June 2026 Accountability and the Strength of Community  Accountability is often associated with leadership, governance, and decision-making; but within a professional chapter community, accountability is something shared by all of us. Active ISACA and chapter membership is more than affiliation; it reflects a commitment to professional responsibility, stakeholder trust, and the continued strength of our chapter.  Many of the opportunities our members benefit from today, including training, networking, mentorship, and professional connection, exist because others chose to stay engaged and contribute their time, energy, and attention to the community over time. Healthy chapters are not sustained through leadership alone. They are strengthened through members who participate, remain informed, and continue investing in the professional relationships and activities that help the chapter grow.  This month’s annual general meeting and elections provide an important opportunity to reflect on that shared responsibility. Elections are more than procedural requirements. They are one of the practical ways organizations demonstrate accountability, continuity, and trust in action. They also remind us that leadership within professional communities is ultimately rooted in service.  As we move through this month’s activities, we encourage members to remain engaged, review the nominee information, and participate in the conversations and events that continue shaping the future of our chapter. Strong professional communities are built gradually through participation, presence, and shared responsibility; and each year gives us another opportunity to continue that work together.  Learning Together, Growing Together  Last month’s IT Risk Fundamentals training brought together more than 70 participants over two days of discussion, learning, and professional engagement. For a virtual event, the level of interaction stood out in a meaningful way to me.  Throughout the training, the chat window remained active with questions, observations, and conversation as attendees engaged directly with the material and with one another. The session moved beyond passive attendance and became a collaborative learning experience shaped by participation and curiosity across the group. Credit also goes to our instructor Leighton Johnson, who created an environment that encouraged discussion and kept participants actively involved throughout the course.  One encouraging takeaway was the number of nonmembers who joined us for the event. Strong participation from both members and guests reflects growing interest in practical, accessible training opportunities focused on today’s risk and governance challenges.  Professional growth rarely happens in isolation. It develops through engagement, discussion, and shared learning experiences within the community around us. Events like this are a reminder that even in virtual settings, meaningful professional connection is still possible when people choose to participate.  If you missed May’s training event, we encourage you to take a look at our upcoming June session on Privacy Governance. There is still plenty of opportunity to join the conversation, connect with peers, and continue building momentum together as a chapter community. Power of Participation My name is Todd Wilkins, and I have had the privilege of serving as chapter president for the past couple of years. I tend to be naturally introverted, so becoming more involved with the chapter wasn’t something that came easily for me. What I discovered, though, was showing up creates opportunities for connection and growth in ways we often don’t expect.   Accountability is often understood as responsibility or follow-through, but within our chapter, it is really about connection. It reflects the shared commitment we make to one another to stay engaged, support each other, and help build a professional community where everyone can benefit. Over the years, I have seen that the strength of our chapter does not rest only in leadership roles or formal responsibilities, but in the active participation of our members. Whether it is attending a meeting, joining a training, connecting with others at an event, or simply sharing feedback and ideas, every interaction plays a part in shaping the health and energy of our chapter. As we approach this month’s annual general meeting and elections, I want to encourage everyone to remember that your presence and participation truly matter. No contribution is too small. By showing up and sharing your voice, you help strengthen a chapter that exists to support your success and the success of those around you. Privacy Stewardship and Professional Accountability  As organizations continue managing growing volumes of sensitive information, privacy governance is becoming more than a compliance exercise. It is increasingly viewed as a reflection of organizational accountability, trust, and operational maturity.  Today’s professionals are often expected to understand not only how data is protected, but also how privacy considerations influence governance, risk management, business operations, and stakeholder confidence. This shift is helping shape the growing relevance of certifications such as Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE), which reflect the profession’s broader movement toward integrating privacy directly into business and technology practices.  While not every professional will pursue a privacy-focused certification, the underlying concepts are becoming increasingly important across audit, governance, risk, and security roles. Privacy stewardship is no longer isolated to legal or compliance teams. It is becoming part of how organizations demonstrate accountability in practice.  These same ideas connect closely to this month’s chapter training, Practical Guide for Implementing Privacy Governance Program. The session focuses on translating privacy governance from theory into operational reality through practical frameworks, cross-functional collaboration, and measurable program development. As privacy expectations continue evolving, opportunities to strengthen both practical understanding and professional perspective remain increasingly valuable.  Shared Accountability  Accountability does not just define leadership. It also shapes how we engage as members. Before this month’s annual meeting, take a few moments to review the nominee bios and reflect on what accountable leadership looks like in practice. Healthy chapters are strengthened when members stay informed, show up, and participate together.  Read more on the chapter blog: Accountability is More Than Leadership  Accountability is More Than Leadership  As our chapter approaches this month’s annual general meeting and elections on June 25, 2026, accountability is naturally part of the conversation. Often, accountability is discussed as something expected from leaders, but healthy professional communities are strengthened when accountability is practiced by everyone involved.  In a chapter environment, accountability can look surprisingly practical. It is visible when members stay informed, review candidate information, attend meetings, ask thoughtful questions, and remain engaged in the direction of the organization. Participation may seem small in the moment, but over time it shapes the culture, continuity, and trust within the chapter.  Strong leadership matters, but strong chapters also require members who are willing to stay connected with the process. Elections are not simply procedural requirements; they are one of the ways a professional community reflects shared responsibility and stewardship.  As you prepare for this month’s annual general meeting, we encourage members to take a few moments to review the nominee bios and reflect on the qualities that accountable leadership demonstrates in practice. Accountability is not only defined through decisions made at the board level. It is also reflected through the willingness of members to show up, stay informed, and participate in the future of the chapter together.  Read the nominee bios here: Meet the 2026 Board Nominees  Annual General Meeting & Elections  Our Annual General Meeting and chapter elections will take place on June 25 following this month’s Privacy & Governance training session. Members are encouraged to review the candidate bios ahead of the meeting and stay connected with the chapter’s ongoing activities and leadership initiatives.  The annual meeting is an opportunity to hear chapter updates, stay informed on current initiatives, and remain connected with the direction of the organization as we move into the next chapter year. We encourage members to take a few moments to review the nominees and join us for the meeting later this month.  Upcoming Traning & Events Upcoming Events June 25 (2 CPE) Virtual Lunch & Learn and Annual General Meeting Registration The Practical Guide for Implementing Privacy Governance Program Annual Membership Meeting/ Elections July 14-15 IT Audit Fundamentals  Certificate Details Last Chance for Early Bird Pricing – GRC Conference 2026  Time is running out to take advantage of early bird pricing (ends June 19) for GRC Conference 2026, hosted by ISACA and The Institute of Internal Auditors.  Held August 17–19 in San Diego (and virtually), this event is designed to help you stay ahead in a rapidly changing governance and risk environment.  Attendees will gain:  Actionable insights from more than 50 industry experts  Customizable learning paths across 40+ sessions  Up to 28 CPE credits, including workshop opportunities  Direct access to peers and leaders shaping the future of GRC  If you’ve been considering attending, now is the time to act. Lock in your savings and ensure your place at this year’s premier GRC event.  Register today! When Compliance Isn’t Enough  Privacy in Practice: Ethics vs. Compliance  Original Article By: Safa Kazi, AIGP, CIPT  Published: ISACA Journal 2025 Volume 1  A recent ISACA Journal article, “Privacy in Practice: Ethics vs. Compliance,” challenges a mindset many organizations quietly fall into treating privacy as a checklist rather than a responsibility. While laws and regulations establish important requirements, the article argues that accountability begins where minimum compliance ends.  That distinction matters.  In governance, audit, risk, and security professions, it can be tempting to measure success by whether an organization technically meets regulatory obligations. But as the article highlights through examples involving AI training data, connected devices, and excessive consumer data collection, compliance alone does not always equate to ethical stewardship or trustworthy practices.  This tension is becoming increasingly visible in today’s environment. Organizations now collect, process, and share enormous amounts of information, often in ways users do not fully understand. In many cases, the law may permit certain actions, but the larger question remains: should the organization proceed simply because it can?  That question reflects accountability in practice.  Strong governance programs are defined by how they shape transparency, ownership, and a willingness to prioritize trust even when regulations are unclear or still evolving. Accountability requires organizations to think beyond the minimum requirements and consider the broader impact of their decisions on customers, employees, and stakeholders.  Accountability is not passive. Whether in privacy governance, organizational leadership, or chapter service, accountability is demonstrated through intentional participation, thoughtful decision-making, and visible stewardship.  This perspective is especially relevant as organizations continue building privacy programs that must bridge legal expectations, operational realities, and emerging technologies such as AI. Members interested in exploring these ideas further are encouraged to read the full ISACA Journal article and consider how accountability, ethics, and governance shape trust within their own organizations.  These same themes will also be explored during this month’s chapter training, Practical Guide for Implementing Privacy Governance Program, which focuses on moving privacy governance from theory into operational practice through frameworks, cross-functional collaboration, and measurable program development.  SC Midlands ISACA | PO Box 12771 | Columbia | SC | 29211 | US This message was sent through the SC Midlands ISACA's CVENT system. If you no longer want to receive emails from Newsletters 2026, please Opt-Out. This will remove you from the current campaign only.