Dear Members,

I am writing to you on the cusp of the new year and hope (as we have for the last 20 months) that you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. Covid–19 and its variants have tested our patience and skills such that managing risk and working from home have become a way of life for most of us. Though the fast multiplying Omicron virus is not as devastating on individual health, the potential for a sheer increase in numbers and the consequent pressure on health care and other systems is a cause for concern. Many of our members faced a more positive challenge from the “Challenge exam", for which active members of 17 Qualified Accounting Bodies (including ICAI) were eligible.

Their successes have resulted in an increase in the number of CIAs in India. We hope this trend continues to add to the skills and competencies of the internal audit profession in India. Our very best wishes to clear the CIA quickly for those candidates who were not successful, especially some who I know missed qualifying by a whisker. Preparation and perseverance pay. The dynamism of our fledgling Women’s Forum with regional Chairs in each Metro has resulted in our women’s membership reaching a new high of 22% (up from barely 17% about a year ago). With many initiatives on the anvil, this forum is poised to go from strength to strength. Therefore, I request all our members to encourage non-member women auditors to become IIA India members and enhance this vibrant diversity initiative of IIA India. The beginning of 2022 will see IIA getting ready for the global launch of our new logo and branding initiative, about which we will keep you posted. This is almost in tandem with the launch of IIA India’s refurbished website, which is currently stabilising. We do hope that this quickly results in better membership service delivery and user experience as well. The recent launch of the IAP (Internal Audit Practitioner) certification should help college students and fresh internal auditors quickly scale up their competencies. With our new emphasis on increasing learning partners, we should see Nikhel Kochhar Chief Advisor IIA India 11 EDITORIAL INTERNAL AUDIT TODAY | DECEMBER 2021 a good ramp-up of learning and development infrastructure in 2022. Accompanied with some internship and mentorship programmes, we do hope to increase the knowledge, skill and numbers for our in-demand profession by helping in the gainful employment of young professionals as soon as they certify. My very best wishes to you and your near and dear ones for a Healthy and Happy 2022.

With Warm Regards,
Nikhel Kochhar
Chief Advisor (IIA India)