Blogs

The Auditor of the Future: Are You Ready?

By Daisy Kelly posted 13 days ago
📅 2026 📍CAE Leaders Network ⏱️ 8 min read Based on a presentation by Helena Trupin , co-founder of GoFIGR , to the IIA-Australia CAE Leaders Network, 4 March 2026. When Block Inc. announced a strategic decision to cut 40% of its headcount, the market did not react with caution; it responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, driving the company's share price up by 28% on the exact same day. The driving force behind this dramatic restructure was articulated clearly by the company's CFO, Amrita Ahuja: "We see an opportunity to move faster with smaller, highly talented teams using AI to automate more work." When considering this, there is an ...

RoboDebt's Real Lesson: When the Assurance Architecture Fails Completely

By Daisy Kelly posted 19 days ago
Panel Discussion | SOPAC® 2026 📅 2026 📍 SOPAC® 2026 Conference ⏱️ 10 min read Featuring Christopher Knaus (Guardian Australia), Dr. Darren O'Donovan (La Trobe University), and Michael Cordell (CJZ) | Moderated by Trish Hyde The RoboDebt Royal Commission has been described in the starkest terms as "a saga of venality, incompetence, and cowardice." But for Chief Audit Executives, the more instructive framing belongs to SOPAC® 2026 moderator Trish Hyde: "These are not government problems. They are governance problems — and they live in every sector, regardless of where you work." At SOPAC® 2026, three people who spent ...

IIA-Australia Launches Internal Audit Excellence Framework: Value-Based Internal Audit

By Daisy Kelly posted 12-03-2026
MEDIA RELEASE 12 March 2026 IIA-Australia Launches Internal Audit Excellence Framework: Value-Based Internal Audit The Institute of Internal Auditors–Australia (IIA-Australia) has launched a new publication, Internal Audit Excellence Framework: Value-Based Internal Audit , providing practical guidance for internal audit leaders seeking to enhance the strategic contribution of Line Three. The new framework outlines the Value-Based Internal Audit methodology designed to strengthen an internal audit function’s ability to create, protect and sustain value. It brings together the building blocks internal audit can use to elevate professional practice ...

IIA-Australia Mentoring Program In Focus: Paul & Yulia

By Daisy Kelly posted 12-03-2026
Mentor and Mentee Profile: Yulia and Paul The IIA-Australia Mentoring Program connects experienced practitioners with members looking to grow. Yulia and Paul's experience from the 2025 program illustrates what that connection can produce: sharper professional judgement, broader perspective, and, in Paul's case, a significant career step forward. Applications for the 2026 program close on 22 March : Mentoring - Institute of Internal Auditors Australia Yulia | Mentor Why I Chose to Mentor Yulia joined the program with a clear purpose: to give back to the profession that had supported and shaped her development. "I have ...

The Future of Regulation – Strengthening Governance, Risk, and Compliance practices in the public and private sector

By Daisy Kelly posted 06-11-2025
Authors: Di Sinclair and Komal Kalra Regulatory enforcement in Australia is experiencing transformative change. Rapidly advancing technology and the need for agile consumer protections are putting Australian regulators under increasing pressure. This year alone, technological revolutions such as AI, alongside security and cyber pressures, have prompted regulators to strengthen their enforcement actions. They also face increasing public scrutiny and expectations of stringent measures to combat corporate misconduct. On 3 September 2025, leaders from the public and private sectors convened in Melbourne to discuss the future of regulation. Hosted ...

Spotlight on Emerging Leaders: Andre Domville AMIIA

By Daisy Kelly posted 23-10-2025
Recognised as the Emerging Internal Audit Leader of the Year in 2024, Andre Domville’s journey reflects the forward-thinking mindset shaping the next generation of assurance professionals. As Senior Manager, Analytics at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Andre combines a passion for technology with a commitment to continuous improvement, using automation and AI to strengthen assurance outcomes and deliver greater value to stakeholders. In this interview, Andre shares how receiving the award has influenced his professional journey, the opportunities that followed, and how he continues to balance career, study and innovation in a rapidly evolving environment. ...

From the Corruption Prevention Network Forum: How Behaviour Shapes Fraud Risk

By Daisy Kelly posted 09-10-2025
IIA-Australia recently attended the Corruption Prevention Network ( https://corruptionprevention.net/ ) in their annual forum in September 2025. Our member and former IIA-Australia President, Stephen Horne, contributed to the presentations and reminded us of a useful approach to preventing fraud in an organisation. This approach has come about in considering the nature of individuals who commit fraud and their motivations. In the end, fraud is committed by people, and it is worthwhile looking at the behaviour of the person to determine the best mitigation strategies. ICAC has previously shared the concept that fraudsters can be considered as “meat eaters” ...

Leadership in Focus: Jennifer Arnold on Leading with Purpose and Building Team Excellence

By Daisy Kelly posted 09-10-2025
Celebrating Excellence in Internal Audit: Jennifer Arnold AMIIA, Chief Audit Executive at Bupa In 2024, Jennifer Arnold AMIIA and her team at Bupa were recognised with the Internal Audit Team of the Year Award for their commitment to collaboration, continuous improvement, and the value they bring to the business. As Chief Audit Executive, Jennifer reflects on the award with a deep sense of pride in her team’s high performance and growth mindset. For Jennifer, the recognition is more than a personal milestone. It acknowledges the strength of the team she leads and the impact of internal audit across the organisation. From launching a successful graduate ...

Q&A with Reg du Preez PMIIA CIA: Reflections on Leading an Award-Winning Internal Audit Team

By Daisy Kelly posted 24-09-2025
In 2024, Reg du Preez PMIIA CIA and his team at Australian Retirement Trust were recognised with the Internal Audit Team of the Year Award for their outstanding contributions to building a high-performing, in-house internal audit function. Reg has since moved into a new role as General Manager, Risk at Australian Retirement Trust, continuing to drive value and strengthen governance across the organisation. In this interview, he reflects on his team’s achievements, the impact of the award, and his vision for the future. Do you know an internal audit team delivering exceptional impact? Nominate them for the 2025 Internal Audit Team of the Year Award ...

Navigating the Polycrisis: How Internal Auditors Must Adapt in an Era of Unprecedented Change

By Daisy Kelly posted 11-09-2025
Insights from a compelling panel discussion on adaptive governance featuring industry leaders The New Reality: Welcome to the Polycrisis Era The world has fundamentally changed. We're no longer dealing with isolated risks that can be managed in silos—we're facing what experts call a "polycrisis," where multiple, interconnected challenges hit organisations simultaneously. Climate shocks, geopolitical conflicts, AI disruption, cybersecurity threats, and supply chain vulnerabilities are all colliding in ways that traditional governance models struggle to address. As governance, risk and assurance professionals, we find ourselves ...

Celebrating Excellence in Internal Audit: Kate Bethell PMIIA

By Daisy Kelly posted 11-09-2025
When passion meets purpose, the impact resonates across an entire profession. Kate Bethell, Director of Internal Audit and Risk at Scyne, exemplifies this spirit. Recognised for her outstanding contributions to internal audit, Kate was honoured with the Internal Auditor of the Year Award 2024, an accolade that celebrates leadership and innovation within the industry. Since receiving the award, Kate has deepened her involvement with IIA-Australia, joining the WA Chapter Council, hosting events and contributing to the planning of the upcoming 50th anniversary WA Conference. In this interview, Kate reflects on her journey from the moment of winning to the ...

The Three Lines Intertwined

By Daisy Kelly posted 28-08-2025
By Joe Tarshish, Jennie Wallace, and Joe Ciancimino Combined assurance enables internal auditors to collaborate across control functions to improve risk insights and governance. E nterprise risk management (ERM) is primarily management’s responsibility, but internal auditors must maintain visibility across the organization to provide effective assurance, as outlined in The IIA’s Global Internal Audit Standards. Many organizations use a combined assurance model to coordinate risk efforts. Combined assurance delivers a unified, holistic view of risk and control effectiveness. This approach not only ...

AI in Government: From Promise to Peril – What You Need to Know

By Daisy Kelly posted 14-08-2025
The rapid deployment of AI across government agencies presents unprecedented opportunities and risks. Recent incidents worldwide offer crucial lessons for governance, risk and assurance professionals tasked with ensuring responsible implementation. Th is article captures insights from a leading practitioner in the ethical use of AI, Darren Menachemson , who spoke at a recent IIA forum. The AI Revolution is Here – Ready or Not The Australian Government recently launched Gov.ai, essentially a sovereign ChatGPT for public service use. This milestone underscores a critical reality: AI ...

Decision-Making Excellence: Building Influence With the Organisation’s Wider Governance

By Daisy Kelly posted 04-08-2025
Insights from the IIA - Australia Canberra Conference Panel Discussion The relationship between internal audit and organi s ational governance has never been more critical. At a recent IIAA Australia conference, three distinguished practitioners—Elizabeth Montano ( sea soned audit committee chair for multiple organisations ), Lisa Berwick (Chief Internal Auditor at ASIC), and Bruce Turner ( former internal auditor now serving as audit committee chair for multiple organisations and 2025 recipient of the Global Internal Audit Legacy Award)—shared compelling insights on how internal auditors can elevate decision-making ...

What's Next for Topical Requirements

By Daisy Kelly posted 04-08-2025
Time to Prepare: Cybersecurity  The first Topical Requirement: Cybersecurity , will be effective from February 2026. With six months to go until their effective date, now is the time to prepare your internal audit function. Have you started to consider the inclusion of Topical Requirements in your internal audit methodology ?  At the heart of it, Topical Requirements are focused on risk. They provide an opportunity to carefully consider the topic in relation to your internal audit activities. A risk area such as cybersecurity is typically present in an organisation’s risk profile and often results in cybersecurity ...

New Learning Pathways for Future of IA, Risk & Assurance

By Trish Hyde posted 17-06-2025
Vision 2035 Foreshadows Role Evolution for Internal Audit and GRC Profession. IIA-Australia Responds with New Learning Pathways Strategy – Fundamentals to Certification 2024 global research [1] forecasts a significant shift from internal audit as an isolated function to an integrated Three Lines assurance. In the future, internal auditors may head whole of risk and assurance functions; and they will have dynamic professional career journeys across control assurance, risk management and internal audit; and, as a profession, they will be future-insight driven strategic advisors to their organisations. ...

Mastering AML/CTF Compliance Audits in Australia | IIA-Australia Masterclass 2025

By Daisy Kelly posted 12-06-2025
With AUSTRAC tightening its approach to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) oversight, internal auditors are under increasing pressure to deliver compliance audits that are not just procedural, but insightful and actionable. To meet this need, IIA-Australia is offering a practical, hands-on masterclass tailored to auditors who want to build confidence in reviewing AML/CTF programs. The session will cover everything from engagement planning to test procedures, red flags, and audit reporting , designed with Australian regulatory expectations in mind. Participants will learn through real-world case ...

Cancelled: 5th Edition of ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Guidelines Shelved

By Trish Hyde posted 20-02-2025
For readers of the AFR, you may have seen Patrick Durkin’s relentless campaign targeting the near-complete 5th edition of the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Guidelines. For those unfamiliar with his articles, over the past few weeks, Patrick has made claims that the 5th edition contained onerous Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) disclosure requirements and that this was causing division at the Council of 19 industry, investor and governance bodies (of which IIA-Australia is one). The Council Chair, Elizabeth Johnstone has publicly corrected the claims about the DEI disclosures. But, as it turned out last week, Patrick was correct about ...

Cybersecurity Topical Requirement Launched Today: What You Need to Know!

By Trish Hyde posted 06-02-2025
You may recall that when the new Global Internal Audit Standards™ (GIAS) were released in January 2024, we flagged that the GIAS would be joined by Topical Requirements – a more consistent approach to setting minimum requirements for internal auditing of fast moving and evolving topics. The first Topical Requirement 🛡️Cybersecurity🛡️ launched today (US time) and comes into effect in 12 months, on 5 February 2026. It is supported by a helpful user guide that includes additional practical information such as mapping to international cybersecurity standards. The Topical Requirement is applicable when the topic is one of the following: ...

Watch Dog or Lap Dog

By Trish Hyde posted 30-01-2025
Imagine… it’s Friday night. You’ve worked hard. Let’s face it, as the CAE for a high-profile government department you’ve got a lot on your plate. TGIF, you think. Your phone pings, and without hesitation you look at the email that’s just arrived. It’s 2 sentences telling you that due to changing priorities your services are terminated immediately – thank you for your service. This awful scenario befell 17 or 18 US Inspectors-General (US public sector internal auditors) last Friday at approx. 7.30pm (reported in major American news outlets, including CNN, Fox and Washington Post*). The exact number of people impacted is a little vague, because the ...