026
Successful regulation in a dynamic world – Alan Clamp presentation to CNAR International Symposium | 5 October 2026
Dr Alan Clamp, Chief Executive of the Professional Standards Authority, spoke at the Canadian Network of Agencies for Regulation (CNAR) International Symposium on 5 October in Montreal. In his presentation, Alan explored how regulators must adapt to respond to rapid societal, economic and technological change, while maintaining public trust and protecting the public interest.
Successful regulation in a dynamic world
At the CNAR 2026 International Symposium, Alan Clamp examined the challenges facing regulators in an increasingly complex and fast-changing operating environment. Drawing on global issues such as artificial intelligence, cyber threats, misinformation, climate change, workforce pressures and declining public trust, he argued that traditional, reactive approaches to regulation are no longer sufficient.
The presentation highlighted the need for regulators to shift from rules-based, enforcement-focused models towards more proactive, adaptive and outcomes-based approaches. Future regulators must be able to anticipate risks, use data and AI effectively, collaborate across systems, support innovation and focus on prevention rather than simply responding to problems after they occur. This will require radical changes if we are to achieve better outcomes.
A key theme was maintaining public confidence. Effective regulation depends not only on strong governance and robust standards, but also on transparency, engagement, collaboration and a clear focus on public protection and the public interest. Regulators must demonstrate their effectiveness and legitimacy while balancing competing demands such as innovation and safety, acting quickly and due process, data use and privacy, and reducing burdens whilst maintaining standards.
The presentation concluded that the regulators most likely to succeed in the future will be those that remain focused on their purpose while adapting to change. Successful regulation will be anticipatory, intelligence-led, collaborative and outcomes-focused, using the principles of right-touch regulation to protect the public and build lasting trust.
In a later session at the International Symposium, Alan took part in a panel discussion on effective leadership in regulation. His comments highlighted the need for regulatory leaders to be curious, adaptable and resilient; and to ensure that the focus of all their work is on the prevention of harm.