Ann Brook BSc. (Hons.) CFCIIA, CIA, QIAL, PGCert (Res), FHEA, CBTS - Head of Technical Content and Research, Chartered IIA

Ann has been working in the internal audit and related professions for over 25 years and became a Head of Internal Audit in a large Building Society in 2009. Since then, she worked in Risk Management and various governance roles, and held multiple appointments as Board, Council and Audit Committee member across a range of sectors and industries.

Ann moved into Higher Education in 2013 with the aim to giving more back to the internal audit profession. She was course leader for the only Internal Audit focused degree in the UK and helped develop both the level 4 and level 7 Apprenticeships with the trailblazer group of employees. She subsequently implemented and delivered the level 7 apprenticeship which she grew over 5 years by 700% with great success.

Ann has been an active volunteer of the Chartered IIA since 2007 and is now Head of Technical Content and Research. She aims to bring her practical and higher education experiences to drive practical support for the internal audit profession.

Sandro Boeri - President, Chartered IIA

Sandro is currently President of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors.

He is employed as the Co-Head of People Enablement and Culture Assessment with Deutsche Bank’s Group Audit function.

Sandro Boeri was one of the founders of Risk Audit Professional Development with a career spanning over forty years in financial services corporate governance in the City of London and internationally.

His main area of specialism is in the field of internal audit where after serving his apprenticeship during six years at Kleinwort Benson he went on to run the audit functions at Amsterdam-Rotterdam Bank in London, Credit Agricole, Sumitomo and the Gerrard Group.

Sandro is a major thought leader on culture in financial services as well as regulation in the fields of wholesale financial services.

Sandro is a prominent speaker on subjects ranging from corporate governance to motivation in the workplace.

Kevin Stewart - Head of Design, Waracle

I am a design and innovation leader with a focus on collaborating with executive teams to gain their business a competitive edge. By integrating business values, customer goals, and modern technologies like AI, I work to develop innovative solutions that enhance business efficiency and effectiveness. With extensive experience working with global brands in regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and utilities, I am passionate about tackling complex problems and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Lee Elliot-Cartwright - Senior Internal Auditor, Met Office

On leaving school in 1975, Lee joined Devon County Council, moving to Exeter City and South Bedfordshire District Councils, undertaking roles in audit, finance, and administration. In 1984, he qualified as a Chartered Governance Professional and, in 1987, was awarded a Master’s Degree in Public Management from the University of Exeter, having moved back to Devon to work for Devon & Cornwall Police. Whilst with the Police, Lee worked in a variety of roles, including responsibility for divisional finances; police staff; project management and training, ending his Police career as a Corporate Finance Manager.

Lee joined the Met Office internal audit team in 2007 and qualified as CMIIA and CISA. He is also the Met Office Counter Fraud Champion and a qualified fraud investigator. He joined the South West Regional Committee in 2015, is a past Vice Chair and was the recipient of the IIA’s 2017/18 ‘Special Award’.

Ryan Richards - Head of Internal Audit, BUPA

Ryan joined Bupa in December 2022 as the Head of Internal Audit for Bupa Global and Bupa Global DAC in Ireland. Since then, Ryan has taken on additional responsibility for Bupa UK Insurance, in addition to his previous role.

Ryan is focused on driving faster more effective and sustainable improvements in internal controls across Bupa while actively contributing to build the Global Internal Audit team at Bupa into a highly effective and continuously improving function reflecting Bupa’s values and business transformation.

Ryan has previously worked for Aviva, MAPFRE and RSM Tenon holding a number of internal audit roles, specialising in all lines of insurance, reinsurance and data analytics. Ryan has also held non-executive and Chair of Audit Committee roles in the NHS.

Ryan is a Chartered Internal Auditor and a Chartered Accountant and holds an Executive MBA from York St John University.

Donna Poynter - Client Director, Kaplan

With 18 years of dedicated experience in the education sector, Donna Poynter, Kaplan Client Director has developed a robust expertise in apprenticeships, focusing on the successful implementation and support of apprenticeship programmes. Specialising in the Financial Services sector she has worked with a diverse range of clients, including some of the largest organisations, to develop tailored apprenticeship solutions that meet their unique needs and objectives.

She has been involved in the evolution of apprenticeships through attending numerous apprenticeship standard trailblazer groups, takes a lead role in programme design for apprenticeships such as Internal Audit and works from a curricular perspective in how to close the skills gap we see in the UK market today.

By fostering a diverse workforce and actively recruiting individuals from various backgrounds, we can enrich the internal audit profession with a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Emphasising inclusivity and accessibility, we aim to create opportunities for aspiring internal auditors to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and a comprehensive understanding of risk management and compliance. By investing in the development of internal audit talent, we can build a strong, diverse pipeline of professionals who are well-equipped to address the challenges of tomorrow and uphold the integrity of the business. Apprenticeships can facilitate this journey.