The judges
Sara Yorke – Head of Audit – Strategy, Governance and Operations, Vodafone
Sara has over 20 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry. As a qualified ACMA she has held multiple roles in Finance including finance transformation, governance, and strategy, with the last 10 years specialising in risk, compliance and internal audit – across geographies spanning Asia, Africa and Europe. She has a proven record in transforming both audit and assurance functions into highly relevant and effective capabilities using the power of data and automation technologies. Along the way she has contributed to building a strong culture of risk and control across all functions in the organisation – while building and leading high performing teams
Veesh Sharma – Chief Assurance Officer, Save the Children
Veesh is a qualified Chartered Internal Auditor with a background in not-for-profit organisations, the public sector, and INGOs. He has significant experience of working national and international charities, higher education institutions, NDPBs, and regulators.
Veesh joined Save the Children in 2015 to lead a transformation programme in its global assurance function. In 2018, he led the facilitation of a second transformation programme – this time in the organisation’s internal controls and compliance function. Since 2020, Veesh has led the expansion of global assurance’s remit to Save the Children Member organisations.
David Hill – Chief Executive Officer, SWAP Internal Audit Services
David Hill is Chief Executive Officer of SWAP Internal Audit Services, commonly known as SWAP. It is the biggest UK Public Sector Audit Partnership and continues to grow.
David is in his 40th year in Internal Audit, formerly served on the Global IIA Guidance Development Committee, former Chair of the UK Local Authority Chief Auditors Network (LACAN) and currently chair of the UK Chief Auditor Network (CAN). He is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors (CMIIA).
David is passionate about our profession and is constantly looking for new ways to continually improve SWAP and the service it delivers to it partners and clients. He is known for the development of the “One Page” report but working with his Director of Continuous Improvement and his Director of Resources, they are constantly striving for new efficient ways of working and innovative solutions. He was voted a Beacon Award winner for 2022 and a top 25 Thought Leader in our profession for 2023.
He is passionate about well being and with his team and implemented several initiatives to ensure the welfare of his team.
Gavin Faloona – Head of Internal Audit, Goodbody Stockbrokers
Gavin is Head of Internal Audit for Goodbody Stockbrokers which is part of the AIB Group.
He has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry with a focus on governance, internal controls, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
Gavin joined Goodbody in January 2013, during this time Gavin had built the team and led professionals providing subject matter expertise audit coverage across Corporate Advisory, Wealth Management, Capital Markets, Compliance, Market/Counterparty Risk, Operational Risk, and Strategic & Enterprise Risk Management.
Prior to joining Goodbody, Gavin was Head of Performance Management at Aviva Europe, Technical Specialist at the Financial Conduct Authority. He has also served as Head of Risk and Quantitative Research in Asset Management.
He holds both a BSc and an MSc in Finance from Queens University Belfast.
Roza Watson - Senior Audit Manager, Willis Towers Watson
Roza is a Senior Audit Manager at Willis Towers Watson. Prior to that Roza has held various senior roles including the UK Group Audit Country Lead at Zurich Insurance and a Head of Audit role at a small Lloyd’s Syndicate firm. Roza has worked both in professional practice firms and in industry. Roza has 19 years of experience in Internal Audit with 16 of these in managerial positions. Roza's specialism is in the insurance sector which she has been in since 2009. Roza is a Chartered Internal Auditor and has a bachelors degree in mathematics and computer science.