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.

After six years as an external auditor, I transitioned from accountancy to internal audit and have spent the subsequent 31 years working firstly in the private sector for professional services firms, as a supplier of outsourced internal audit, and then as an in-house head of internal audit in the public sector/central government. I found internal audit by chance but realised quickly how fascinating, challenging, stretching and rewarding it is. I have been an IIA Wales Committee member since 2015 and really value the network of internal auditors in my region; as an auditor, I never stop learning and this network provides great opportunities to collaborate, engage, learn and develop while allowing me to make a contribution to my profession.

Robert is a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Accountant and Chartered Internal Auditor. He has worked extensively in Internal Audit, Risk Management and Assurance over a career of 29 years. Robert is currently the Director of Audit and Assurance for Tata Steel UK and is an International Business Excellence (Baldrige model) Assessor. Robert also joined the Council of Cardiff University in July 2023. He is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Robert is a strong advocate of Internal Audit and was a founding member of IIA Wales (Cymru) and a volunteer for the Institute of Internal Auditors. Robert also is passionate about promoting opportunities for children and was a trustee of the Port Talbot Fire Cadets and a Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Assessor.

Robert is a Welsh speaker, having learned as an adult and is an alumnus of the University, graduating with an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) in the Recycling of Organic/Metallic Coated Steel Scrap from the School of Engineering.

Bethan Bonsall is a Senior Policy Officer in the ICO’s Welsh Affairs team, and leads on the local government and police and justice sector in Wales. In this session, Bethan will be talking about recent changes to the data protection landscape brought about by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, and highlighting the ICO’s helpful resources on Artificial Intelligence.