Boards, committees, and volunteer opportunities
Elevate your impact through sharing your experiences and mentoring future internal audit leaders.

IIA volunteer engagement
The primary function of IIA volunteer engagement is to provide subject matter expertise, advice, and counsel on an ongoing basis in different aspects of organizational operations.

North American Board
The mission of the North American Board is to ensure that volunteer and staff activities of The IIA adequately address the needs of North American membership.

Foundation Board of Trustees
Leveraging donor generosity, we support the development of a competent global body of internal audit practitioners that enhances organizational governance and enhances and protects value.
Global Board of Directors
It is the role of the Global Board to oversee the management of The IIA.
The Global Board delegates responsibility for day-to-day management to the President and CEO.
The Global Board provides the President and CEO with guidance and strategic oversight to advance The IIA’s mission.
Global Board of Directors structure and composition
The Global Board shall be composed of:
- Four Officers
- Four North American Directors
- Five Directors from outside North America
- Two Directors-at-Large
- One Ex-officio Director who is the Chair of the Audit Committee
- One Ex-officio Director who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
For the Global and North American Boards, the following positions are automatically filled through a succession process specified by The IIA Bylaws:
- Chair of the Global Board
- Immediate Past Chair of the Global Board
- Chair of the North American Board
- Immediate Past Chair of the North American Board
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Chair of the Global Board responsibilities
- Serve as chief elective officer of The IIA.
- Preside over all IIA Global Board, Global Assembly, and Supervisory Committee meetings.
- Serve, along with the CEO, as spokesperson for The IIA.
Chair of the Global Board term
- One year.
Chair of the Global Board nominations
- The Senior Vice Chair of the Board is expected to succeed the Chair of the Board.
- This position is not open for nominations.
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Senior Vice Chair responsibilities
- Lead development of long-term strategy for The IIA.
- The Senior Vice Chair is expected to succeed the Chair of the Board at the end of the Chair of the Board’s term or upon vacancy of that office.
Senior Vice Chair term
- One year.
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Vice Chair-Finance responsibilities
- Ensure the establishment and maintenance of adequate controls for safeguarding the funds of The IIA.
- Maintain, review, and approve financial, budgetary, and contractual policies and procedures.
- Review all financial reports of The IIA; and serve as Chair of the Finance Committee.
Vice Chair-Finance term
- One year.
- May be elected to a second term.
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Immediate Past Chair responsibilities
- The Immediate Past Chair provides continuity, guidance, and assistance to the Chair of the Board.
Immediate Past Chair term
- One year.
Global Board of Directors Officers
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National Institute Directors responsibilities
- Assist in promoting The IIA and perform special tasks as assigned by the Chair of the Board.
- Directors may also be assigned to oversee specific committees by the Chair of the Board.
National Institute Directors term
- Two years.
- May be elected for a second term.
National Institute Directors nominations
- Nominations come from among the ten largest National Institutes where at least five are chosen.
- Selected based on competencies, global perspective, and a broad mix of global regions or industries to help balance Board diversity.
- Must be a Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®).
The ten largest National Institutes for the 2025-26 term (listed alphabetically):
- Brazil
- China
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Spain
- United Kingdom & Ireland
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Chosen to ensure that at least six Board candidates are from North America and that at least six Board candidates are from outside of North America (ONA).
Directors are selected based on the desired competencies.
One Director will be elected as Audit Committee Chair and serve as an Ex-officio voting member of the Board.
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Directors from USA, Canada, or Caribbean chosen to ensure that at least four Directors are from the North American Board.
Global Board Directors
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- Strategic thinking
- Global perspective
- Leadership capabilities
- Business acumen
- Fiduciary responsibility (e.g., put The IIA first)
- Fluency in English
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
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Service as an Officer of the Global Board is considered one of the pinnacles of volunteering within The IIA governance and committee structure.
To assist potential candidates in evaluating whether they are ready for serious consideration by the Global Nominating Committee (GNC), the following guidance is provided.
Qualifications
- Should be a Certified Internal Auditor ® (CIA®) with a proven track record as a leader within The IIA, typically as a senior volunteer leader at the regional or global level.
- Must have two references from other volunteer leaders who are familiar with the nominee's competencies and skills.
- Must possess a global perspective, strategic focus, excellent leadership and communication skills, with extensive practice experience as either a chief audit executive, partner or director in a professional services firm, or a thought leader in governance, risk management, and/or internal control.
- Must have the ability to attend three in-person meetings each year and participate in video teleconferences and must have time to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to them.
- Must be collaborative in working as part of a group.
- Must be fluent in English, which is the official language of the Global Board.
- Candidates selected for the next term will be invited to attend the February Global Board meeting (which takes place before the elections).
Note: The GNC has the discretion of nominating up to two individuals who are not members at the time they are nominated, if specific competencies are needed.
Global Board competencies and skills desired
North American Board
The mission of the North American Board is to ensure that volunteer and staff activities of The IIA adequately address the needs of North American membership through continuous monitoring of programs, services, and budgets relating to North American members and chapters.
North American Board structure and composition
The North American Board shall be composed of:
- Chair
- Senior Vice Chair
- Vice Chair* (Two)
- Member* (Four)
- Canadian Representative* (One)
- Immediate Past Chair (One)
* May be elected for a second term.
The North American Board will have eleven members, with the ideal composition as follows:
- One representative from Canada (Condition may be met if Canadian is included in a category below, but it does not exclude consideration of additional Canadian members)
- Eight representatives at-large representing the diversity of the profession, including gender, race, industry, experience, and geographic concentration
- One immediate Past Chair of the North American Board
- One IIA President and Chief Executive Officer (ex-officio)
Desired competencies for the North American Board
- Strategic thinking
- North American perspective
- Leadership capabilities
- Business acumen
- Fiduciary responsibility (e.g., put The IIA first)
- Fluency in English
- Excellent written and verbal communication
North American Board qualifications
- Candidates from North America are selected based on competencies, North American perspective, and broad mix of NA regions or industries to help balance Board diversity. CIA preferred.
- A maximum of one non-CIA and/or non-IIA member could be considered if specific competencies are needed.
- Officers must be a CIA.
North American Board responsibilities
To ensure that volunteer and staff activities of The IIA adequately address the needs of North American membership through continuous monitoring of programs, services, and budgets relating to North American members and chapters.
As prescribed in The IIA Bylaws, the North American Board Chair, Senior Vice Chair, and two additional North American Board members will be selected to serve on the Global Board.
North American Board length of term
- One or two years.
- Senior Vice Chair of the North American Board is expected to succeed the Chair of the North American Board.
Foundation Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees governs the Internal Audit Foundation.
Leveraging donor generosity, we support the development of a competent global body of internal audit practitioners that enhances organizational governance and enhances and protects value.
Board of Trustees structure
- President
- Senior Vice President, Strategy
- Vice President, Content and Chair – Committee of Research and Education Advisors
- Vice President, Finance & Development
- Seven Trustees
Officers are elected by the members of the Internal Audit Foundation.
Board of Trustees responsibilities
- As the governing body for the Internal Audit Foundation, trustees govern the establishment of research priorities and match available funding to research projects and programs.
- They also govern the administration of scholarships and grants to support our university partners.
- Trustees meet four times annually.
Board of Trustees length of term
- President and Senior Vice President serve one-year terms up to three terms.
- Trustees serve a three-year term and may be elected to a second term.
- The Senior Vice President is expected to succeed the President of the Internal Audit Foundation Board of Trustees.
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Audit Committee mission
- To provide assistance to the Global Board of Directors in fulfillment of their oversight responsibilities for The IIA’s governance, risk management, and internal control processes.
- Additionally, the Committee oversees The IIA’s enterprise risk management, compliance, and ethics programs, the internal audit function, and the annual external audit of The IIA’s financial statements.
Audit Committee composition
- Three to five members from the Global Board of Directors.
Audit Committee nomination
- Not open to nomination.
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Committee of Research and Education Advisors mission
- To support the Internal Audit Foundation to be an essential global resource for promoting and advancing the relevance and value of the internal audit profession.
Committee of Research and Education Advisors composition
- Eleven individuals representing a cross-section of IIA membership.
Note: This committee reports to the Internal Audit Foundation Board of Trustees.
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Exam Development Committee mission
- To ensure that the content of The IIA’s certification exams is continuously aligned with and reflects the current global practice of internal auditing, including the International Professional Practices Framework® (IPPF®).
- Exam Development Committee is a sub-committee of the Professional Certifications Board.
Exam Development Committee composition
- All members must hold the Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) certification.
- Two or more designations preferred.
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Finance Committee mission
- To review the internal reporting of the budget and financial policies and procedures of The Institute.
- To ensure that the reporting of revenue and expenses of operations and assets and liabilities of the organization are based on acceptable accounting practices
- To provide necessary and timely information for decision-making.
Finance Committee composition
- Five to eight members from the Global Board, North American Board, and the Internal Audit Foundation.
Finance Committee nominations
- Not open to nomination.
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Investment Committee mission
- To assist the Board with fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the investment portfolio and strategy of The IIA.
Investment Committee composition
- Three to seven members-at-large, including individuals with expertise in finance, investment, and relevant fields.
Investment Committee nomination
- Not open to nomination.
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Global Guidance Council mission
- To serve the global internal audit profession, its stakeholders, and the public interest by developing, issuing, maintaining, and promoting Topical Requirements, Global Guidance, and thought leadership.
Global Guidance Council composition
- A minimum of twenty-six internal audit practitioners and two additional nonvoting advisory stakeholder representatives who are not members of The IIA but have standard-setting or similar relevant experience.
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Institute Relations Committee mission
- To support global communication, collaboration, and cooperation among The IIA and its Institutes, consistent with the principles of One IIA.
- To support growth into new geographies and to contribute to a strong global presence for The IIA.
Institute Relations Committee composition
- Fifteen to twenty-five members to include representation from all regions of the world.
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International Internal Audit Standards Board mission
- To serve the global internal audit profession, its stakeholders, and the public interest by developing, issuing, maintaining, and promoting the Global Internal Audit Standards.
International Internal Audit Standards Board composition
- Minimum of fourteen members, all of whom must hold the Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) certification.
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Professional Certifications Board mission
To govern, advocate, and promote The IIA’s global certification programs that:
- Are recognized as the global benchmark for the profession.
- Contribute to the competency, recognition, and professionalism of internal auditors.
- Evolve to meet current and expected global needs of internal audit professionals.
- Uphold the equitable and fair treatment of all candidates globally.
- Ensure consistent application globally.
Professional Certifications Board composition
- Minimum of nine members, all of whom must hold the Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) certification.
IIA Committees Overview
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Canadian Advisory Committee mission
- To promote and develop the internal audit profession in Canada, focusing on services and perspectives unique to the Canadian context.
- The CAC advises the North American Board (NAB) on matters including advocacy, research, training, and networking within the internal audit community.
Canadian Advisory Committee composition
- Six to nine members, representing a cross-section of Canadian membership and reflecting a diverse range of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives within the internal audit profession.
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Chapter Relations Committee mission
- To assist chapter leadership as a resource and serve as liaison to The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) to enable chapters to meet their objectives.
- To effectively promote the professional practice of internal auditing through a full range of quality services to members.
- To ensure effective strategies are developed to address issues and opportunities at the chapter level.
Chapter Relations Committee composition
- Twenty-one elected District Representatives and a minimum of five District Advisors, all of whom must hold the Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) certification.
North American Committees
Committee process
- Committee chairs are appointed by the Global or North American Chair and work with the assigned board member nominees and staff liaisons to review and select candidates for their committees.
- Efforts are made to ensure that the membership of the committees is diverse, equitable, and inclusive, and any specific requirements, competencies, and skills are taken into consideration.
- New committee members are appointed by early March to fill terms beginning in June or July, when the first in-person committee meeting is usually held.
- Terms are for one to three years, although committee chairs may replace members who have not effectively contributed to committee work.
- Appointments may also be made to fill vacancies as needed.
Chapter Relations Committee (North America only)
- The North American Nominating Committee selects the slate of candidates for the open District Advisor and District Representative positions in North America.
- District Advisors and District Representatives serve on the Chapter Relations Committee (CRC).
- Members serve two-year terms for up to two terms.
General board and committee benefits, requirements, and commitments
Benefits
As a IIA volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Help advance the internal auditing profession and The IIA.
- Receive exposure to professional issues.
- Exchange ideas and perspectives.
- Gain personal satisfaction from working with peers.
- Develop leadership and communication skills.
- Network with other audit professionals.
- Earn CPE for participation in meetings or on projects.
General time commitment for volunteers
- Attendance is expected at all meetings.
- Work time, other than the above meeting times, averages 50–100 hours per year.
- Some board and committee members’ time may exceed 100 hours per year.
General requirements
In order to serve as a IIA volunteer, you should:
- Be an IIA member in good standing.
- Have specific relevant competencies.
- Be able to commit time.
- Have funding for your travel and meeting expenses, if not a virtual group.
- Agree to comply with The IIA’s Annual Conflict of Interest Declaration.
Expense reimbursement for board travel
- For some boards, expenses are covered by The IIA as needed in accordance with The IIA’s expense reimbursement policies should funds not be available through other sources such as from their employers, institutes, or chapters.
- Committee, volunteer travel, and other expenses are not authorized unless the expenses are in the approved budget.
- The President and CEO may approve reasonable travel, lodging, meals, and incidental expense exceptions on a case-by-case basis for hardship.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion
The IIA values and seeks diverse leadership as defined by gender, race, ethnicity, geographic location, industry, age, etc.
In alignment with the new Strategic Plan, The IIA is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion across all facets of the organization, including our volunteer base.
Conflict of interest
The IIA is committed to the highest ethical standards in order to merit and maintain the confidence and trust of its members and the public at large.
All Board volunteer leaders must sign an Annual Conflict of Interest Declaration to ensure that members act in the best interest of The IIA.
Board and committee nominating process
Nomination period
Nominations open in September and close in late October each year.
Selection of nominees
From December through February.
Candidate review and identification
The nominating committees and succession planning committees (committee chairs and staff liaisons) meet during November - January to review and identify qualified candidates for open board and committee positions.
Slate of nominees
The Global Nominating Committee meets in January the following year to review all recommendations for the boards and their committees and selects a slate of nominees.
Global Board and North American Board slates are posted no later than the end of January of the year following nominations.
North American Board and committee terms
Begin in April each year.
Global Board and committee terms
Start in June or July.
References for committees and boards
National Institute and Chapter references
IIA National Institutes and Chapters are encouraged to submit qualified members for a committee or board position.
The submission should be based on the observed experiences and prior volunteer activities of the nominee.
References for self-nomination
A self-nomination must be completed with two references (name, email, phone) who can provide specific reasons why they recommend you as a candidate and how you would contribute to a board's or committee's success should they be contacted.
References do not have to be members of The IIA.
Elections
- Forms must be submitted by October 30, 2025, to be considered for the 2026-27 term.
- All candidates will receive a final status letter no later than March 15, 2026.
- Candidates selected will begin terms in April or June 2026.
North American Board, District Advisors, and District Representatives
April each year at the North American Membership Meeting.
Global Board and Committees
Each year at the Annual Business Meeting, typically in June or July.