IIA NZ 2026 Fireside Chat: The Gardener of Governance™ - Growing a Global Movement

• Theme: The Gardener of Governance™ - Growing a Global Movement
• Speakers: Prof Houdini Fourie and Dr Rainer Lenz
• Facilitator: John Stewart
• Date: Tuesday 17 February 2026
• Time: 9 am - 10 am NZST
• Format: Online (Teams)
• Audience: IIA NZ members, and invited guests
• Cost: Complimentary, for IIA NZ members only

Programme:

• 9:00 - 9:05 am | Welcome & Opening Remarks - Facilitator introduction
• 9:05 - 9:20 am | Presentation - Dr Rainer Lenz
• 9:20 - 9:35 am | Presentation - Prof Houdini Fourie
• 9:35 - 9:50 am | Facilitated Discussion, Panel Questions and Audience Q&A
• 9:55 - 10:00 am | Closing Remarks

The Gardener of Governance™ - Growing a Global Movement
Fireside Chat with Dr Rainer Lenz & Prof Houdini Fourie

Overview

We are delighted to welcome Dr Rainer Lenz, co-author of The Gardener of Governance, and Professor Houdini Fourie for an inspiring and thought-provoking online session that will reshape how you view governance, culture, and the role of internal audit.

This powerful workshop will explore the philosophy of The Gardener of Governance™, a global movement redefining how organisations cultivate integrity, trust, and ethical leadership. Building on the widely acclaimed article translated into more than 25 languages, this session introduces the "5 Ps" for the future of internal auditing: People, Public, Performance (Prosperity), Purpose, and Planet.

The conversation will challenge traditional thinking and broaden your perspective - taking you "out of the wood from the trees" to see the bigger ecosystem you operate in as an internal auditor.

This session will highlight:

• Governance as the overarching organisational framework
• Directors and senior managers as the guardians of organisational integrity
• Internal auditors as active cultivators who influence culture, trust, and ethical decision-making

We highly recommend downloading and reading the preview of the book before attending to get the most from this session. To download the preview, select the following link: (PDF) THE GARDENER OF GOVERNANCE - A Call to Action for Effective Internal Auditing

What You Will Gain

Participants will walk away with:

• A renewed understanding of how governance, ethics, culture, and trust interconnect in complex organisational ecosystems
• Practical guidance on positioning internal auditors as proactive contributors - not just monitors of organisational integrity, resilience, and credibility
• Fresh perspectives aligned with the new Global Internal Audit Standards, which now advocate for a more holistic, pragmatic, and resourceful approach
• A deeper appreciation of the "5 Ps" and how they shape the legitimacy and future significance of our profession
• Engagement with global thought leaders, including Q&A and an interactive panel discussion

This session is particularly impactful for internal auditors who want to do better, aim higher, and challenge the status quo especially emerging internal auditors building their identity and confidence within the profession.

Why You Should Attend

This is not a typical governance or internal audit event. It is a movement.

You should attend if you want to:

• Strengthen the meaning and purpose behind your role
• Reframe internal auditing as a driver of resilience, trust, and long-term organisational value
• Explore new thinking that aligns with modern governance expectations (including King V / King 5 principles)
• Be inspired to grow your practice, your mindset, and your contribution
• Learn directly from global leaders who have conducted 300+ audits across 50+ countries
• Understand where the profession is heading and how you can lead that change
• Step outside the "rules-only" approach and develop into a more impactful, modern, and effective internal auditor

This event will shift your perspective and give you a toolkit to operate more purposefully and confidently in your role.

Don't miss this impactful online session.

We're dropping the pebble in the pond and together we'll see how far the ripples spread.

Dr Rainer Lenz

Prof. Dr. Rainer Lenz is a finance and corporate audit executive with over 30 years of international experience in global organizations. Holds a PhD in Economics and Management Science from the Louvain School of Management, Belgium. Honorary Professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Recognized for thought leadership with multiple industry awards - coined The Gardener of Governance™ (Lenz 2021) metaphor and concept for internal auditors. Serves as an independent board member and as a university lecturer specializing in corporate governance and internal auditing.

Professor Houdini Fourie

Professor Houdini Fourie is Professor of Internal Auditing at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa and a National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher. His academic work focuses on corporate governance, internal auditing (including public sector internal audit), internal control effectiveness, and internal audit education, with numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations. Houdini is widely respected for bridging theory and practice, particularly around governance, COSO control components, and the evolving expectations of internal auditors.

Registration information:

• Registrations are now open and will close 11 February 2026.
• Please Note: We require a minimum of 10 registrations for this event to go ahead.
• This is a closed IIA NZ Member only complimentary event.