THEME
INTERNAL AUDIT IN A POLYCRISIS ERA: ADAPTING, ASSURING AND ADVANCING
The 2025 ACIIA Conference brings together industry leaders, governance professionals, and internal audit experts from all over Asia Pacific Region to address the challenges of auditing in a polycrisis era — a world shaped by climate risks, geopolitical instability, economic volatility, and rapid technological advancements. With the theme “Internal Audit in a Polycrisis Era: Adapting, Assuring, and Advancing,” the conference aims to equip professionals with the insights, strategies, and tools needed to navigate this complex landscape while reinforcing governance, resilience, and transparency. The event is expected to congregate more than 1200 delegates from 17 countries which will offer a diversified networking and learning experience to all delegates.
Day 1 sets the foundation with a keynote address on national resilience and sustainable governance, followed by thought-provoking discussions on the evolving audit landscape, governance frameworks, and the role of internal audit in driving business agility and ethical leadership. The day also explores the intersection of internal audit and mental resilience, ensuring auditors are prepared to perform under high-pressure conditions.
Day 2 expands the conversation through 16 concurrent sessions across four key tracks:
• Governance & Leadership – Strengthening board communication, governance in volatile geopolitical environments, and leadership development in internal audit.
• Sustainability & Resilience – ESG reporting, supply chain resilience, and sustainable investment strategies.
• Risk & Crisis Management – Navigating financial risks, crisis management in highprofile incidents, and ethical decision-making in uncertain times.
• Technology & Innovation – Leveraging AI, big data, and cybersecurity advancements to enhance internal audit functions.
Through keynote speeches, expert panels, and practical case studies, attendees will gain actionable insights to future-proof their audit functions and strengthen their roles as strategic enablers in their organizations. Join us as we explore the future of internal audit and governance in an ever-evolving world.
THE SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSORS
SUPPORTING BODIES
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Chari TVT
Governance and Risk Committee, UEM Sunrise
Chari is a Business / financial consultant engaged with a local listed conglomerate, high-tech 5G infrastructure company, a global forensics & valuation company, large infrastructure company in the aviation sector, High- tech semi-conductor chip manufacturer amongst others.
He served also a Board member of a few listed and non-listed entities in Malaysia and abroad including UEM Sunrise Bhd, Airasia Aviation Group Bhd, Redone Group Bhd, Phil Tower Inc, Philippines. He recently joined the Board Advisory of a AgenticAI company based out of the US.
Chari Tvt served as the Group CFO of Malaysia’s Axiata Group & Celcom Telecommunication up until December 2016. Axiata is one of the largest telecommunications groups in Asia with more than 200 million customers and a market cap of approximately US 10 B. Chari has also served as the CFO of Celcom Axiata since mid-2009 and was responsible for a series of new initiatives which helped Celcom to receive an Award for generating the highest ROIC within Malaysia.
Prior to joining the Axiata Group, he was Vice President of Sales for Asia Pacific and Japan at Hewlett Packard and had served HP for over twenty years of which he spent 4 years in Hongkong, 12 years in Singapore and 4 years in Thailand and Malaysia. In his 20 years stint in HP, the first 10 years was spent in various finance positions and the last 10 years in Sales & Marketing, Business Unit head at Asia Pac level.
In his down time, he continues to deliver a range of talks at local and international conferences, on topics like Importance of Analytics, Digital Disruptions, Digital Transformation, Technology Risk Assessment, Purpose Driven Leadership, Business Model innovation, Investment Portfolio Management etc.
He is an advisory member of a subcommittee of Malaysian Institute of Accountants. He is also a mentor for entrepreneurs under Endeavor Malaysia and an advisory member to a plastic recycling company.
He holds an MBA from State University of New York at Buffalo, and is a Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants UK, a Fellow member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and a Member of Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India.
Dash Dhakshinamoorthy
Entrepreneurship Enabler, Founder StartupMalaysia & act2, Effectuation Expert
Dash Dhakshinamoorthy is an Entrepreneurship Enabler and creator of Act2.life—an organization that helps individuals and companies design their next act with intention, momentum, and meaning.
With over two decades of experience in venture building, startup ecosystem design, and founder coaching, Dash has guided hundreds—from
first-time entrepreneurs to seasoned leaders—toward bold, purpose-driven reinventions. His method is grounded in the belief that your Next Act = Inner Shift Effectual Action—a dynamic interplay between self-discovery and taking entrepreneurial steps with what you already have.
A recipient of the prestigious IVLP Fellowship from the U.S. State Department and a graduate in Entrepreneurship from the University of Cambridge, Dash brings both global credibility and local soul to his practice.
In a world where uncertainty is not a passing storm but a permanent climate, Dash teaches people how to act in a state of unknowingness— drawing from the effectual principles used by expert entrepreneurs to create what’s next without waiting for perfect clarity.
Dash doesn’t offer quick-fix frameworks – he delivers reframes that shift perspectives, spark agency, and catalyze movement.
Whether you’re redesigning your career or reimagining your company’s second curve, Dash helps you begin from who you are, and what you already have.
Dr. Kalanithi Nesaretnam
Independent Non-Executive Director (INED), IOI Corporation Berhad
Dr Kalanithi Nesaretnam is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) at IOI Corporation Berhad and Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad.
With At IOI Corp she is Chairperson of the Board Sustainability Committee. She is co-founder of Climate Governance Malaysia (CGM) which is the country chapter of the World Economic Forum’s Climate Governance Initiative. She is also on the Steering Committee of the CEO’s Action Network (CAN), a coalition of leaders for sustainability action. She is an ESG advocate and recently completed The Oxford University’s Leading Sustainable Corporations Programme at the Said Business School. She has been sharing her ESG experience with newly appointed directors on Bursa’s Mandatory Accreditation Programme (MAP) since 2022. In June 2022 she was appointed advisor to Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC).
She holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Reading, UK. She held the position of Director, Product Development and Advisory Services at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board and subsequently as Minister in the Embassy of Malaysia to Belgium and Mission to the European Union. She is a mentor at LeadWomen and 30%Club, international organisations that are dedicated to empowering women and getting women Board ready.
Lee Han Ther
Cybersecurity Consultant
Han Ther is a highly accomplished cybersecurity expert with over 20 years of experience spanning multiple security domains.
His career includes over a decade of consulting, speaking and training engagements across sectors such as finance, government, telecommunications, and utilities. As the former Cybersecurity Training & Education Director, he was instrumental in establishing the Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in Malaysia, delivering extensive training and certifications to Malaysian government officers. He has held critical roles, including the Head of Cyber Strategy & Architecture for a leading telecommunication provider, Regional Principal Cyber Security Consultant for a MSSP and Security Practice Director at a Big 4 firm. He holds multiple security certifications, actively contributes as an advisor for Monash University Malaysia’s Faculty of IT and also volunteers as the Artificial Intelligence (AI) working committee of the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO).
Dato’ Merina Abu Tahir
ACCA Global Council Member | Board of Director of Public Listed Companies
Merina Abu Tahir has over 35 years of working experience in various senior management positions in finance, accounting, business development, audit, governance and ethics; in Malaysia, United Kingdom, Middle East, Africa and South America.
She is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director on the boards of Malaysian public-listed companies, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, SP Setia Berhad and AEON Co (M) Berhad.
Merina is active in the development and promotion of the accounting profession through current appointments in the ACCA Global Council, ACCA Global Forum on Governance Risk & Performance, Malaysian Institute of Accountant (MIA) Education Board and MIA Professional Accountants in Business Committee.
Merina is the past Chair of ACCA Malaysia Advisory Committee, past MIA Council member and past Executive Committee member of the International Association of Airline Internal Auditors.
She is a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), member of the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA), ASEAN Chartered Professional Accountant, Institute of Internal Auditors Malaysia (IIAM) and Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM).
Raymon Ram
Managing Principal, Graymater Forensic Advisory Sdn Bhd
Raymon is a leading advocate against economic crime, serving as Managing Principal of Graymatter Forensic Advisory Sdn. Bhd., President of Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) and Anti-Corruption Expert (Research) with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
He specializes in Financial Forensics, Fraud Risk Management, and AML/CFT Compliance. Raymon has led numerous corporate fraud investigations, developed national audit and anti-corruption guidelines, and facilitated anti-fraud courses for law enforcement and private sector entities.
As a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), and ISO 37001 ABMS Lead Auditor, he is regularly involved in consultancy engagements and training programs pertaining to his areas of expertise. Raymon is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in Malaysia.
Ross Tilly
President, The Institute of Internal Auditors Australia
Ross is an executive at the Reserve Bank of Australia reporting to the Chair of the Audit Committee and the Deputy Governor.
He advises the Board and executives on governance, risk and control and is playing a substantial role in the various transformation programs currently underway at the Bank. Ross joined the RBA after retiring from KPMG after 37 years with that firm. Ross held a variety of management and governance roles within the KPMG partnership including the National Partner-in Charge of KPMG’s GRC Advisory practice. He was a founding partner of KPMG’s Risk Consulting division.
At KPMG he served as lead and Risk Consulting partner for a range of ASX 100 companies with global operations, along with several Commonwealth and state government GTEs. Ross has worked in geographically diverse and complex operating environments across a wide range of industries. He provided advice on a range of topics including strategic and enterprise risk management, internal control, business processes and regulatory change. Ross has significant transaction experience with those clients.
Ross is President and a Fellow of IIA Australia, he is chair of IIA-A’s Board, and several of its Board Sub-committees. He has previously served on a number of IIA Australia’s committees, including being Chair of its Audit & Risk Committee. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants ANZ where he is the Chair of its Risk Specialisation group and has served as a Councillor on CAANZ’s NSW Council. He is a Graduate member of AICD. He is also Treasurer and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of a major Sydney based not for profit organisation.
Thanh (Alan) Nguyen
CEO, The Institute of Internal Auditors Vietnam
Thanh Nguyen is the first Vietnamese recipient of the prestigious “Emerging Leader” award, an annual recognition granted by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA Global) and Internal Auditor magazine to fifteen of the most promising young auditors worldwide.
This award reflects Thanh’s exceptional contributions to the internal audit profession and his leadership in the global auditing community.
With over 15 years of experience, Thanh has provided a wide range of professional services, including internal audit, compliance, risk management, internal controls, business continuity management, and US Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Section 404 implementation and audits for both state-owned and private enterprises.
Thanh has served as a keynote speaker for numerous training programs on risk management, business continuity management, internal controls, and codes of conduct, sponsored by renowned organizations such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the UK Government, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).In addition to his speaking engagements, Thanh has delivered a wide range of training courses on internal audit, risk management, internal controls, financial management, and management accounting, including official certification courses such as the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA). His training participants include senior professionals such as Heads and Deputy Heads of Internal Audit, Supervisory Board Members, Risk Managers, Chief Accountants, and Finance Directors from leading domestic and international corporations.
Thanh is also a prolific author, having contributed numerous professional articles and technical guidance published by IIA Vietnam and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), further supporting the development of the internal audit profession in Vietnam and beyond.
Thor Boon Lee
Associate Partner, Risk Consulting, Ernst & Young Consulting Sdn Bhd
Thor Boon Lee is an Associate Partner at Ernst & Young Consulting Sdn Bhd, bringing more than 15 years of leadership experience in enterprise risk management across major financial institutions.
He currently provides risk management consulting solutions, helping organizations navigate complex financial, operational, and ESG risks.
Prior to joining EY, he served as the Country Chief Risk Officer at OCBC Bank (M) Berhad from 2017 to 2025, where he led the enterprise-wide risk management framework including credit, market, operational, and ESG/climate risk. His oversight included both conventional and Islamic banking operations, with responsibilities ranging from credit approvals to business continuity planning and cyber risk mitigation.
Earlier in his career, Boon Lee was the Chief Risk Officer at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (Malaysia) Berhad , where he also pioneered integrated risk frameworks for credit, investment, and operational risk. At CIMB Investment Bank/Asset Management, he held the position of Assistant General Manager and Head of Risk Management, focusing on credit, market, and investment risks within the group, providing leadership and setting directions.
Boon Lee’s comprehensive experience in risk governance, regulatory compliance, and sustainability positions him as a strategic advisor in today’s evolving risk landscape.