Thursday, October 16, 2025 | 9:00 – 10:30 AM (pdt)
Session Overview
The IIA Vancouver and IIA Toronto Chapters are pleased to announce a virtual panel discussion on internal audit planning and methodology.
Effective internal auditing in today’s business environment requires thorough planning and responsiveness to quickly changing risks. Ensuring alignment between the organization’s strategies, objectives, and significant risks and those to be included in the internal audit plan is the essence of the Global Internal Audit Standards’ Principle 9 Plan Strategically. Proper planning enables internal audit functions to properly align and focus limited resources on producing insightful, proactive, and future-focused assurance and advice on an organization’s most pressing issues.
We have invited CAEs from top audit shops to walk us through their methods for planning and delivering on their strategy.
Panelists
Yulia Travis
Chief Audit & Risk Officer TMX Group
Yulia Travis is an accomplished Internal Audit and Risk Executive with 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. As a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA•CA), Financial Risk Manager (FRM), and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), she brings a unique blend of expertise in assurance, regulatory compliance, and risk management - across the Three Lines of Defense. She is passionate about leveraging her skills to help organizations drive their strategy forward and unlock value through process improvement and data-driven insights.
Currently serving as the Chief Audit & Risk Officer at TMX Group, Yulia oversees the Internal Audit, Model Vetting, and Enterprise Risk Management functions. Prior to this, she held leadership roles at Canadian Western Bank and PwC. Armed with extensive knowledge across various dimensions of financial and non-financial risk, data and model governance, information systems, and compliance with Canadian banking regulations, Yulia led teams of professionals in providing assurance and advisory services. This experience has positioned Yulia as a trusted and authoritative voice on the critical role internal audit plays in enhancing governance, managing risk, and achieving corporate objectives.
Janne Farias
Head of Internal Audit Community Trust Company
Janne Farias is a seasoned leader in internal audit, risk management, and governance, with over 20 years of experience across Canadian and international financial institutions. She is currently the Head of Internal Audit at Community Trust Company, a member of the Questrade Financial Group, where she built the audit function from the ground up and is playing a key role in the firm’s transition to a Schedule I Bank. Janne has previously held senior roles including VP of Enterprise Risk Management at Beutel Goodman and Chief Internal Auditor at RFA Bank of Canada, where she also supported its Schedule I bank charter.
Janne has been an active volunteer with the IIA Toronto Chapter for the past 10 years. She served as Chair of the Certification and Membership Committee, Treasurer and currently serves as President. Janne is also a member of the North America Content Advisory Committee with IIA Global. She holds a Bachelor degree in Accounting and Economics from the University of São Paulo, Brazil and has an MBA and a Master of Enterprise Risk Management from the Schulich School of Business, York University.
Bill Kessels
Managing Partner, Risk Management - EY Canada
Bill Kessels is the Managing Partner for Risk Management at EY Canada With over 35 years of experience spanning professional services and the private sector,. His career has encompassed leadership roles including GPS Internal Audit leader, Western Consulting Market Segment Leader and Consulting Quality Co-Leader.
Bill brings deep expertise in internal audit, having led co-source and outsource internal audit engagements across a wide range of industries. His background includes external audit, information systems audit, and management consulting, giving him a comprehensive perspective on risk and control environments. In his current role, he advises EY professionals on regulatory compliance, independence, client and engagement acceptance, and broader risk management strategies. Now as a control owner he is on the receiving end of Internal Audits from the EY Global organization, which is evidence that karma is real.
Bill’s insights into internal audit planning are informed by both his practical experience and his governance work, including his tenure as a Governor of the Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation. His understanding of audit, oversight, and accountability makes him a valuable contributor to discussions on the evolving role of internal audit in today’s dynamic risk landscape.
Farzin Ismail
VP, Global Risk & Advisory Services, Lululemon
Farzin Ismail is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in internal audit and risk management. She is recognized as a leader that is able to deliver results through collaboration with cross functional business partners, develop high performance teams and design solutions that address both strategic objectives and enhance risk management. She is skilled at educating senior leaders and executives on risk assessment, management and governance.
Farzin is a UBC alumnus (BComm, MIS Program). Currently, she leads lululemon's Global Risk & Advisory services team which is responsible for the internal audit and risk management functions for the Canadian retailer. Previously, she was at RB Global Inc, an auction and marketplace services company for industrial equipment and vehicles, where she held several roles - finance transformation, ESG/sustainability, and internal audit & risk management.
Registration
Last date for registration: October 14, 2025, at 11 PM (PDT)
** Please note that access to Zoom is needed for this webinar **
Please note that a ‘No-show Policy’ is in effect for this event. If you cannot attend the event and do not cancel your registration at least 48 hours prior to the event date, you may not be refunded.
