View from IIA Global: Own the future as agents of change

Serving as president and CEO of IIA Global for the past 12 years has been one of the most remarkable opportunities I could ever imagine. It’s been a privilege to have the opportunity to lead the global institute during this time. But progress is impossible without change and, as many of you know, at the end of March I am stepping down from my position at IIA Global. I believe that it is time for our organisation to have fresh new leadership, so that we are not recycling the same ideas and the same leadership style for too long. The time has come for me to pass the torch to new leadership and move on to the next phase in my career.

While that might sound like a farewell, this is not a goodbye. I have too much energy and enthusiasm for internal auditing to leave our profession. I also continue to have a deep passion for helping people realise the potential we can bring to the organisations we serve. Four years from now, I hope to celebrate my 50th anniversary in internal auditing with a blog post reflecting on a half-century in the most amazing profession on the planet.

This is a remarkable time in internal auditing. It is a new era for internal auditors, a time of previously unimagined risks, fascinating opportunities and an incredible proliferation of new sources of information. Through it all, we are proving our worth in new and creative ways. We are making awe-inspiring progress in how responsive we are, how versatile we are, how resilient we are, and how nimble and innovative we are in response to changing conditions.

The future of our profession is bright. We have incredible opportunities to be the trusted advisers that our organisations need. But as we move into the future, internal auditors must not only be trusted advisers, we must also be agents of change. We must be willing to point out new opportunities, to help management appreciate potential, to understand what is possible and to motivate them to act upon their opportunities. It is only when we bring about positive change that internal auditors can add value.

It’s a big job. And, as always, future success can be achieved only through hard work. But as the US President Theodore Roosevelt said: “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

Fortunately, the potential for success can skyrocket when we work together. That’s why I encourage all of you to volunteer for leadership positions within the IIA. My work in both volunteer and staff leadership positions has been more rewarding than I ever could have imagined. It truly has been work worth doing.

I believe that Anthony Pugliese, IIA Global’s new president and CEO, will be able to leverage the positive things we’ve done, and of course tackle those things that could be more effective. But IIA Global’s mission is much more than any one person can achieve. It is only by our continuing to work together that internal auditing can reach its full potential.

It has been an honour to work with so many of you over the past decades. I couldn’t have asked for better colleagues and really appreciate the contributions you have made to our profession and to the global institute. Your dedication has been a continuing inspiration. Words are inadequate to express my gratitude and appreciation, but I thank you for your support, encouragement and guidance over the years.

Best wishes for continued success in internal auditing! I wish each of you the best both professionally and personally as you help to create the future of our profession. I know that you will continue to do well and will achieve many major milestones. Enjoy every minute. 

Richard F Chambers writes a blog at chambersontheprofession.org and tweets at twitter.com/rfchambers. His latest book is Agents of Change: Internal Auditors in an Era of Disruption.

This article was first published in March 2021.