Scotland Conference 2026

  • 19 November 2026 9:00am to 20 November 2026 1:00pm
  • Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre
  • Conference
    • Conference
  • Active

Join Scotland’s internal audit and risk community at its flagship event of the year at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre.


From Assurance to Influence: Internal Audit’s Moment to Lead

The 2026 Chartered IIA Scotland Annual Conference is a high energy, in person gathering bringing together audit, risk and assurance professionals from across Scotland and beyond. Hosted over one and a half days in central Edinburgh, the conference combines inspiring speakers, interactive breakout sessions and lively discussion, rounded off with a drinks reception and conference dinner on day one.

Featuring senior leaders and practitioners from high profile organisations, the programme explores the most pressing and emerging issues facing the profession, set against today’s economic and business challenges. Expect practical insights, fresh perspectives and ideas you can take straight back to your organisation, alongside valuable opportunities to connect with peers.


Time Session      Speaker
08:45 - 09:30 Registration
09:30 - 09:40 Welcome Address and introduction

Paul Skinnider, CIIA Scotland committee chair

Scott Strachan, Conference chair 

09:40 - 10:00 Update from the Chartered IIA

Arleen McGichen, President, Chartered IIA 

Anne Kiem, Chief Executive Officer, Chartered IIA

10:00 - 10:45 TBC

 

10:45 - 11:15 Political and Economic Risks of the world we are living in Sandy Begbie, Chief Executive, Scottish Financial Enterprise
11:15 - 11:35 Networking, exhibition and refreshments
11:35 - 12:05 Breakout sessions 
  Professional Courage in Practice: Influencing First Line Stakeholders

Maureen Evans, Executive Coach, Rosewell House

Louise Fleming, Executive Coach, Rosewell House 

  TBC  Sponsored by Datasnipper 
  Cyber Security in Focus: Responding to Emerging and Evolving Threats Manav Soni, Grant Thornton
12:05 - 12:40 Beyond the Hype: AI Enablement and Assurance by Internal Audit in 2026 Vivek Shivram, Global Head of Analytics & Data Science, Aegon
12:40 - 13:15 A View from the Chair: Judgement, Challenge and Accountability

Caroline Gardiner, Chair of the PwC UK Oversight Body, Wheatley Group & PwC

13:15 - 14:10 Networking, exhibition and lunch 
14:10 - 14:40 Breakout sessions 
  Professional Courage in Practice: Influencing First Line Stakeholders

Maureen Evans, Executive Coach, Rosewell House

Louise Fleming, Executive Coach, Rosewell House 

  TBC Sponsored by Datasnipper 
  Cyber Security in Focus: Responding to Emerging and Evolving Threats Manav Soni, Grant Thornton
14:40 - 15:20  Keynote: Courageous Leadership: Speaking Up and Driving Meaningful Change Kezia Dugdale, Centre for Public Policy, UofG & Stonewall
15:20 - 15:40  Networking, exhibition and refreshments 
15:40 - 16:15 TBC  
16:15 - 16:50  Trust and Decision-Making Under Pressure: Lessons from High-Stakes Environments Faraaz Noor, Graduate Group Internal Auditor, BBC's Tratiors finalist/ Persimmons Homes 
16:50 - 17:00 Closing remarks 

Scott Strachan, Conference Chair

18:30 - 19:30 Drinks Reception 
19:30 - 21:30  Dinner

*Please note that the programme is subject to change

Time Session      Speaker
09:00 - 09:30 Registration
09:30 - 09:40 Welcome and introduction  Scott Strachan, Conference Chair 
09:40 - 10:15 Leadership Under Scrutiny: Maintaining Trust in Uncertain Times Peter Tansley, Director of Audit & Assurance, BBC
10:15 - 10:50 Delivering Public Value in a Complex and Changing Landscape Jennifer Inglis-Jones, Director of Internal Audit & Assurance, Scottish Government 
10:15 - 11:20  Breakout sessions   
  Evolving Third-Party Risk: Strengthening Oversight in a Volatile World 3VRM
  The Future of Audit: Innovation, Insight and Professional Judgement Deloitte
11:20 - 11:35 Networking, exhibition and refreshments 
11:35 - 12:05 Breakout sessions:
  The Future of Audit: Innovation, Insight and Professional Judgement Deloitte
  Evolving Third-Party Risk: Strengthening Oversight in a Volatile World 3VRM
12:05 - 12:40 TBC Ann Brook, Director of Knowledge & Learning, Chartered IIA
12:40 - 13:15 Quantum Auditing – Beyond AI, Assurance, and Audit Fausto Aiello, Head of Internal Audit for EMEA, Disney
13:15 - 13:30 Closing remarks

Scott Strachan, Conference Chair 

Paul Skinnider, CIIA Scotland committee chair 

13:30 - 14:30 Networking lunch

*programme is being finalised 

Fausto Aiello, Head of Audit, EMEA, Walt Disney Company

 

Fausto Aiello is Head of Audit, EMEA at The Walt Disney Company, where he leads compliance audits, processes analysis and improvements and AI projects across a broad portfolio of brands and intellectual property. His work sits at the intersection of audit, accounting, commercial performance, brand protection, data analysis and AI. 

Fausto is a certified accountant and has a record of accomplishments across several industries such as financial services, automotive, real estate, retail, AI, education, no profit, hospitality, media and entertainment. 

He is driven by innovation, startups, and impact-oriented initiatives, with a focus on future-empowered cultures that connect strategy, creativity, and execution into sustainable transformation. 

Sandy Begbie CBE, Chief Executive, Scottish Financial Enterprise 

Sandy Begbie CBE, FRSE was appointed Chief Executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise in October 2020. 

Prior to joining SFE, Sandy led the development of the Scottish Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee following an 18-month contract at Tesco Bank as the Chief Transformation Officer. Sandy was responsible for the Global People, Organisation and Culture Integration following the successful merger of Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management in 2017. Before the merger Sandy was the Chief People Officer and Lead Executive for China and Hong Kong for Standard Life for eight years. 

Ann Brook, Director of Knowledge & Learning, Chartered IIA

Ann has been working in the internal audit and related professions for over 25 years and became a Head of Internal Audit in a large Building Society in 2009. Since then, she worked in Risk Management and various governance roles, and held multiple appointments as Board, Council and Audit Committee member across a range of sectors and industries.

Ann moved into Higher Education in 2013 with the aim to giving more back to the internal audit profession. She was course leader for the only Internal Audit focused degree in the UK and helped develop both the level 4 and level 7 Apprenticeships with the trailblazer group of employees. She subsequently implemented and delivered the level 7 apprenticeship which she grew over 5 years by 700% with great success. 

Ann has been an active volunteer of the Chartered IIA since 2007 and is now Head of Technical Content and Research. She aims to bring her practical and higher education experiences to drive practical support for the internal audit profession.

Maureen Evans, Executive Coach, Rosewell House

Maureen coaches Leaders and Executives and has built and operates a successful movement and wellness business. Her focus as a coach is on helping leaders to find clarity at times of transition. Earlier in her career, she spent 20 years working in consulting and financial services organisations including Zurich, Andersen, Deloitte and Barclays. At Barclays, she spent time as an internal audit leader in the UK, Europe & US as well as leading development and roll out of training across the UK, US, Europe, Africa and Asia. At Andersen and Deloitte, she worked in risk consulting and business consulting working in UK, Europe and the US. In 2011, she was inspired to make a career change. She undertook advanced movement training and set up a movement and wellness business. She currently operates and manages this business as well as working with clients. Alongside this, she uses her analytical, listening and questioning skills as a an executive and leadership coach and facilitates leadership workshops for Internal Audit leaders at leading Financial Services firms. Maureen’s experience allows her to listen to and support clients to develop clarity and confidence. 

Louise Fleming, Executive Coach, Rosewell House

Louise coaches Senior Executives and Professional Services Partners, and designs and facilitates specialist leadership development programmes. As a coach, she provides a confidential space for clients to explore their role as a leader. She works with clients navigating complex stakeholder relationships, transitioning to new roles, or looking to find and fulfil their personal purpose. Her work as a facilitator is focused on the intersection of technical and interpersonal skills. She specialises in working with professionals in governance, risk, control, audit, legal and financial roles. With over 30 years in professional and financial services, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her clients. She has experience at Andersen and Deloitte in governance, risk and control consulting in the UK and Asia Pacific, including a secondment to the UK regulator. She has also worked at Barclays in roles across the lines of defence: first internal audit, then risk and finally as a leader in corporate banking with teams in the UK and US. Over the last decade, she has partnered with many global financial and professional services organisations; trained and practised as an individual and team coach; worked as an independent trustee and board member; and facilitated hundreds of workshops in the UK and internationally. Most importantly of all, she has had the privilege to work with professionals all round the world learning about them and their roles; what they find challenging; the skills they have and the skills they want to develop.  

Caroline Gardner CBE, Chair of the Audit Oversight Body for PwC and Board member, Wheatley Group

Caroline Gardner CBE is a respected leader in audit, governance and public accountability. Former Auditor General for Scotland, she currently serves as Chair of the Audit Oversight Body for PwC UK and as a board member of the Wheatley Group. A Fellow and former President of CIPFA, Caroline has also helped shape international ethical standards for the accountancy profession. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, an Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow, and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Strathclyde. 

Anne Kiem, CEO, Chartered IIA

Anne Kiem joined the Chartered IIA in January 2023 having been Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools for eight years. In that time the staff team has more than tripled as a result of significant new activities and income streams. She attributes this success to fantastic colleagues and supportive and dedicated members.

Her career to date has included membership organisations, education and financial services. She was awarded an OBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Arleen McGichen, President, Chartered IIA

Arleen is a qualified Director of Internal Audit and Risk management, with over twenty-three years of experience in audit, assurance and risk management in the insurance, asset management and retail banking sectors. She holds the Chartered Banker and member qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland and also has the Chartered Member qualification from the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors. She also holds qualifications in Investment management and Treasury.

Currently Group Chief Audit Officer for Royal London, she is responsible for leading the Internal Audit proposition and representing the function at executive and board level. She is passionate about Internal Audit and Risk and is a Director on the Council of the CIIA; this role gives her the opportunity to influence the internal audit industry and to advocate for the value internal auditing brings.

Dr Vivek Shivram, Global Head of Analytics & Data Science for Internal Audit, Aegon

 

Dr. Vivek Shivram is the Global Head of Analytics & Data Science for Internal Audit at Aegon, where he enables innovation across the audit function through hands-on delivery of advanced analytics and AI solutions. Partnering with the global audit function and a network of analytics professionals, he identifies opportunities, builds solutions, and unlocks efficiencies and insights for stakeholders in an AI-first world. He also leads the design and delivery of analytics and data science training for the audit function, supporting the Global Audit Leadership team’s multi-year vision for the function’s transformation. 

With over 18 years of experience in Data Analytics and Technology Risk Assurance across practice and industry roles, Vivek has built data analytics teams from the ground up and brings deep technical expertise spanning SQL, Python, and low-code platforms such as Diligent, KNIME, and Alteryx. He is passionate about data, storytelling, and technology, and is known for building strong, lasting stakeholder relationships throughout his career. 

Vivek is an active mentor to early-career professionals in Assurance and Data Science, and welcomes conversations on analytics innovation, career development, or a good game of chess.

We are pleased to offer a public sector discount. This includes local authorities and charities.

If you would like to book with a discounted rate, contact events@charterediia.org

Recommended 

Radisson Blu Edinburgh

80 High Street, The Royal Mile,  Edinburgh,  EH1 1TH

 

Alternative nearby hotels:

ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile

6 Hunter Square, Off Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1QW

 

Travelodge Edinburgh Central

33 St Mary's St, Edinburgh, EH1 1TA

 

Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh - Royal Mile by IHG

300 Cowgate, Edinburgh, EH1 1NA

 

Premier Inn Edinburgh Central (Lauriston Place) hotel

82 Lauriston Pl, Edinburgh, EH3 9DG

 

Leonardo Hotel Edinburgh City

79 Lauriston Pl, Edinburgh, EH3 9HZ


Tickets

Early bird offer ends on Friday 28th August 2026.
Early bird - member - both days & dinner
  • £395.00
Early bird - member - both days only
  • £305.00
Early bird - member - day 1 & dinner
  • £315.00
Early bird - member - day 1 only
  • £230.00
Early bird - non-member - both days & dinner
  • £495.00
Early bird - non-member - both days only
  • £405.00
Early bird - non-member - day 1 & dinner
  • £415.00
Early bird - non-member - day 1 only
  • £330.00
Member - dinner only
  • £115.00
Non-member - dinner only
  • £155.00

Thank you to our sponsor