A Message From Jo-El LaBorde

The New IIA Research Foundation: Stepping Into ChangeJoEl tile

For more than 30 years, The IIA Research Foundation (IIARF) has remained the global leader in sponsoring, disseminating, and promoting research to enhance the development and effectiveness of the internal audit profession. In the years to come, the foundation also will serve as a beacon for professional knowledge exchange, offering various delivery alternatives of educational content worldwide.

The IIARF has experienced many strategic structural changes over the years: The IIA's Retail Bookstore component was merged into The IIARF in 2003; The IIA's Global Audit Information Network (GAIN) joined the foundation in 2008; and now with the development and official launch of the 2008-2013 IIARF Strategic Plan, there are more changes to come.

In 2008 and beyond, our goals include:

  • Building a sustainable Research Foundation that can continue to provide value to move the profession forward.
  • Enhancing global relationships with external and associated organizations for more effective partnering and collaboration.
  • Shaping the future of the profession by analyzing, interpreting, and leveraging knowledge gathered.
  • Developing a network to gather diverse global internal audit research and to cultivate relationships among researchers globally.
  • Providing content about emerging and current issues and trends that may impact the internal audit professional globally.
  • Continuing to work with IIA chapters and institutes on understanding the use of Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK) data, integrating it into local research projects, and incorporating CBOK's findings into other product and service areas of The IIA.
  • Enhancing the customer experience for IIARF Bookstore purchasers, including investigating alternate methods of content delivery, and global distribution options.
  • Continuing to work hard to deliver timely, globally relevant research and educational content to enhance the development and effectiveness of the internal audit profession.

The IIARF's new president, Paul J. Sobel, CIA, is guiding the 2008-2013 IIARF Strategic Plan. Under his leadership, and that of Mark J. Pearson, CIA, the vice president of strategy for the Board of Trustees, The Foundation will continue to thrive and initiate the changes needed to take the profession into the new era.

Because The IIARF is not supported by membership dues, your contributions directly drive our ability to achieve our goals regarding internal audit research. Funding Foundation projects is key to our success and yours. The ongoing support of organizations, individuals, and chapters and institutes worldwide is necessary to ensure these projects can be implemented and The IIARF accomplishes its mission. Please visit The Foundation's Web site to make a donation.