The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) plans to write to banks, insurers, and superannuation trustees in order to ensure these entities better integrate geopolitical risk into governance, risk management, and crisis preparedness practices, according to a speech on Wednesday by the regulator's chair, John Lonsdale.

The letter will set out the regulator's minimum expectations for how boards and senior management strengthen readiness for geopolitical shocks. Entities are expected to manage geopolitical risk through APRA's existing prudential framework, including prudential standards on governance, risk management, operational risk, resolution and recovery, and exit planning.

The regulator also plans to write to a "selected group of larger entities with heightened exposure to geopolitical shocks," asking them to undertake targeted readiness assessments.

It identified six key focus areas for entities to uplift their monitoring and response capabilities regarding geopolitical risk. APRA said it wants to see evidence of scenario analysis, capital and liquidity planning, as well as to see operational resilience embedded in risk management practices to support continuity of critical operations across a range of geopolitical scenarios.

The regulator also highlighted the risk of insider threats and foreign interference, as well as political risks, including the need for financial institutions to rapidly implement sanctions.