Annual Conference 2025

  9.00 am - 9.10 am

Welcome Address

  9.10 am - 9.20 am

Opening Address

  9.20 am - 10.50 am

Navigating Complexity - Driving Trust in a Changing World

As organisations adopt artificial intelligence (AI) to drive innovation, they simultaneously expose themselves to new, sophisticated cybersecurity threats. Internal audit must rise to the dual challenge of assessing both the governance of AI and the resilience of digital ecosystems.

This two-part session brings together experts to explore the convergence of AI opportunity and cyber risk, and how internal auditors can provide assurance in a world where both the tools and threats are intelligent.

1. AI & the Future of Internal Audit: Harnessing Intelligence, Managing Risk: This segment will explore the understanding of AI and machine learning (ML) models, highlighting key risks such as bias, lack of transparency, and potential misuse. Participants will gain insights into emerging AI regulations and their implications for assurance, as well as critical audit checkpoints throughout the AI lifecycle from design and deployment to ongoing monitoring. The session will also outline the tools and skillsets internal auditors need to effectively assess and provide oversight of AI systems.

2. Cybersecurity in the Age of AI: Evolving Threats and Audit’s Role: This session will examine how AI is being leveraged in both cyber defence mechanisms and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, including phishing and deepfakes. It will address the governance challenges posed by AI driven environments and the importance of robust cyber risk frameworks. Explore how internal audit can play a pivotal role in testing cybersecurity controls, evaluating incident response preparedness, and strengthening organisational resilience.

  10.50 am - 11.20 am

Morning Coffee Break

  11.20 am - 11.50 am

Digital Transformation & the Blurring of the Lines: A New Model for Risk and Assurance

As organisations accelerate digital transformation, the traditional boundaries between the Three Lines are being redefined. Technology-driven change demands rapid decision-making, integrated risk responses, and real-time assurance — challenging the conventional independence of audit, risk, and compliance functions. This session explores how digital initiatives such as Enterprise Resource Planning overhauls, agile development, data lakes, and AI deployment are prompting closer collaboration across the lines, and how internal audit can remain objective while adding value throughout the transformation lifecycle.

  11.50 am - 12.40 pm

Panel Discussion: Digital Transformation & the Blurring of the Lines: A New Model for Risk and Assurance

Building on the earlier presentation, this panel brings together experienced leaders to share real-world insights discussing how cross-functional collaboration plays out in practice, what “guardrails” are needed to preserve independence, and how the Three Lines can be reimagined as a dynamic, data-driven model fit for the digital age.

  12.40 pm - 1.50 pm

Lunch

  1.50 pm - 2.40 pm

Leveraging Corporate Behaviour as a Catalyst for Growth: Internal Audit as Strategic Advisor

In today’s complex and dynamic business environment, corporate behaviour encompassing culture, ethics, and leadership tone has emerged as a powerful driver of sustainable growth. Internal auditors must go beyond assurance to become catalysts for cultural alignment and organisational integrity. This session explores how internal auditors can shape behaviour, influence tone at the top, and strengthen relationships across the enterprise, while preserving independence and objectivity.

  2.40 pm - 3.25 pm

From Interrogation to Insight: Investigative Mindsets in Internal Audit

From supervising covert operations and managing high-stakes interrogations to investigating complex pharmaceutical crimes across borders, our speaker has spent decades uncovering truths others tried to hide. In this captivating session, the Regional Director – Asia Pacific of the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI), and former law enforcement professional, shares powerful lessons from his frontline experience in investigations, and interrogation.

He will explore how the mindset and methods of an investigator—asking the right questions, reading between the lines, recognising patterns, and testing assumptions are not just relevant but essential to the practice of internal audit today.

As internal auditors navigate increasingly complex risk landscapes, being able to challenge information, assess behavioural cues, and apply critical thinking is more important than ever. This session will inspire you to sharpen your questioning skills, trust your instincts, and embrace curiosity as a core part of audit excellence.

  3.25 pm - 3.55 pm

Geopolitical Risk & Strategic Agility: Implications for Internal Audit

Geopolitical tensions, shifting alliances, and global markets uncertainty are reshaping the global business landscape. These forces pose strategic risks that can disrupt operations, challenge compliance, and test organisational resilience. This session provides a strategic overview of the key geopolitical and economic trends impacting global business operations and the internal audit profession.

Gain an understanding of how internal audit can expand its strategic relevance by incorporating geopolitical risk into its planning, communication, and advisory role and practical approaches to horizon scanning, scenario analysis, and engaging with leadership on navigating uncertainty in an increasingly unpredictable world.

  3.55 pm - 4.25 pm

Afternoon Coffee Break

  4.25 pm - 5.05 pm

Panel Discussion: Geopolitical Risk & Strategic Agility: Implications for Internal Audit

Following the earlier presentation, this panel brings together diverse perspectives to explore how organisations and internal audit functions are responding to geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Panellists will share practical insights on risk anticipation, stakeholder engagement, and enhancing audit’s strategic role amid global disruption.

  5.05 pm - 5.50 pm

Panel Discussion: Rising to the Challenge: Leadership, Agility & Influence in a Changing World

In an era marked by economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, shifting stakeholder priorities and heightened regulations, internal auditors must evolve from assurance providers to agile, forward-looking leaders. This dynamic session explores and shares insights on how internal audit functions can adapt, innovate, and lead amid disruption. The session also highlights the leadership capabilities and strategic mindset needed to build resilient, influential future-ready internal audit teams.

  5.50 pm - 6.00 pm

Closing Address