Reimagining Risk and Resilience: How Internal Auditors Can Evolve as Strategic Partners
On 12 February 2026, internal audit and risk professionals came together for the webinar “Reimagining Risk and Resilience: How Audit and Risk Professionals Can Evolve into Strategic Partners in a NAVI World.” Presented by Raphael Yang, Partner, Risk Consulting at Ernst & Young Advisory Pte Ltd, the session explored how internal audit and risk functions can adapt to a nonlinear, accelerated, volatile and interconnected (NAVI) environment, where traditional assurance alone is no longer sufficient.
The webinar began by examining why risk needs a rethink. Organisations today face rapidly changing threats and opportunities, and risks are increasingly interconnected across operations, markets, technology, and society. In this context, internal audit and risk professionals must move beyond checking compliance and controls to provide insights that inform strategic decisions.
Drawing on insights from the 2025 EY Global Risk Transformation Study, Raphael highlighted how leading organisations are transforming their risk approach. They are embedding risk awareness into strategy, using data and technology to anticipate emerging issues, and fostering a culture of curiosity and critical thinking. These organisations see internal audit not just as a guardian of compliance, but as a partner in driving resilience and value creation.
The session also focused on practical steps to build a risk strategist organisation. Raphael emphasised that internal audit teams can strengthen their impact by applying scenario-based thinking, identifying potential disruptions early, and integrating foresight into their assurance activities. Leveraging data and technology enables auditors to spot patterns and insights that might otherwise be missed, while curiosity and rigorous questioning allow them to explore assumptions and potential blind spots.
By connecting risk insight to organisational strategy, internal audit and risk functions can anticipate disruption, support intelligent decision-making, and contribute to long-term resilience and sustainable performance. The webinar reinforced that internal auditors must combine technical expertise with strategic foresight and curiosity to remain relevant in an increasingly complex world.
