Home topics news Chad Gates, Managing Director of Pronto Software, News News Why most Australian CEOs aren’t restructuring despite recognising geopolitical threats Yajush Gupta February 4, 2026 Nearly 60% of business leaders worry about trade disruptions, yet only 7% have made structural changes. The CEO Institute Survey reveals the gap What’s happening: The 2026 CEO Institute Survey reveals leaders are recalibrating strategy, reassessing risk and investing selectively to build resilience in an era where volatility has become structural. Why this matters : CEOs are responding to a complex mix of economic, technological and geopolitical pressures rather than a single dominant threat. US trade policy shifts have emerged as the single biggest geopolitical risk, with almost six in 10 survey respondents more concerned about geopolitically driven trade disruptions than 12 months ago. The survey shows leaders are responding to a complex mix of economic, technological and geopolitical pressures, rather than a single dominant threat. Inflationary pressures remain the most pressing issue overall and are being felt most acutely in New Zealand. Consumer demand slowdown is also weighing heavily, with around one in five respondents expecting it to have the greatest impact on business performance in 2026. Technology disruption ranked as the third most cited challenge, selected by 16 per cent of Australian and 18 per cent of New Zealand respondents, reflecting growing unease about the pace and consequences of AI, automation and cyber risk. Labour supply and skills shortages continue to feature prominently, particularly in Australia, where 15 per cent of