ACT Chapter

Message from the Chapter Chair

The ACT Chapter Council’s role is to provide a local forum for ACT members of the Institute of Internal Auditors – Australia (IIA-Australia). We are the primary mechanism for providing ACT members the opportunity to meet as a group and for this group to provide input into the IIA-Australia Board and National Office on member needs and issues.

As the council in the heart of the nation’s capital, our councillors come from both private and government organisations. We work to promote the profession, provide member services that matter to you, and arrange events and education for ACT members. We organise monthly member meetings on relevant topics, manage a mentoring program, organise events for our Young IIA cohort, contribute to the Commonwealth CAE Forum and APS Internal Audit Community of Practice, and help organise the Public Sector Internal Audit Conference held in Canberra each year.

As Chair of the ACT Chapter Council, I encourage you to make the most of your IIA-Australia membership, and engage with the profession through participation in its many activities. Council members are dedicated to serving ACT members so please come and talk to us when you see us – we want to hear from you. Our council meetings have an open door policy for members, so if you are interested in learning more about the council, helping informally, or joining the council we look forward to hearing from you.

Suggestions for Member Meeting Topics
The Chapter Council is more than happy to take your suggestions on possible Member Meeting topics and/or speakers. They are your meetings after all! Please email us with any suggestions.

Mentoring Program

The IIA-Australia ACT Chapter Council Mentoring Program is committed to providing valuable advice and insights to internal auditors at all stages of their careers. We match mentees with suitable mentors and support them in their relationship during the term of the program. If you would like to be mentored and/or provide mentoring - further information and details are available in the Charter.

Favourite Links

Here are some of the Chapter Council’s favourite sources of news and discussion affecting the profession.

LinkedIn Groups

Websites

Australian National Audit Office www.anao.gov.au
Public Management Reform Agenda www.prma.finance.gov.au

ACT Chapter Councillor Bios

Chair: Narelle Sheppard PFIIA CIA CGAP CRMA FCPA

Narelle is an internal audit professional with over 25 years’ experience in the public and private sectors. Narelle began her career in professional services firms, before moving into federal government and working in entities including the Australian Taxation Office, the Department of Defence, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science where she was Chief Internal Auditor. Narelle is currently a senior manager at Synergy Group Australia.

Did you know Narelle is an artist? She works in watercolour and acrylic and has sold a number of paintings through exhibits over the years.

Vice Chair: Jade Woodhouse AMIIA

Russell Eade PMIIA CIA CGAP CRMA
Experienced audit, governance and risk professional, focussing on government agencies. Demonstrated record of achievement providing timely, accurate, appropriate and quality policy advice to achieve government objectives and priorities, both domestically and overseas. Russell has extensive experience working with senior government executives and stakeholder groups, and a deep understanding of the importance of strong governance, accountability, sound internal control environments and program management.

Previously the Chief Audit Executive – Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department, currently Manager, Governance - Australian Research Council, a graduate of both Macquarie University and the Australian Institute of Company Directors as well as being a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Auditors (Australia), Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA) and the Governance Institute of Australia.

Did you know: Russell is also Non-Executive Director - Music For Canberra (ACT), ACT Councillor - the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a part-time PADI Dive Master.

Chris Aquilina PMIIA
Chris is currently the Head of Audit & Assurance at the Education Directorate, with ACT Government. Chris is a seasoned risk, compliance and internal audit practitioner with experience from Australia and Europe, gained in large matrix organisations, across a broad section of public and private industry including: transport, tourism, municipal, human and financial services, education, land development and government. Chris is passionate about good governance and helping workplaces be more data aware, accountable and as a result, better performing. He has an enthusiastic working style that’s focused on people, innovative and long lasting business improvements, enabling the achievement of objectives ethically and efficiently. Chris enjoys sharing his knowledge, expertise and fresh thinking in delivering valuable internal audit, risk and governance transformations.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Master’s degree in Science (Risk Management) and a Diploma in Quality Auditing. Chris joined the ACT Chapter Council in 2019 and has been a member of IIA-Australia for over 10 years.

For more information about the ACT Chapter Council and how to get involved, contact:
Narelle Sheppard
Chair, ACT Chapter Council
E: enquiry@iia.org.au