Strengthening Support for the Profession in Canada

I've been attending IIA events long before stepping into my role as North American board chair, and they've always been among the most rewarding experiences of my career. These gatherings provide opportunities to connect with fellow internal audit leaders and practitioners, exchange insights and ideas, and reflect on the challenges and opportunities ahead. This year was no exception, and I enjoyed hearing from internal auditors across Canada and how they are navigating an increasingly complex risk environment.

Throughout the week, one theme stood out to me: As the risks facing organizations continue to evolve, so must our role as strategic advisors. Equally important is The IIA’s role in guiding and supporting the profession through this change. With AI and geopolitical uncertainty at the forefront of today's risk landscape, our profession has an opportunity to strengthen its position as a trusted advisor to boards and executive leadership.

That theme carried through to my State of the Profession keynote at CNC, which explored how audit leaders can build trust in an age of AI acceleration. It's a topic that has understandably been top of mind for leaders across the profession. The IIA's latest Risk in Focus 2026/2027 reports research underscored this urgency, with 69% of North American internal audit leaders identifying digital disruption, including AI, among their organization's top five risks.

I also had the opportunity to participate in a panel on geopolitical risk, another rapidly accelerating concern that was highlighted in this year's Risk in Focus research. Our discussion explored how shifting economic, regulatory, and political dynamics are reshaping organizational risk, and how internal auditors can bring a more forward-looking perspective to strategic conversations to help organizations anticipate challenges and build resilience.

Strengthening Support in Canada

Beyond the panels and sessions, it was especially rewarding to connect with Canada’s internal audit community and see firsthand the important work The IIA is doing to support North American practitioners. As we continue to engage with Canadian policymakers and stakeholders to elevate the profession's voice and advocate for internal audit’s role in strengthening governance and accountability, we're also taking practical steps to better serve our Canadian members.

One recent example is the introduction of Canadian dollar pricing for IIA products and services available in Canada, providing more stable local pricing and a simpler, more consistent purchasing experience. While this may seem like a small operational change in practice, it reflects a broader commitment to making The IIA’s resources, learning opportunities, and services more accessible to our Canadian community.

Looking Ahead

I left Vancouver energized by the conversations, insights, and dedication to our profession that I observed throughout the week. Thank you to everyone who joined us, our speakers and panelists, and the team at The IIA for making this year’s event a resounding success.

I look forward to building on this momentum as we continue to support internal auditors in navigating an evolving risk landscape and reinforcing the profession's role in building trust and organizational resilience across North America.