Effective Remediation, the New Competitive Advantage

Authored by Cecilia Carter

In today’s evolving regulatory landscape, remediation is no longer just about fixing past mistakes - it has become a strategic capability that can differentiate organisations in the eyes of regulators, customers and the market.

Effective remediation starts with addressing root causes, not symptoms.

Australian regulators expect remediation to be timely, thorough and forward-looking, with consequences: financial penalties, increased regulatory scrutiny and reputational damage.

This expectation is not limited to regulators. A series of shareholder strikes at AGMs in 2025, often following regulatory actions or perceived shortcomings in governance and risk management, illustrates growing stakeholder intolerance for slow or inadequate responses to issues. Against this backdrop, remediation has become a visible measure of organisational maturity. When executed well, it signals a strong risk culture and reinforces confidence in senior management and board accountability.

How Leading Organisations Get It Right

1. Embed remediation in risk management

   • Detect and address issues before they escalate. Remediation is integrated into business-as-usual risk and control processes rather than treated as one-off, reactive exercise.

2. Leverage technology and analytics

   • Use data-driven tools to track progress, identify recurring risks and maintain clear, audit-ready documentation.

3. Foster a culture of accountability

   • Assign clear ownership, act decisively, and maintain transparency with regulators and stakeholders, ensuring corrective actions are completed and sustainable.

By treating remediation as a strategic priority, organisations turn compliance obligations into opportunities. They build trust with regulators and clients, enhance operational resilience and demonstrate leadership in risk management.

Ultimately, when remediation is done well, it stops being a cost or a compliance obligation and becomes a source of savings and a core capability that strengthens the business and differentiates it in the market.

If you would like to discuss your remediation approach, please get in touch.

This publication is a joint publication from King & Wood Mallesons, and KWM Compliance Pty Ltd (ACN 672 547 027) trading as Owl Advisory by KWM.   KWM Compliance Pty Ltd is a company wholly owned by the King & Wood Mallesons Australian partnership.  KWM Compliance Pty Ltd provides non-legal compliance and governance risk advisory services for businesses.  KWM Compliance Pty Ltd is not an incorporated legal practice and does not provide legal services. Laws concerning the provision of legal services do not apply to KWM Compliance Pty Ltd.