IIA-Armenia Fourth International Conference Held at AUA

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YEREVAN, Armenia – On October 11, 2019, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted the fourth international conference of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) of Armenia titled “Risk Landscape Today.” IIA-Armenia, led by its president Ara Chalabyan (MBA ’01), adjunct lecturer at AUA’s Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics (CBE), is an affiliate of IIA Global based in Orlando.

The conference attracted renowned speakers including Michael Fucilli, auditor general of New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority; Dr. Klaus Gressenbauer, former director of internal audit of the European Central Bank; Marine Ghushchyan (MBA ‘93), IIA-Armenia board member and chief audit executive of ARC Document Solutions; and Doron Rosenblum, IIA Israel vice president. The topics of the conference ranged from internal audit, risk management to fraud and cybersecurity.

Chalabyan’s presentation touched upon the main challenges of internal audit in the public sector outlined in his recent paper Challenges of Internal Audit in Public Sector. “I made an attempt to highlight high level challenges that we need to overcome in order to shape a more developed internal audit in the public sector. Those challenges are typical not only for Armenia, but also for the wider region.”

The conference featured a panel discussion with CBE Dean Dr. Vache Gabrielyan, former Minister of Finance of the Republic of Armenia Vardan Aramyan, World Bank representative Arman Vatyan, and Michael Fucilli. The speakers shared their views on internal audit issues in the public sector engaging many AUA students in discourse on global internal audit topics. The attendees had the opportunity to interact with the speakers during a lively Q&A session.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.