Our Stewardship in practice series highlights insights from the facilitators behind our IPAA Advantage training and the practical ideas they bring to the classroom across the key capability areas shaping today’s public sector. Today, we hear from Pete Gervasoni, chief risk officer at Skefto Innovations, about understanding risk language – no matter what part of the public sector you work in.

With over 20 years of experience in risk and resilience in the public sector, what stands out in Pete’s thinking is his focus on helping people make sense of complexity. For him, one of the biggest capability gaps in organisations is not a lack of tools, but the ability to translate complex risk information into a clear narrative that supports better decisions. 

This idea runs through the courses he facilitates for IPAA ACT: Becoming a HR risk storyteller, Cyber resilience foundations and Business continuity foundations. Across these topics, Pete returns to three connected themes: the need to turn complexity into action, the importance of understanding risk as a frontline capability, and the shift from compliance-led thinking to resilience in practice. 

His message for public sector professionals is practical: risk is not just a specialist function or a compliance exercise. It is part of everyday decision-making, and stronger stewardship depends on people being able to communicate risk clearly, respond with confidence and support resilience when it matters most. 

“Whether you’re in HR, policy, IT or project management, your decisions shape organisational resilience. When disruption hits, understanding risk language means you’re not just reacting, you’re contributing to a coordinated, informed response.” 

Pete’s approach to risk and resilience is shaped not only by his professional experience, but also by ideas about leadership, humility and taking the right risks. He often returns to Robert M. Gates’ Duty and A Passion for Leadership, particularly their reflections on the challenges of leadership in government and the value of quiet, disciplined change from within. 

Another book that resonates with Pete is The Trident by Jason Redman, which offers lessons in humility, resilience and learning openly from mistakes. Those ideas also inform a message Pete brings into his training: managing risk is not just about preventing problems. It is about creating the confidence to take the right risks and make better decisions. 

Explore Pete’s upcoming IPAA Advantage training courses 

• Becoming a HR risk storyteller 

• Cyber resilience foundations  
• Business continuity foundations 

Designed for fast capability uplift, IPAA Advantage courses focus on building practical knowledge that professionals can apply straight away.