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The IIA Excellence Awards

Global awards designed to recognize those exceptional individuals and teams who have made a lasting impact in internal audit. Created to highlight achievements that drive the profession forward, celebrate excellence in advancing internal audit education, and inspire the next generation of leaders.

IIA members in front of the One IIA logo

Honoring trailblazers within the field
Award Categories

The Nomination Window Is Now Closed

Thank you to all who participated and contributed nominations!

Recognition & Celebration Details

  • Award recipients and their respective IIA national institute or chapter will be notified by April 15, 2025.
  • To honor their achievements, awardees will be featured in a global digital announcement and press release scheduled for the week of July 14, aligned with The IIA’s International Conference and the awards ceremony. Each award recipient and their national institute or chapter will receive customizable announcement templates to help share the news locally with colleagues and their broader community.
  • The 2025 IIA Excellence Awards Ceremony will take place on Monday, July 14, from 3:05 to 3:25 p.m. ET, on the Innovation Stage at the International Conference.
  • Each recipient will receive one (1) complimentary registration to attend the International Conference. For group or team awards, one representative may claim the complimentary registration on behalf of the team.
  • A custom-engraved trophy will be presented to each recipient during the ceremony. If a recipient is unable to attend, the trophy will be delivered to them following the event.
  • While attendance at the International Conference is highly encouraged, it is not mandatory to receive an award.
 

The IIA Excellence Awards Categories

Nominees for The IIA Excellence Awards can come from self-nominations, leaders across the profession, peers, IIA National Institutes, and organizations that have demonstrated excellence and leadership within internal audit.

The IIA Excellence Awards
Global Internal Audit Legacy Award
Celebrating individuals whose exceptional dedication and lifetime accomplishments have profoundly...
The IIA Excellence Awards
Global Volunteer Leadership Award
Honoring individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and commitment through their volunteer...
The IIA Excellence Awards
Educator Impact Award
Recognizing educators making a significant impact on the advancement of internal auditing and education in...
The IIA Excellence Awards
Student Champion Award
Recognizing students who have made a meaningful impact on the internal audit field at their higher education...
The IIA Excellence Awards
Young Professional of the Year
Recognizing outstanding young internal audit professionals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to...
The IIA Excellence Awards
Chief Audit Executive of the Year
Honoring outstanding leaders in internal audit, this category recognizes chief audit executives whose...
The IIA Excellence Awards
Global Innovation in Internal Audit
Recognizing and celebrating groundbreaking innovations in the profession that enhance effectiveness,...
The IIA Excellence Awards
Public Sector Leadership
Recognizing outstanding public sector or government audit teams or individuals who exemplify excellence in...
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Prizes for Winners

The IIA Excellence Award winners will be honored and presented with their awards at the annual International Conference, celebrating their outstanding contributions in front of a global audience. Prizes include:

One complimentary International Conference registration for winning year

Personalized trophy/plaque

Professional recognition in IIA magazine, website, social media, and emails

The IIA Excellence Awards Judging

Nominations are carefully reviewed and scored by the IIA Awards Committee, a diverse panel of volunteer judges representing each IIA region. Finalists are then submitted to the IIA Global Board for approval.

All nominations must be submitted through the Nomination Form. For questions, please contact awards@theiia.org.


Additional IIA Award Opportunities

Numerous awards programs recognize contributions to the internal audit profession and The IIA in areas such as service, research, certification, and writing for IIA publications.

Internal Auditor’s Emerging Leaders

For high-performing internal auditors

Internal Auditor magazine

Acknowledge their dedication and nominate them beginning April 1. Visit InternalAuditor.org and click on the Emerging Leaders nomination button.

Institute Recognition Program

For Institute that reached important milestones

The IIA

Visit the Institute Recognition Program to nominate an Institute that contributed to the growth of the profession at the local, regional, or global level.

Research Award

Internal Audit Dissertation Scholarship

The Internal Audit Foundation

To encourage internal audit studies by doctoral candidates, the Internal Audit Foundation offers the Internal Audit Dissertation Scholarship Grant.

Scholarship Award

The Larry B. Sawyer Student Scholarship

The Internal Audit Foundation

The The Larry B. Sawyer Student Scholarship is granted to individuals who are currently enrolled in, or have recently completed, undergraduate- or graduate-level internal audit courses.

Certification Award

William S. Smith Award

The IIA

The William S. Smith Award is named in honor of The IIA's first chairman of the Board of Regents, a former IIA chairman of the board, and a driving force behind the development of the Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) program. Awards are based on individual performance on the core exam parts (parts 1, 2, and 3).

Writing Awards

Ted Keys Award

Internal Auditor magazine

The Ted Keys Award, named in honor of the late Elmer Theodore Keys, Jr., a long-time regular writer for an Internal Auditor magazine department — is presented each year for the most outstanding article submitted to one of the magazine’s departments. Winning articles are selected for outstanding quality, clear presentation of ideas, practicality, and relevance to the continuing practice of internal auditing.

Writing Awards

John B. Thurston Award

Internal Auditor magazine

The Board of Directors of The Institute established the John B. Thurston Award in March 1952 as a tribute to the memory of its first international president and an eminent authority in the field of internal auditing. The award is made annually to the author of that article published in Internal Auditor that is voted to be the outstanding paper in the field of internal auditing.

Previous Years' Awards & Winners

As The Institute of Internal Auditors continues to evolve and refine our awards program, we have made the thoughtful decision to discontinue the following awards. This change allows us to reimagine our recognition process to better celebrate outstanding contributions within our community. We extend our sincere gratitude to all past honorees whose achievements these awards recognized.

Learn about IIA programs and partners.

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