IIA NZ Conference 2026

For the first time, IIA NZ is honoured to welcome Anthony Pugliese, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Institute of Internal Auditors (The IIA), in person to New Zealand for our 2026 Conference.

Representing the global voice of the profession across more than 170 countries and territories, Anthony’s presence marks a significant moment for IIA NZ and for our members, bringing direct global insight, leadership, and perspective to the New Zealand internal audit community.

His presence in New Zealand for IIA NZ Conference 2026 brings a significant global dimension to the conversation, offering delegates the opportunity to hear international perspectives on the forces reshaping governance, risk, assurance, and the future of internal audit.

AI and Technology are reshaping organisations at extraordinary speed, redefining how decisions are made, how risk emerges, and how assurance must evolve. From automation and data intelligence to rapidly expanding digital ecosystems, the future of internal audit is being transformed not by a single technology, but by a convergence of tools, systems, and expectations.

As technology accelerates, trust becomes the anchor. Boards, executives, regulators, and communities are seeking confidence that organisations are acting ethically, managing risks responsibly, and maintaining integrity in an increasingly complex digital landscape. This is where internal auditors play an essential role.

While AI and advanced technologies provide faster insights, deeper analytics, and new modes of assurance, they also amplify ethical dilemmas, introduce new vulnerabilities, and expose organisations to unintended consequences. Technology can highlight anomalies but it cannot replace human judgement. It cannot apply ethical reasoning. It cannot navigate ambiguity with empathy, curiosity, or contextual understanding.

The internal auditor’s “human superpowers”; critical thinking, emotional intelligence (EQi), ethical resilience, professional scepticism, and relational acumen, are what safeguard trust and ensure responsible transformation. These capabilities complement technology, strengthening assurance and enabling internal auditors to guide organisations through change with clarity, fairness, and confidence. 

This conference explores how technology and humanity intersect to shape the future of assurance. It examines how internal auditors can lead with EQi, uphold ethics, enable trust, and adapt our profession for a world transformed by digital capability. Rather than focusing solely on artificial intelligence, this theme opens the door to a wider range of technology, governance, and transformation topics while anchoring the programme firmly in the central role of trust and the essential qualities that define our profession.

The IIA NZ Conference 2026 will explore the new frontier of internal audit where human capability and advanced technology intersect. While emerging technologies can streamline processes, enhance insight, and reshape the way organisations operate, they cannot replicate the qualities that define exceptional internal auditors:

• Critical Thinking – the ability to question assumptions, evaluate complexity, and provide insight beyond what technology can produce.

• Relationship Acumen – building trust, influencing stakeholders, and navigating organisational culture with credibility.

• Intellectual Curiosity – seeking deeper understanding, asking better questions, and uncovering what others may overlook.

• Empathy – recognising the human context behind decisions, risks, and organisational behaviour.

• Ethical Resilience – upholding integrity and sound judgement in an environment where technology often advances faster than governance structures.

These superpowers are the foundations of trust and impact in internal audit. They set us apart from machines and will shape the profession’s ability to elevate governance, manage disruption, and secure our place at the table.