Driving Risk-Aware Culture in SPF
On 4 September 2025, IIA Singapore participated in the Inspectorate and Risk Management Department (IRMD) seminar organised by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) at the New Phoenix Park Auditorium. The event, themed “Driving Risk-Aware Culture in SPF”, brought together over 300 audit and risk professionals, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (Policy) How Kwang Hwee as the Guest of Honour, to share insights on embedding risk awareness and strengthening risk culture.
The seminar featured presentations from SAC Loke Wai Yew (Director, IRMD, SPF), Lim Thian Chin (Senior Director, Digital Governance and Chief Risk Officer, GovTech Singapore), and Alywin Teh (Partner, PwC Singapore).
Thian Chin emphasised that while a robust foundation in compliance enables operational excellence within safe parameters, mere compliance is no longer sufficient in today’s rapidly evolving environment. He outlined how risk management and audit can complement compliance to move beyond routine box-ticking, fostering informed decision-making and a mindset focused on risk trade-offs. Lim also shared insights from GovTech’s journey in cultivating a risk-informed culture, highlighting both achievements and challenges in balancing innovation, security, and public value.
Alywin highlighted the importance of risk culture, explaining how behaviours, values, and attitudes toward risk shape effective risk management. He also shared insights on advancing risk culture, outlining the idea of a framework that helps organisations define the behaviours they want, support them with examples and guidance, and assess current behaviours to see what can be improved. The presentations collectively highlighted the importance of embedding risk awareness at all levels, aligning behaviours and values toward risk, and using audit and risk management as enablers of informed decision-making and innovation.
The seminar concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Wong Kang Yan of SPF, featuring Wai Yew, Thian Chin, and Alywin. The discussion offered participants the opportunity to reflect on practical approaches to embedding risk awareness and culture within their organisations.
The event also provided IIA Singapore with the opportunity to engage with the SPF audit and risk community and to promote the IIA 2026 International Conference, a global event to be held in Singapore from 22 to 24 June. The conference will bring together visionaries, thought leaders, and industry influencers in an annual gathering crafted to drive the future innovations of internal audit.
