IIA NZ Audit Leaders Network Forum: August 2026

Overview:

IIA NZ is pleased to host the third 2026 Audit Leaders Network Forum - a key gathering of senior internal audit professionals from across Aotearoa New Zealand. This forum provides a space for Chief Audit Executives (CAEs) and Heads of Internal Audit to connect, collaborate, and explore innovative ideas to advance internal audit's impact within their organisations.

Criteria for Participation in the IIA NZ Audit Leaders Forum:

The IIA NZ Audit Leaders Forum is designed for Chief Audit Executives (CAEs) or those in equivalent senior leadership roles in Internal Auditing across New Zealand and the Pacific. Attendees must be IIA NZ members with significant experience and/or professional qualifications such as CIA, CISA, or equivalent certifications. Serving as a mentorship platform for senior internal audit leaders, the forum explores key topics in Internal Auditing, Governance, and Risk Assurance. It provides valuable insights and strategies to enhance professional practice and navigate the evolving Internal Audit landscape. These forums are conducted as closed sessions under Chatham House Rules.

Key Objectives of the Forum:

• Engagement with Global Perspectives: Learn about global and local initiatives and opportunities for leadership within the Internal Audit profession.
• Strategic Discussions: Deep dive into the evolving role of Internal Audit and its alignment with organisational governance and strategy.
• Leadership Development: Foster collaboration among audit leaders to share challenges, solutions, and best practices.

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday 18 August 2026
• Time: 10.00 - 12.00 pm
• Method: Hybrid
  
• Venue: Datacom, Datacom Centre, Level 12, 55 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011
• Speakers: Lyn Provost CNZM, former Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand and current Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards and Stewart Glynn Manager Risk & Internal Audit, Ministry of Justice and IIA NZ Member
• Facilitator: Emma Hine, IIA NZ Board Member

Topic: "From Auditor-General to Auditing Standards to Parliamentary Standards: Reflections on Audit, Integrity, Risk and Accountability"

Summary:

This Audit Leaders Network Forum will provide senior internal audit leaders with a rare opportunity to hear from Lyn Provost CNZM, former Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand and current Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards.

Drawing on her extensive leadership experience across public sector audit, governance, policing, public management, integrity systems, auditing standards and parliamentary standards, Lyn will reflect on the evolving relationship between audit, risk, integrity, and public accountability. Her session will explore what internal audit leaders can learn from more than 30 years of change across the assurance and accountability landscape, including the importance of independence, professional courage, judgement, and trust.

The forum will consider how internal audit can continue to strengthen its role in supporting good governance, ethical decision-making, and organisational accountability, particularly when issues are complex, sensitive, or subject to public scrutiny. Lyn will also share insights from her current role as Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards, including lessons on awareness, conduct, escalation, and what leaders can do differently to support integrity in practice.

Following Lyn's plenary presentation, the session will move into a fireside chat format with Stewart Glynn, bringing a complementary public sector and internal audit perspective to the discussion.

The discussion is expected to include:

• reflections on internal audit and public sector assurance over the past 30 years
• insights into the audit, risk, and governance relationship, including how internal audit leaders can strengthen trust and influence
• practical reflections on what senior audit leaders can do differently when supporting boards, audit and risk committees, and public sector accountability
• thoughts on standard setting from the International Auditing and Assurance Board and the relationship between internal and external audit
• her current role as Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards, and lessons for awareness, accountability, integrity, and conduct

Lyn Bio:

Lyn Provost CNZM is a New Zealand chartered accountant who served as Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand from 2009 until 2017. Born and raised in Gisborne, she moved to Wellington to study accountancy at Victoria University of Wellington.

Before serving as Controller and Auditor-General, Lyn was Deputy Commissioner of New Zealand Police for eight years. She is a Chartered Accountant (FCA) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration. She was the audit director on the world's first set of accrual financial statements produced by a government and has devoted herself to improving public management and auditing in the public sector both in New Zealand and internationally.

Lyn has held positions in private sector auditing firms in London and South Africa, and senior public sector roles in the State Services Commission and Archives New Zealand. She was a public member on the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board from 2017 to 2022. She currently sits on a number of Audit and Risk committees and is Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards.

Agenda:

• 9:55 am: In Person Attendees regsiter
• 10:00 am: Welcome, networking and light refreshments
• 10:25 am: Online participants are welcomed into the session
• 10.30 am: Karakia, and welcome. Audit Leaders Network overview and introductions
  
• 10:40 am: Guest presentation: Lyn Provost CNZM
• 11:10 am: Presentation Q&A
• 11:15 am: Fireside chat with Stewart Glynn
• 11:45 am: Facilitated discussion and questions
• 11:55 am: Forum reflections and closing comments
• 12:00 pm: Event Concludes

For Online Attendees

• Join from 10.25 pam for introductions and speaker sessions.
• Teams link may open earlier for optional online networking (IIA NZ to provide the Teams link to online attendees).

Registration Information:

Registrations for this event are through IIA NZ National Office.

IIA NZ Members: $FREE

This is a closed IIA NZ member's event. A minimum attendance of 10 people (in person) applies for this event.

Registrations are now open and will close on the 11th August 2026.

We look forward to welcoming you to this exclusive platform for Internal Audit leaders, designed to inspire growth, innovation, and collaboration within the profession.

Save the date - IIA NZ Audit Leaders Network Forum:

• 3 November 2026 - IIA NZ CAE Forum 2026

To register via the IIA NZ Event Notification, click here: Event Details

IIA NZ Event Overview and Refund Policy: https://iianz.org.nz/Site/terms-and-conditions.aspx

If you require assistance with registering, please contact events@iianz.org.nz