Internal Auditors global chief cautions about emerging risks

Risks are evolving at an unprecedented rate, and it is essential that internal auditors at all levels are well prepared for what lies ahead. That will be the focus of the 20th Annual Regional Audit Conference (ARAC) organized by the UAE Internal Auditors Association (UAE IAA). Themed “Future Technology Shaping IA,” the event will be held April 12-14, 2020 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center. 

Richard Chambers, President and CEO of the global association, The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), will be discussing important themes for the profession in his address, “Vision 2020s: The Decade Ahead for Internal Audit.” 

The event, widely considered the largest “Smart” conference and premier training event related to Internal Audit in the Middle East, will give delegates an opportunity to interact with leading professionals who influence change in the profession.

“The 2020s will almost certainly pose significant new challenges and opportunities for the internal audit profession. We must look at where we have been, where we are now, and, importantly, where we are heading. It’s not enough to predict the future: Our mission is to determine how we will get there,” said Chambers. 

“The UAE IAA is making great strides to progress the internal audit profession in the Middle East, where we are seeing sustained growth in membership. I am delighted to return to Dubai for this marquee event.” 

UAE IAA Chairman of the Board, Abdulqader Obaid Ali, said: “We look forward to showcasing thepath forward for the world of internal audit. Our future-oriented conference offers world-class professional development sessions that focus on how upcoming trends in technology will reshape the profession in this decade and beyond.”

Targeting 1,500+ professionals to attend the event from the Middle East and North African region, key topics will include Digitization, Agile Auditing, Governance and Risks, Fraud and Corruption, Information Security and Transformational Leadership.

“To sustain and build on our successes of the past two decades, internal auditors will need to pivot yet again to address the changing needs driven by high-tech disruptions that fundamentally impact how work gets done,” added Chambers. “To successfully adapt, internal auditors will need to embrace technology like never before.”

UAE IAA, a non-profit organization, was set up in 1995 along the lines of its parent body, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA Global) which has 200,000 members from more than 190 countries and organizations. The UAE accounts for about 45% of the total number of internal auditors working in the region, estimated at about 7,000 auditors, of which 22% are Emiratis.