Speakers & Sessions

Conference Day Two: Thursday 6 November
2.15 pm-3.15 pm

Day Two Closing Keynote Speaker

Dr Paul Wood

International Speaker and Best-selling Author

Dr Paul Wood is an internationally sought-after speaker and best-selling author who has delivered keynotes for organisations such as Google, Nike, Converse, and the Obama Foundation. He has also delivered workshops to enhance performance, resilience, and capability for groups as diverse as Sony PlayStation and the Advanced Police Negotiation Team.

Yet as a teenager, his life was completely off the rails. He wasn't coping with the impending death of his mother; he was dependent on drugs and was an unemployed high-school dropout. Three days after his mother died, he lost control when a drug dealer attempted to sexually assault him. Paul was convicted of murder and spent 11 years in some of New Zealand's toughest prisons. During this time, Paul became the first person in New Zealand's history to progress through undergraduate and Masters degrees while in prison. He was also the first person to begin a Doctorate while incarcerated.

Paul’s story of transformation and expertise in resilience, emotional intelligence, and leadership allows him to communicate messages relevant to audiences and conference themes in an inspiring and memorable way. His journey is a great way to illustrate how to grow, succeed, pursue excellence, embrace change, become resilient, work more effectively as a team, and turn adversity to your advantage.

As a speaker, Paul is authentic, insightful, engaging, and humorous. People will laugh, people will cry, and everyone will leave feeling challenged, entertained, and inspired. They will also leave with practical tools they can immediately apply in their own lives to improve personally and professionally.

Session Topic: Influence Like the CIA and FBI - The Psychology of Trust, Connection and Impact

To conclude the IIA NZ 40th Anniversary Conference, we are proud to present Dr Paul Wood, an internationally sought-after speaker whose extraordinary life journey and psychological expertise make him one of New Zealand’s most compelling voices on leadership, influence, and resilience.

In this unique and highly engaging keynote, Paul draws on behavioural insights used by the CIA and FBI to explore how internal auditors can better understand human motivation, build trust, and influence ethically in complex environments.

Through a mix of neuroscience, real-world application, and storytelling, Paul will unpack the universal human drivers that shape decision-making and behaviour — and how auditors can apply this knowledge to enhance their communication, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and influence change.

Key takeaways:

Discover how CIA agents shift perspectives to build trust and connection
Understand what neuroscience reveals about increasing openness and reducing resistance
Learn how the FBI builds rapport in high-stakes environments — and how you can apply the same techniques in audit settings
Walk away with practical tools to enhance your ability to influence and lead with integrity

This closing session promises to be thought-provoking, energising, and deeply relevant — a powerful finale to our celebration of 40 years of excellence in internal auditing.