FANR Wins Global Internal Audit Excellence Award For Public Sector Leadership

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) has been honoured with the Global Institute of Internal Auditors Excellence Award. This accolade was granted by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) in the Public Sector Leadership category. The award ceremony took place during the IIA’s Global Internal Audit Conference in Toronto, Canada, attended by over 2,600 audit professionals from more than 120 nations.

This recognition highlights FANR as one of the few UAE organisations acknowledged internationally for leadership and innovation in public sector auditing. The award was given to the International Internal Audit Collaboration Working Group (IIACWG), a joint initiative by FANR and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). Launched in 2020, this collaboration aims to enhance knowledge-sharing and best practices in nuclear regulatory auditing.

A significant outcome of this partnership was the "Auditing Inspection Process—Nuclear Regulator" white paper. Officially introduced at the IAEA General Conference in September 2024, it presented a risk-based methodology and an eight-element framework for auditing nuclear facility inspection processes. This document set a new global standard for such audits.

FANR played a crucial role in this working group by contributing its Anti-Fraud Framework and Audit and Risk Methodology. These contributions enriched the white paper's development and promoted international exchange of internal audit practices. Such efforts have positioned FANR as a leader in enhancing governance and raising global standards in internal auditing.

Amna Faridoon, Chief Audit Executive at FANR, expressed pride in receiving the IIA Excellence Award for Public Sector Leadership. She stated, "We are honoured to receive the IIA Excellence Award for Public Sector Leadership—a reflection of our team’s dedication and the strength of our collaboration with CNSC. This award underscores FANR’s commitment to excellence, transparency, and continuous improvement, not only within our organisation but also in promoting high standards across the UAE’s public sector and globally."

The Public Sector Leadership category honours government audit teams or individuals who show exceptional dedication to public trust, innovation, accountability, and operational effectiveness. FANR's recognition is a testament to its pioneering efforts in these areas.

Global Recognition Amongst Numerous Nominations

This year’s IIA Excellence Awards saw winners chosen from hundreds of nominations spanning 45 countries. FANR's achievement underscores its commitment to advancing internal auditing standards both locally and internationally.

FANR's receipt of this prestigious award reflects its dedication to fostering high standards across the UAE's public sector while contributing significantly to global best practices in internal auditing.

With inputs from WAM