Rania Bejjani, Founder & CEO RB Advisory & Consultancy

Rania Bejjani is a visionary and strategic Internal Audit and GRC transformation leader with 25+ years of global, cross-sector experience. A former Chief Audit & Risk Executive at VEON, FirstGroup and Colt, she now advises Boards and Executive teams through her boutique consultancy, providing Advisory, Mentoring and Training and helping elevate Risk and Audit into modern, trusted strategic partners. Renowned for her influence, commercial acumen and people-first leadership, she has mentored over 20 CAEs and CROs and led large teams across five continents. 

John Breen,  Consulting and Training Manager, Sibylline

John has over ten years of experience in geopolitical risk and policy advisory, having worked with businesses, governments and non-governmental organisations on political, socio-economic and security issues across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Career highlights include advising the Irish government’s mission to the UN on peace and security affairs in the Middle East and Southeast Asia and working at the London School of Economics to consult governments and businesses on geopolitical and macroeconomic dynamics across the Indo-Pacific. His professional background also includes working with civil society groups and the UN on human rights issues. 

Tim Buckley, CEO, Integral Assurance 

Tim Buckley is the CEO of INTEGRAL Assurance, a specialist risk advisory firm with a clear mission: to move audit, risk, and controls beyond box-ticking and into the heart of business decision-making.

A qualified accountant (ACA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Tim has built his career helping organisations turn assurance into influence, making risk more human, more practical, and more valuable. His work blends technical rigour with a people-first mindset, challenging leaders to see culture, behaviour, and clarity of communication as the real drivers of resilience.  

Suzanne Clark, Portfolio NED and Audit Committee Chair (Recognise Bank, The Exeter, HBL Bank UK)

Suzanne Clark is a Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair at HBL Bank UK, Recognise Bank, and The Exeter, a mutual insurance company. She previously chaired the Audit Committee at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Suzanne has held senior executive roles as Chief Internal Auditor at Yorkshire Building Society and Peel Hunt, and led the Bank of England’s Internal Audit function during the financial crisis. With extensive board and internal audit experience, she is a passionate advocate for the value internal audit brings in strengthening governance, managing risk, and helping organisations achieve their strategic goals. 

Michal Dutkiewicz, Senior Solutions Consultant, Wolters Kluwer TeamMate 

Michal Dutkiewicz is an IT Audit expert with over eight years of experience in technology, risk, and assurance across the banking sector and Big 4 firms in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Poland. Michal supports audit teams across the EMEA region by delivering strategic insights and tailored audit technology solutions that add value by enhancing efficiency and streamlining internal audit processes. Michal holds multiple industry certifications, including Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). 

Max Evans, Associate Director, RSM

Throughout his time with RSM, EY and as an independent consultant, Max has specialised in supporting clients with diverse transformation agendas, embedding the optimal workplace culture supported by efficient processes, whilst ensuring individuals are engaged and equipped with the right skills and knowledge to ultimately drive success for the business. 

Jack Harrigan - Head of Cyber Governance, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Jack leads work on embedding cyber into existing corporate governance and business regulations and driving senior leaders to govern cyber risk more effectively. Jack led the development of the Cyber Governance Code of Practice from design to launch and has a decade of experience in government having previously worked on the UK GDPR and the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. 

David Hill, Managing Director, Audit Training Ltd

David is an accomplished risk and audit professional with comprehensive experience in driving organisational vision, values, and strategic direction. As a former CEO, he has proven success in maintaining accountability, advancing service delivery, and optimising audit processes with data analytics. Adept at fostering culture of diversity, enhancing communication, and reporting efficiency. Expert at turning around underperforming teams, managing robust risk frameworks, evaluating strategic risks, and embedding a positive risk culture. 
 
In 2022 he was a Global Beacon Award Winner (one of only 12) and in 2023 and 2024 voted one of the top 25 Global Influencers within his profession. 

Stephanie Jones - Head of Audit and Risk, Ideagen

Stephanie is a Certified Internal Auditor and has served as District Advisor for the Midwest Region of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). Her 12-year career as an audit practitioner includes managing Sarbanes-Oxley testing, reporting, and co-ordination at Compass Minerals, plus several years running teams and projects for insurance companies. Stephanie now applies her experience as the Head of Ideagen's Internal Audit and Risk Management platforms. 

Derek Leatherdale - Senior Geopolitical Risk Adviser, Sibylline Ltd

In his current role, Derek works in the company that is a leading provider of geopolitical and macro risk intelligence and information to corporate clients globally. Prior to this, Derek founded GRI Strategies Ltd, leading pioneering work with companies across industry sectors to improve internal approaches to corporate governance and management of geopolitical risk exposures. Before setting up GRI, Derek founded HSBC’s group geopolitical risk function, the first of its kind in the financial sector. This involved integrating expert geopolitical risk input into the group’s governance, strategy and risk management activity across a global portfolio of banking operations - covering investment and corporate banking, markets and asset management businesses, trade finance and other banking services.

Samantha Preen, Senior Internal Auditor, The Exeter

Following an experienced background in governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance, Samantha Preen only started her Internal Audit career in January 2023. She is currently studying for her CIA qualification and has already been recognised at the 2025 Audit & Risk Awards by winning the IA Innovation Award. Sam has extensive experience leading cross-functional teams and has successfully implemented and maintained certifications including ISO 27001, ISO 9001, and Cyber Essentials Plus. Samantha excels in developing risk strategies, managing GDPR and ESG compliance, and driving continuous improvement across information security, quality, and health & safety systems. Sam has a degree in Computer Science & Business Management.

Laura Schmuttermeier, Partner, Risk and Governance, RSM

Son Tran, IT Audit Manager, Wolters Kluwer 

Son Tran is an accomplished technology professional with a strong background in the financial and information services sectors. As IT Audit Manager at Wolters Kluwer, he plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation and integrating advanced data analytics into audit practices. Son is recognized as a Fellow of Information Privacy by the IAPP and holds multiple industry certifications, including AI Governance Professional (AIGP), Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US), and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). With deep expertise in risk management and a strong passion for responsible technology adoption, he brings valuable insights into how organizations can effectively navigate today’s evolving digital landscape. 

Dan Wilde - Head of Internal Audit, Somerset Group

Dan has worked in the Internal Audit sector since 2008, starting as an Internal Auditor in Local Government, before moving into Social Housing and then Financial Services where Dan has worked for the UK’s biggest Insurer Aviva, the UK’s biggest Building Society Nationwide, and also EY. Dan is a chartered member of the IIA and now Head of Internal Audit. Dan is a member of the CIIA Banking & Financial Services Advisory Panel, the CIIA South-West Regional Panel, and also writes case studies for the CIIA Chartered Exams. In 2025, Dan was recognised at the Audit & Risk Awards 2025 by winning the IA Innovation Award. 

Zeba Ahmadi, Trainee Internal Auditor, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking

Zeba has a bachelor’s degree in Data Science with a background in real estate. She  is currently in her second year as a Trainee Internal Auditor at the UK Audit Office team of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking (MUTB) London since joining in 2024. She has started to pursue the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) qualification and is committed to continuous learning and professional growth. e. 

Arun Chauhan - Founder of Tenet

Arun is a lawyer specialising in complex disputes, investigations and compliance regulatory issues arising from fraud and financial crime. After leaving his role as a partner in a large international law firm, in 2016 he founded disruptive law firm Tenet.  Tenet covers the spectrum of preventative action in the form of training, ethics, governance and policy advice,  to advice on investigations and disputes dealing with recovery of loss from fraud. The award winning firm has been recognised for its innovation in legal services and won Boutique Law Firm of the Year at The Legal Business Awards, the Client Excellence award at the US Clio awards and an award linked to pro bono work at the Tackling Economic Crime Awards. 

Rich Clarke, CEO, SWAP Internal Audit Services

Rich is a Chartered Accountant (CIPFA), Certified Internal Auditor (CMIIA), and Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist (ACFS) with nearly 25 years of experience in the local public sector. He began his career as a trainee with the Audit Commission in London, later moving into the private sector with KPMG before leading an audit partnership in Mid Kent. He went on to serve as Head of Assurance at the London Borough of Lewisham. Rich has held several sector-wide roles, including Treasurer of the London Audit Group, Core Group Member of the Local Authority Chief Auditors’ Network, and Local Government Lead on the Internal Audit Standards Advisory Board. He became Chief Executive of SWAP on 24 February 2025.

Tim Dee-McCullough,  Founder, Sustainability & ESG Technical Director, Ancoram

Natasa Gostovic, Chief Manager

Natasa is the Chief Manager at the UK Audit Office of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking (MUTB) and has 20 years of experience in internal and external audit, corporate governance and risk management within financial services. Natasa is a fully qualified fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA). She is deeply passionate about making an impact within the internal audit field and believes in fostering a culture of positivity and collaboration within the team alongside continuous increase of knowledge and expertise as the key driver of influence. 

Piyush Gogate - Group Internal Audit, HSBC

Piyush has been part of the HSBC Global Internal Audit team since 2017 and is currently involved with the Corporate and Institutional Banking (CIB) Audit team, focusing on Payments Audit. He's actively engaged with the Neurodiversity UK ERG at HSBC, collaborating with senior leaders and colleagues to foster positive change across the bank. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) in 2022, Piyush has spearheaded initiatives to raise awareness about neurodiversity within GIA and HSBC. He's effectively leveraged HSBC's resources to develop personal strategies that help him manage ASC challenges daily. 

Perla Habchi, MSc CIA - Chair of Advocacy, IIA Ottawa

Perla is the Chair of Advocacy of the IIA Ottawa Chapter and an Internal Audit Project Leader at the Canadian Federal Government. With a passion for the world of innovation and finding ways to add value, she recognizes the significant contributions that internal audits can make in enhancing value and refining innovative processes within an organizational framework. She also recognizes the importance of building the next generation of auditors and contributes to this initiative through her role as chair of advocacy and through various volunteering roles within the IIA. She developed the Innovation System Internal Controls Framework featured in the 2023 August Issue of the Internal Auditor Magazine. She has been named as one of the Institute of Internal Auditors Emerging Leaders for 2024 and is a recipient of the 2023 Internal Audit Vision Award, awarded annually by the Office of the Comptroller General at the Treasury Board Secretariat of the Government of Canada. 

Peter Hartog, Director Professional Services, IIA Netherlands

Peter Hartog plays a key role in advancing the field of internal auditing as Director of Professional Practices at IIA Netherlands. With 25 years of consulting experience at KPMG and ACS, he has led operational and IT audits at the Sociale Verzekeringsbank. A seasoned speaker and lecturer at the Erasmus School of Accounting & Assurance, he has authored numerous articles and two books on auditing and management control. During the development of GIAS, he served as both a member and advisor to the International Internal Audit Standards Board (2020–2024).

Sissel Heiberg - Founder

Sissel is a former senior director in financial services and an internal auditor by trade, and now runs sensory jewellery business Foss & Bjørn which she founded in 2023. She also works as a Non-Executive Director and promotes neurodiverse and inclusive workplaces through her book Quiet Leader, which was published internationally by Pearson Education in 2024. 

Katherine Lai, Audit Officer

Katherine has bachelors in Accounting, Masters in Finance and Management, and has also recently acquired status of a fully qualified member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. She joined the UK Audit Office team of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking (MUTB) London as an audit trainee in 2022 and is now a permanent member of the team as an Audit Officer. She has a strong desire for continuous learning and particularly enjoys data analytics. . 

Joseph Morgan - Global Head of Technology, Analytics and MI, Barclays Internal Audit 

Joseph has spent 10 years at Barclays Internal Audit, where he leads on Analytics, Technology, and MI. A pioneer in applying advanced analytics to audit, he won the CIIA’s ‘Professional Impact’ Award for driving innovation, thought leadership and talent development across the profession. 

Cyndy Nkyi-Acheampong - Internal Audit and Risk Manager, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

As Co-Chair of the Chartered IIA Race and Ethnicity Community, Cyndy is passionately dedicated to driving meaningful change for racially diverse and underprivilege individuals in internal audit, promoting inclusivity and equality. Cyndy's thought-provoking article, 'The Only One in the Room,' published in Audit and Risk Magazine challenges conventional perspectives and highlights the vital role diversity plays in shaping the future of internal audit. Cyndy’s influence extends beyond her role. She championed and developed the Internal Audit Apprenticeship programme at RBKC, actively facilitating training for IIA and CIPFA apprentices. With a focus on driving positive change and thought leadership, Cyndy aims to impact internal audit through improved training standards for newcomers to the sector and enhancing opportunities for individuals from ethnically diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Paul Phillips  - Director of Event Content Development, ISACA International

Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA with concentrations in both Management and MIS. He holds an honorary Doctorate in Divinity. He also holds a CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor), a CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), and a CDPSE (Certified Data Privacy Engineer) among other professional designations. Paul is a former Audit Manager, Information Security Manager, and IT Director who has worked in corporate America for many years. He also worked as a part-time professor for several universities and other various institutions of higher learning for 20 years.

Ahmed Uppal, Head of Internal Audit 

Ahmed is the Head of Internal Audit at the UK Audit Office of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking (MUTB), London. He started his auditing career at Ernst & Young and has over 20 years of external and internal audit experience within financial service areas of asset management, asset servicing and trust banking. He is a fully qualified fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA). He has a passion for continuous personal and professional improvement and firmly believes in fostering a culture of right leadership, growth and development to support others in their career journey. 

Onyinye Udokporo - Neurodiversity consultant and content creator

Onyinye was diagnosed with Dyslexia at age 11, and following this, she became passionate about being a voice for neurodivergent people. In 2022, her debut book, Dyslexia and Me: How To Survive And Thrive If You're Neurodivergent, was published. Since then, Onyinye has built on her career as a neurodiversity consultant and content creator. She focuses on working with schools, organisations, businesses, and corporations to discover how they can design neuro-inclusive safe spaces where neurodivergent people like her can thrive. Onyinye's roster of clients include: BBC, Google, Microsoft and KPMG to name a few. Onyinye is also an educator and entrepreneur. She started her first business, Enrich Learning, at age 12 and has served children and young people across the world. Onyinye believes that it is important for her to create access to opportunity using education as a tool. 

Roza Watson - Council member, Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors

Roza is a seasoned audit expert with nearly two decades of navigating the complex world of audit, specifically in the financial services sector. In her current role, she leverages a unique blend of industry and professional services experience to deliver strategic insights. Coming from a diverse background, having been born in Africa and coming to this country in her youth as an immigrant, she is an advocate of the power of difference. Roza is helping to shape the future of the audit profession as a Council member of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and co-chair of its Race and Ethnicity Community. 

Clive Webb - Head of Business Management, ACCA

Clive works within the ACCA’s Policy and Insights team. Within ACCA’s research Clive considers developments from the perspective of the CFO and the finance function including the skill requirements, the use of technology, the importance of sustainability and the overall direction of the function. Clive’s work has also considered how organisations transform and how internal control plays a part in this. Clive has recently led on ACCA’s research which covers the evolution of the CFO into a more value centric role the evolution of the function. Clive is also the lead author of research into the development of career paths in the profession. 

Richard Willshire CMIIA ACMA, Managing Director, Canterfield Risk Management Ltd 

Richard is a seasoned executive and thought leader in governance, risk, and assurance within the insurance sector. As Managing Director of Canterfield Risk Management Ltd, he brings over 15 years of senior leadership experience, combining deep technical expertise with strategic vision to deliver high-impact internal audit and advisory services. Recognised for his ability to distil complex regulatory and operational risks into actionable insights, Richard has led assurance engagements across a broad spectrum of insurance intermediaries. His work consistently drives measurable value, enhances governance frameworks, and strengthens stakeholder confidence.