The Institute of Internal Auditors, Singapore (IIAS) was established and registered with the Registry of Society on 23 September 1976. It was formed to provide practicing internal auditors with a forum for exchanging ideas and knowledge on matters of common interest, to develop their professional skills and to enhance their usefulness to the companies they serve.
An interest group of internal auditors organized informal meetings wand get-togethers as early as 1966. These internal auditors were members of the IIA in the USA and they worked for multi national corporations. Among the early pioneers were Dr Lee Fook Hong and Mr Gordon Trew. The shared the vision of establishing a Singapore Chapter of the IIA to promote the internal auditing profession. Hey were the forerunners of the IIA Singapore. Mr Trew because the first President in 1976.
Over the years, IIA Singapore Chapter grew steadily. The IIA Inc provided unstinting support and assistance. Mr Stan Gross, the IIA President, visited Singapore in 1980 and provided invaluable guidance and inspiration to the IIA Singapore Chapter Board of Governors.
The governors and committee members of the fledging IIAS in the early years, worked very hard with great commitment and enthusiasm, to put in place organization structures and programmes to move the Institute forward. By 1981, there were more than 100 members.
As internal auditing profession evolved over the years, IIAS, through conferences, talks and courses, assisted members to keep abreast of the changes and equipped them with the skills to meet new challenges facing the internal auditing profession in a rapidly changing environment.
On 12 October 1981, the IIAS organized a landmark conference on “Computer Security, Controls and Audit”. It was the first conference in the region that explored the implications of the advent of computers on internal auditing. It attracted more than 200 participants. It was to be the forerunner of the IIAS Annual Internal Audit Conference which today is regarded as THE conference for the internal auditing profession.
Membership increased steadily because more people became aware of the benefits provided by the Institute, the results of regular membership drives and activities, By 1996, membership had crossed the 500 mark.
The IIA Singapore Chapter was re-constituted as a National Institute and re-name as the Institute of Internal Auditors, Singapore in 1997. As a national Institute, the status of IIA in Singapore was raised and it allowed the Institute to set its own examinations locally in addition to CIA certification. Other benefits include cost savings on fees payable to IIA Inc. By 2001, the IIA Singapore was able to engage its first full time administrator.
|
|
|
