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Speakers highlighted the challenges related to developments concerning IT and protection mechanisms in Qatar at a seminar organised by Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).
Ewald Muller, director of financial analysis at QFCRA, focused on the role of internal audit in governance and regulation with examples from banking supervision. “Internal audit’s value will be measured by its ability to drive positive change and improvement,” he said.
He stressed the importance of internal auditors in focusing on risk-based audits and the significance of annual communication to the board on their assessment of internal control.
Samir Pawaskar, cyber security strategy and policy manager at ictQATAR, deliberated on developments in Qatar related to legislation for the protection and control of critical information, respect for privacy and overall IT security and protection.
“The State of Qatar has the desire to be on the foreground as there are assets and information that are critical for protection. Some of the legislations in the pipeline are the first of its kind in the Middle East,” said Pawaskar.
IIA president Chris Adonis referred to various characteristics of a professional, such as competence, being skillful and assured. “These characteristics and others explicit in auditors are a vehement defence that audit is a true profession and auditors function proactively to ensure that value is added to the business,” said Adonis.
Towards the end of the seminar, Sundaresan Rajeswar, the election officer and past president of IIA Qatar, conducted a review of the existing board members’ portfolios and informed the meeting about co-opted board members. The board’s term has been extended and an election will be held in the near future.
