19th European Academic Conference on Internal Audit and Corporate Governance: “Sustainable and Digital Internal Audit and Corporate Governance”

In recent years sustainability and new technology have become increasingly crucial topics for firms worldwide.

Academics and practitioners agree that external and internal stakeholders hold corporate governance responsible for incorporating sustainability into their strategic plans. They expect internal auditors to ensure this unregulated area. Moreover, with the advancement of technology, firms are facing both potential benefits and challenges. Internal auditors are expected to keep pace with rapidly evolving technological tools to be relevant and continuously provide value to their host organisations.

On the other hand, digital has presented challenges and opportunities to corporate governance practitioners. For instance, the board of directors has to learn new digital capabilities or appoint a Digital Officer to maximise the benefits and overcome challenges in the digital era. Corporate governance needs to be re-designed to accommodate, for instance, risks associated with cybersecurity.

For the 2023 conference, we invite papers investigating the role of internal audit and corporate governance in managing the threats and opportunities created by this rapidly evolving economic environment. We encourage authors to submit their manuscripts addressing the following, but not exclusively, areas:

• The role of the internal audit function in providing advice and support to the board and other stakeholders on issues related to sustainability and new technologies.
• The implementation of new technology (such as data analytics) within the internal audit function, and more in general within organisations, and related challenges and opportunities.
• The role of corporate governance actors and internal auditors in creating, implementing and managing sustainability plans.
• The digital capabilities that the board of directors and auditors should have to maximise the benefits and overcome the challenges of technology
• Bridging the gap between digital and sustainability in corporate governance and internal audit.

We also welcome papers that address any relevant aspect of internal auditing and corporate governance.

Keynote speakers:

• Anne Kiem (CEO of Chartered IIA)
• John Bendermacher (President of ECIIA)
• Hanif Barma (A founder partner of Board Alchemy, a specialist governance consultancy)
• Dan McDonough (A founding partner of Matero Consulting)
• Dr Rainer Lenz (Chief Audit Executive at SAF-HOLLAND Group)

The Conference organising committee includes:

• Prof. Rob Melville (Bayes Business School, University of London, UK)
• Prof. Giuseppe D’Onza (University of Pisa, Italy)
• Dr. Alessandro Merendino (Coventry University, UK)
• Leon Yap (Erasmus University, Open University, The Netherlands)

Key dates:

• Submission deadline: Monday 27th February 2023 at 5 pm (GMT)
• Notification of decisions on submission: Friday 3rd March 2023
• Registration deadline (payment): 15th March 2023.

The Conference is taking place at Coventry University London, 102 Middlesex Street, London, E17JF

Back to events