The UAE Internal Audit Association hosted The UAE IAA's 1st members' meeting and seminar for 2012. Sponsored by Protiviti Member Firm Middle East, which is the leading independent Global Risk, Business Consulting and Internal Audit Firm― The seminar was held by the association on Monday 13th February in "Shangri-La" Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
In this seminar, UAE Internal Audit Association convened key decision makers as well as a range of Internal Audit professionals from the UAE, IAA worked tirelessly to elevate the profession and enhance professionalism. Building awareness of the value of internal auditing is a key component of The IAA's advocacy efforts. These resources are designed to support efforts in promoting awareness of the internal audit profession and its important role in organizational effectiveness and efficiency, internal control, risk management and corporate governance.
Mr. Abdul Qader Obaid Ali, President IAA UAE gave a speech with the attendance of the Association, he emphasized," This year, we will sustain activities to reach out to and better serve members' requirements and communicate and promote the values of our profession in any occasion. We will continue our journey to strengthen existing and develop better programs, products and services to members, internal audit professionals and organizations. We will build our capabilities with improvements to our organization and the professionalization of our secretariat office guided by a reinvigorated strategic direction. We will continue to forge stronger relationships with common-interest organizations, academe, regulatory agencies and groups promoting better governance, integrity and transparency."
The 2012 UAE IAA's 1st members' meeting and seminar also highlights matters relevant to the consideration of the expectations of internal audit since it changed considerably in the past decade. Internal audit is now increasingly involved in areas such as risk management, fraud detection and monitoring and identifying opportunities for operational improvements that enhance financial performance. While these are important areas that make the role of the internal auditor more interesting and more challenging, the recent economic turmoil has put a lot of pressure on resources. The reality is that internal audit cannot successfully meet expectations and perform at a new level without doing things differently and technology - or, more accurately, the very efficient and effective use of technology - is essential for internal audit to succeed in its evolving mandate.
Speakers Lineup Featured the Best in the Industry, Mr. Robert B. Hirth, Jr., Executive Vice President, Global Internal Audit, Protiviti, Identified Today's Internal Audit Challenges and 2012 Audit Committee Agenda, the Global Perspective, Mr. Robert Hirth has more than 25 years of professional services experience working with a broad range of Global, public and local private organizations in a variety of industries, helping them deal with their most significant business risks and issues His experience includes internal audit business and issues. Audit, operational consulting as well as business risk management
Mr. Rabih El- Khatib Head of Business Risk Assurance, Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority spoke concerning the Expectations from Internal Audit in 2012, the UAE Perspective, Mr. Rabih El- Khatib Prior to joining ADAA, was a Senior Manager with Deloitte's Enterprise Risk Services in Abu Dhabi in charge of a number of key accounts. Rabih was also the Communication Officer for the ERS practice in the Middle East, he was also doing pre-lance consulting in France prior to during Deloitte.
Mr. Nick Roberts, Associate Director, Control Risks Middle East Forensic Investigations Practice conversed about The UK Bribery Act, Mr. Nick Roberts, expertise includes financial and non-financial investigations, anti-fraud strategies, dispute support and forensic financial analysis. His projects have included investigations into allegations of unauthorized transactions, cheque fraud, abuse of position, falsification of revenue, conflicts of interest and assisting clients and their legal advisors to assess the financial impact of a completion account or other commercial matter in dispute, He led the development of a best practice approach to fraud risk management and delivered numerous complex investigation and dispute engagements
Understanding the best practices in this area will hopefully contribute to all being able to strengthen the approach and create more mutually beneficial auditor-client relationships--which ultimately will contribute to improved public confidence in the industry said by Mr. Arindam De, Managing Director of Protiviti Risk and Business Consulting Internal Audit.
The UAE IAA's 1st members' meeting ended with success The President of the UAE Internal Audit Association said. "We're honored and gratified to have assembled such a distinguished group of speakers, The UAE IAA's members meeting, will certainly not be the last for this year.
For more information on the private and public sector forums, please visit www.iiadubai.org/audit2011.
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About the UAE-IAA
The UAE Internal Audit Association (IAA) was set up in July 1995, as a non-profit organization along the lines of its parent body with the support and co-operation of the Emirates Group, the Economic Department, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Al Futtaim, Emirates Bank and DUBAL. On the 24th of June 2006 the IIA in Dubai sought and gained approval to become IIA UAE.
In 2008 they obtained a license to become the UAE Internal Audit Association. The Association now has the support of leading companies from the UAE who are involved in promoting the profession of Internal Auditing through this medium.
Keeping with the mission Provide dynamic leadership to advocate and promote the profession of internal auditing throughout the UAE, IIA UAE offers regular trainings, workshops, seminars and an annual conference with the objective of promoting the profession within the business community. It has in the past invited leading speakers from various countries to share their expertise and knowledge.
© Press Release 2012
