We are delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for the CHEIA Annual Conference 2026. Our theme this year is “Surviving Today, Preparing for Tomorrow” and will focus on helping our members to explore the challenges facing the sector today while equipping themselves with the insights, knowledge and skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex future.
The Conference will take place on Wednesday 16 & Thursday 17 September and will be held online via the Ring Central conference platform. Across two days, delegates will take part in a rich programme featuring expert speakers, sector-leading presentations and interactive discussion sessions.
The conference offers an unparalleled opportunity to discover valuable insights, share best practice and engage with colleagues across the UK HE internal audit community. We hope you will be able to join us for this exciting event.
🔹 Professor Katie Normington, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, De Montfort University
The Role of Internal Audit in a Changing World: how lifting the lid can help universities transform more effectively
🔹 Sandro Boeri, Risk Audit Professional Development Ltd
Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast - So What......... What It Means for Internal Audit in UK Universities
🔹 Amanda Oliver, Interim Executive Director, Committee of University Chairs (CUC)
Implementing the New CUC Higher Education Code of Governance
🔹 Gayle Ditchburn, Partner, and Rebecca McCall, Managing Senior Associate, Pinsent Masons
Legal Issues and Lessons from Higher Education Mergers
🔹 Dr Julian Westwood, Director, S Squared Insights (S2)
The Multi‑Million Risk Sitting Inside Fees and Scholarships — Unseen, Unmonitored, Uncontrolled
🔹 Scott Isaacs, Head of Academic Partnerships, University of Hertfordshire
Beyond the Condition: Hertfordshire’s Approach to E10 Compliance
🔹 Dr Debbie McVitty, Editor, Wonkhe
TEF 5.0 – a new integrated approach to quality assessment in England
🔹 Nerys Ireland, Partner, and Francesca Smith, Principal Associate, Eversheds Sutherland
Beyond the Policy: How Internal Audit Can Help Protect a University's Student & Staff Sponsor Licences
The conference will also include interactive breakout discussions both days, giving delegates the opportunity to explore key topics in greater depth. Day 1 will be a practical session lead by IT audit specialist Peter Sheppard, showcasing how internal auditors can use AI most effectively in their work. Day 2 will explore the evolving fraud risks facing higher education institutions, allowing delegates to share experiences and challenges with peers, and discuss practical approaches to strengthening fraud prevention, detection and response.
In order to keep the conference accessible to as many of our members as possible, we offer a discount for additional tickets booked from the same organisation. The delegate rate for the first booking per organisation is £295 plus VAT. For all other bookings from the same organisation the delegate rate is £245 plus VAT.
Please refer to our event Terms & Conditions when booking your ticket.
Delegate at the CHEIA Annual Conference 2025
CHEIA is committed to providing training and development opportunities for its members. Our conference counts towards your CPD.
