Catharine Dutt, Partner, Enterprise Risk Services, MNP LLP 

The risk landscape is changing. Risks not only emerge as standalone events – disruptions are compounding across a spectrum of risks. Concurrently, while traditional assurance remains critical, organizations are increasingly looking for independent insight into emerging risks, organizational resilience, and ERM response. Internal Audit is uniquely positioned to provide an integrated view. 

Dutt will explore how Internal Audit can enhance its influence while preserving independence by: 

• Strengthening interactions across lines of defence 

• Monitoring internal/external risk indicators 

• Converting emerging risk signals into actionable insights 

• Evaluating risk mitigation and resilience strategies, and  

• Helping organizations identify, anticipate, and respond to rapidly evolving threats. 

Khalled Toukourou, Director, IT Risk Audit and Data Analytics, iA Financial Group 

Franck Kamgang, Senior Information Technology Auditor, Internal Audit, iA Financial Group 

iA Financial Group performed an audit that applied data analytics techniques to evaluate accounts payable risks across more than $1 billion in supplier payments. By testing vendor records, purchase orders, invoices, payment practices, and potential duplicate transactions, the audit provided comprehensive coverage of key financial and operational risks. The analysis identified opportunities to improve payment-cycle performance, maximize supplier discounts, and enhance duplicate-payment detection through automation and dashboard-based monitoring. The engagement illustrated how the internal audit functions can use analytics to move beyond sampling, deliver deeper insights, and drive continuous improvement in financial control environments. 

Naresh Gupta, Senior Director, Analytics and Automation, Audit and Advisory Services, Manulife 

The use of data, analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence is advancing how internal audit delivers assurance and risk insights. Over the past few years, Gupta and his team have developed innovative capabilities that support auditors throughout the audit lifecycle and improve the quality, consistency, and scalability of audit activities. He will discuss how combining technology and audit expertise helps business partners make better-informed decisions and operate more effectively in an increasingly complex risk environment. 

Sohana Inderlall, Vice-President, Internal Audit, Sun Life 

Caroline Rendall, Chief Risk Officer, Foresters Financial 

Maggie Wan, Director, Risk Management, Empire Life 

Margaret-Ann Brooks, Vice-President, Chief Audit Officer, Co-operators 

This panel will explore operational flexibility and endurance, including practical approaches to embedding resilience across the organization, strengthening business continuity, and integrating fortitude in day-to-day operations and decision-making.

Tracie Marquardt, Audit Results Strategist 

Internal audit teams are producing more reports than ever, but greater output is not necessarily translating into action. Recommendations are closed while risks persist, findings recur, and report messaging often fails to drive meaningful change. The result is lost influence, wasted capacity, and increased regulatory risk. While AI can accelerate report production, it cannot improve outcomes if reporting is ineffective. Marquardt will pinpoint five common reporting weaknesses, including unclear findings, poorly defined root causes, and weak calls to action. You will be able to identify your own gaps and gain practical insights to strengthen reporting and support better audit committee decisions. 

Zeeshan Ali, Director, Financial Risk and Regulatory Practice, PwC 

Asif Qayyum, Partner, Cybersecurity, Privacy and Financial Crime Practice, PwC 

Internal Audit teams are using AI‑enabled tools to work smarter across the audit lifecycle—from risk assessment and audit planning to data analysis, document review, and reporting. Qayyum and Ali will focus on practical, in-use examples, while also touching on key security and governance considerations such as data privacy, access controls, and third‑party tools. Their emphasis will be on realistic, value-adding AI applications that IA functions can adopt today.