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Why Post-Quantum Cryptography Belongs on Internal Audit’s 2027 Calendar
Nov 24, 2026 • 9:00 AM CET • 1 hour
Details 
Internal audit plays a critical role in assessing emerging risks and safeguarding an organisation’s most valuable assets—its crown jewels. But do organisations truly know where these assets reside, how they are protected, and where vulnerabilities lie? As quantum computing advances, traditional encryption methods face increasing risks. This webinar introduces internal auditors to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), explains the emerging threat, and explores why it belongs on the 2027 audit calendar. Participants will gain insights into assessing organisational readiness, identifying critical assets and cryptographic vulnerabilities, and understanding a potential audit approach and outcomes to support a secure transition to quantum-resistant technologies.
After attending this session, participants will be able to:
• Understand the impact of quantum computing on existing encryption methods and organisational cybersecurity risks.
• Recognise why Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) is becoming an important consideration for organisations and internal audit functions.
• Describe key questions, risks and considerations that can help initiate discussions on PQC readiness, governance and transition planning within their organisation.
Speaker
Tjakko de Boer
Managing Director • Protiviti Netherlands
E-mail / LinkedIn
Tjakko de Boer, Managing Director CIO Solutions, brings over 20 years of assisting clients with leveraging digital solutions, improving performance, and managing operational risk and control. Key focus areas include Digital Resilience, Responsible AI & Privacy, IT Audit and IT Governance.
 
Cristina Peano
Managing Director • Protiviti Italy
E-mail / LinkedIn
 
AI In action: Practical applications for internal audit​ Practical AI. Better Audits. Stronger Insights
Nov 24, 2026 • 10:30 AM CET • 1 hour
Details 
This session explores how AI can move from experimentation to consistent, practical use across the internal audit lifecycle, improving efficiency while strengthening audit quality and insight. Through some Practical Demos, we’ll examine how AI can support everyday audit activities while keeping auditors in control. We’ll also discuss the governance, evidence validation and human oversight needed for responsible adoption, alongside practical steps to standardise workflows, build team capability and scale proven use cases without compromising professional judgement or accountability.
Learning Objectives: After attending this session, participants will be able to:
• identify practical AI applications across internal audit planning, testing and reporting, and
• describe the governance, validation and human oversight controls needed to support their responsible use.
Speaker
Mark Peters
Managing Director
E-mail / LinkedIn
Mark Peters (Protiviti) is a Managing Director at Protiviti and an experienced leader in transforming how organisations approach risk and assurance. With more than 30 years of experience spanning internal audit, technology and operational risk, Mark has helped organisations navigate major technology and business transformation. His work brings together deep assurance expertise with a strong focus on how emerging technology can reshape the way Internal Audit operates, moving from traditional approaches towards more agile, technology-enabled and forward-looking assurance.
 
Martin Douglas
Director
E-mail / LinkedIn
Martin Douglas (Protiviti) is a Director in Protiviti’s Technology Audit and Advisory practice, with more than 25 years of experience across IT audit, assurance and technology consulting. He helps organisations strengthen assurance over complex technology environments, transformation programmes, cyber risk, data and emerging technologies. His work focuses on evolving Internal Audit beyond traditional, point-in-time reviews towards more technology-enabled, forward-looking assurance, bringing together practical innovation, strong governance and professional judgement.
 
Would You Hire Yourself Today? Reimagining Internal Audit Talent for the AI Age
Nov 24, 2026 • 12:00 PM CET • 1 hour
Details 
Artificial intelligence is transforming the work of internal auditors faster than ever before. As routine audit activities become increasingly automated, the skills that define a successful auditor are rapidly changing.

This session challenges participants to ask a difficult but important question: Would you hire yourself today?

We will explore how audit leaders should rethink talent acquisition, training, career development, and team structures in an AI-enabled world.

Attendees will gain practical insights into building future-ready audit functions that combine technology, critical thinking, business acumen, and human judgment to deliver greater organizational value.
Learning Objectives: After attending this session, participants will be able to
• Assess how AI is reshaping the competencies, roles, and career paths within Internal Audit
• Identify the skills, mindsets, and talent profiles that organisations should prioritise when hiring future auditors
• Develop strategies to upskill and retain existing audit professionals in an increasingly AI-enabled environment
• Redesign Internal Audit teams to balance technology, data capabilities, business understanding, and professional judgement
Speaker
Stanislav Oparanov
Director • Protiviti Bulgaria
E-mail / LinkedIn
Stanislav Oparanov is a Director at Protiviti and leader of the Sofia office. He advises clients on internal audit, technology risk, cybersecurity, and compliance, drawing on more than a decade of international consulting experience. An ICAEW Chartered Accountant, Stan previously worked in Protiviti's London office, leading major technology transformation and risk management initiatives across a range of industries.
 
Andrea Rista
Director • Protiviti Bulgaria
E-mail / LinkedIn
Andrea Rista is a Director at Protiviti and Lead of the Bulgaria Center of Excellence. A long-term member of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and a certified Quality Assessment Reviewer (QAR), he has over 20 years of experience helping organizations strengthen governance, risk management, and assurance. Andrea is a passionate advocate for the future of Internal Audit in the AI age, challenging traditional views of audit talent and promoting a new generation of professionals who combine technological fluency, critical thinking, and human judgment to build trust, navigate uncertainty, and create lasting value.
 
From AI Governance to Assurance: Practical Insights from Munich Re and Protiviti
Nov 24, 2026 • 2:00 PM CET • 1 hour
Details 
As organizations increasingly deploy AI in critical business processes, expectations around governance, accountability, risk management and assurance continue to rise. Yet translating AI principles and policies into effective oversight and audit-ready controls remains challenging

Drawing on practical insights from an ongoing AI governance and assurance collaboration between Munich Re and Protiviti, this session explores how organizations can operationalize AI governance in practice. It will examine governance structures, accountability models, control frameworks and assurance approaches, as well as the evolving role of Internal Audit in independently assessing AI governance and AI-enabled processes.
Learning Objectives: After attending this session, participants will be able to:
• Understand the key governance structures, roles and accountabilities required to oversee enterprise AI initiatives.
• Identify practical approaches for translating AI governance principles into measurable controls, monitoring activities and assurance mechanisms.
• Understand how Internal Audit can assess the design and effectiveness of AI governance frameworks while remaining independent and risk-focused.
Speaker
Kentaro Ellert
Associate Director • Protiviti Germany
E-mail / LinkedIn
Kentaro Ellert is an Associate Director and leads AI Governance activities in Germany. He advises organizations on AI governance, AI risk management, regulatory compliance and assurance programs, with a particular focus on highly regulated industries including financial services and insurance. Kentaro has supported numerous organizations in establishing governance frameworks, risk management processes and assurance approaches for emerging technologies and artificial intelligence. His recent work includes enterprise-wide AI governance initiatives, AI assurance engagements and the integration of responsible AI principles into operational risk and control frameworks.
 
Steffen Manzei
IT Auditor • ERGO Group AG
E-mail / LinkedIn
Steffen Manzei is an IT Auditor at ERGO Group AG with more than 15 years of experience across operational IT management and independent assurance. Having held leadership roles in both operational IT and Internal Audit, he brings a unique perspective spanning the first and third lines of defence. He has led national and international audits for Munich Re and ERGO in areas including IT governance, outsourcing, and emerging technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence. Steffen is passionate about driving continuous improvement and helping organizations balance innovation, effective governance, and sustainable risk management.
 
Andrea Cirillo
Senior Director and Head of Audit Data, Artificial Intelligence and Continuous Risk Assessment • Intesa Sanpaolo
LinkedIn
Andrea Cirillo (Intesa Sanpaolo) is Senior Director and Head of Audit Data, Artificial Intelligence and Continuous Risk Assessment within the Group Chief Audit Officer Area at Intesa Sanpaolo. He leads a team that applies advanced analytics and AI to Internal Audit and guides its digital transformation initiatives, with the aim of improving risk assessment capabilities and strengthening the advisory role of the function towards the bank. With over a decade of experience in statistics, data science and audit, he specializes in applying advanced analytics and machine learning to audit activities, notably in risk management and control systems within the banking sector. His professional journey includes roles as Senior Audit Quantitative Analyst and Lead Data Scientist, where he coordinated teams in deploying data science across audit processes. He holds a degree in Management for Business from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan and an Executive Master in Finance from SDA Bocconi, and is a Certified Internal Auditor.
 
Continuous Auditing & Monitoring: Turning Risk Visibility into Action
Nov 24, 2026 • 3:30 PM CET • 1 hour
Details 
This session explores how continuous auditing and continuous monitoring can transform risk visibility into timely, accountable action. Participants will distinguish management’s monitoring responsibilities from Internal Audit’s assurance role and examine a closed-loop model for detecting, routing, investigating, remediating, and verifying risk signals. The session also addresses trigger and threshold design, alert precision, ownership, escalation, and integration across the audit lifecycle. Practical guidance will help participants identify suitable initial use cases, avoid common implementation pitfalls, and build sustainable programs that deliver measurable assurance and business value.
Learning Objectives: After attending this session, participants will be able to:
• Analyze how organizations turn risk visibility into audit and business responses
• Assess design of triggers, thresholds, ownership, and escalation in monitoring
• Evaluate how continuous auditing embeds into workflows to support timely action
Speaker
John Dowd
Senior Manager, IT Internal Audit & Financial Advisory
E-mail / LinkedIn
John Dowd is a Senior Manager in Technology Audit & Advisory based in Zurich, advising organizations across the Swiss and European markets. He specializes in internal audit, IT risk management, governance, and SOX/ICFR compliance, with a particular focus on innovation in assurance functions. John is an active practitioner and trainer in the application of AI and emerging technologies within internal audit. He regularly delivers workshops on the future of audit, including AI-enabled assurance, analytics-driven auditing, and continuous monitoring approaches.
 
From Data & AI to Audit Impact: Leadership, Innovation & the Future of Internal Audit
Nov 24, 2026 • 5:00 PM CET • 1 hour
Details 
Join us for an engaging conversation with a senior Internal Audit leader responsible for Data, AI and Continuous Risk Assessment within the Group Chief Audit Officer Area, exploring how data, artificial intelligence and new approaches to risk assessment are reshaping Internal Audit.

Through a senior-level conversation, we will discuss the transformation journey of Internal Audit, the opportunities and challenges emerging from the adoption of AI and data-driven approaches, and how innovation can be translated into tangible Audit impact. The conversation will also explore the leadership, governance and capability implications of this transformation.

The session will also introduce our 2027 Industry-Focused CPE Marathon, a European initiative designed to bring together industry leaders, share practical insights and address the unique challenges and opportunities facing internal audit across different sectors.
Learning Objectives: After attending this session, participants will be able to:
• Understand how Data, AI and Continuous Risk Assessment are changing Internal Audit priorities, approaches and operating models.
• Recognise the key leadership, governance and capability considerations involved in turning technological innovation into tangible Audit impact.
• Understand the importance of industry-specific audit challenges and how the 2027 Industry-Focused CPE Marathon will address these through knowledge sharing and collaboration.
Speaker
Francesco Monini
Managing Director • Protiviti Italy
E-mail / LinkedIn
Francesco Monini is a Managing Director at Protiviti's Milan office, leading the FSI Audit & Compliance practice. In this capacity he supports numerous Italian and international companies in managing projects in Anti-Financial Crime, Compliance, Internal Audit and Risk Management. Francesco has gained Sanctions experience in part through managing projects in the banking and payments industries. Francesco is a board member of the ACAMS Italy chapter.​
 
Andrea Cirillo
Senior Director and Head of Audit Data, Artificial Intelligence and Continuous Risk Assessment • Intesa Sanpaolo
LinkedIn
Andrea Cirillo (Intesa Sanpaolo) is Senior Director and Head of Audit Data, Artificial Intelligence and Continuous Risk Assessment within the Group Chief Audit Officer Area at Intesa Sanpaolo. He leads a team that applies advanced analytics and AI to Internal Audit and guides its digital transformation initiatives, with the aim of improving risk assessment capabilities and strengthening the advisory role of the function towards the bank. With over a decade of experience in statistics, data science and audit, he specializes in applying advanced analytics and machine learning to audit activities, notably in risk management and control systems within the banking sector. His professional journey includes roles as Senior Audit Quantitative Analyst and Lead Data Scientist, where he coordinated teams in deploying data science across audit processes. He holds a degree in Management for Business from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan and an Executive Master in Finance from SDA Bocconi, and is a Certified Internal Auditor.
 
Cristina Peano
Managing Director • Protiviti Italy
E-mail / LinkedIn
Cristina Peano is a Managing Director in our Milan office and leads the Internal Audit and Regulatory Compliance service line within the Products & Services industry. Cristina began her career in the Controlling department at Ferrero International. She then spent three years at Deloitte & Touche, working in external audit, due diligence and consulting services, primarily focused on SOX. Cristina is also a speaker at numerous professional and academic events on internal audit, compliance and the Tax Control Framework. These include programs at the Federico Stella Graduate School of Criminal Justice at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, as well as advanced courses at the University of Milan (UNIMI) for tax judges and professionals authorised to represent clients before tax courts, and on corporate criminal liability and compliance.
 
Peter Grasegger
Managing Director, CAE Solutions Lead Europe, Protiviti Germany • Protiviti Germany
E-mail / LinkedIn
Peter Grasegger has been with Protiviti Germany since 2006 and was part of the founding team. He supports clients in the areas of digital transformation, internal control systems and internal audit. Peter has more than 19 years of experience in consulting and auditing. Before joining Protiviti, he worked in audit-related advisory services at KPMG, where he developed expertise in corporate governance and risk management, with a particular focus on the financial sector. Peter holds a degree in business administration and completed a professional banking apprenticeship. He holds the Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA), is an accredited Quality Assessor with the IIA and a recognised auditor of internal audit systems with the German Institute of Internal Auditing (DIIR), of which he is also a member.
 

 

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