In July, the Institute of Internal Auditors – Philippines received the 2021 Building Awareness  Champion Award from the IIA – Global President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Anthony J. Pugliese, in the offset of the International Internal Auditors Awareness Month last May alongside other IIA branch recipients.

While the pandemic happens to be still present, the awareness campaign themed as, “Internal Audit Reset: Anticipate the Unthinkable” took the social media grounds high with the objective of increasing relevance on its profession, value and reshaping misconceptions. 

In the Philippines, the month-long event was promoted through multiple online interactives via free zoom seminars, Facebook live streams for #AskAnInternalAuditor, trivia challenges, #IAmMe and #IAmSpotted series which highlights the hobbies and interests of our fellow internal audit practitioners that provides inspiration to everyone who aspires to become one.

In one of the live streams, Ms. Edel Mary Vegamora, a fellow of Institute of Corporate Directors, reiterated the viewers of the importance of having a personal mission statement as an internal audit professional during the topic, “Internal Audit Journey and Life After Internal Audit” as it allows auditors to have a more purposeful thinking to every economic gray area.

“When you figure out what your personal mission statement is, as an internal auditor, then you can strategically think of the salient areas or investing in yourself as a professional.”, her statement which earned praises from the attendees and the moderator himself, Mr. Rudolph Jimenez, a Professional Development Manager of IIA-P, to which they can’t help but agree on its valuable takeaway.

On a zoom session with Mr. Gilbert Chua on Data Science for Internal Auditors, he firmly believes that a data scientist like him could also be as accountable as an internal auditor for data science is a tool to gather hard bound analysis and evidence in making an efficient decision-making and derive more value for a company.

Furthermore, Dr. Maria Balabat took a different spin in culturing an organization with certified internal auditors in terms of business sustainability. “I think being an internal auditor is a unique place for you to influence policy making in an organization because you are the ones who recommends something new to the management that can make a difference.”, shares the Senior Lecturer in School of Accounting and Founding Member of Collaboration on Energy and Environmental Markets in University of New South Wales – Sydney, Australia.

The 4-week on-demand free zoom seminars included the topics addressing the COVID situation in terms of business sustainability concepts and change management in which they were reminded that a slow progress makes a win compared to zero progress. At the same time, taking these threats to widen and to strengthen opportunities in the talks on workplace wellness and company resilience.

Read more: https://iia-p.org/news-updates/the-2021-iiaam-celebration/ 

Summing up to the successful campaign is a movement spearheaded by Chief Audit Executive Myrna Amahan along with Union Bank of the Philippines which was titled as NextGenIA. This further promotes in shaping the future catalyst of internal auditors to be gear ready in creating valuable strategies on future’s economic growth.

The IIA-Philippines has been consistently awarded in this campaign since 2014, and from then on, the organization continues to innovate programs that would make every internal auditor be mission ready in a global phenomenon.