The internal audit profession thrives on advocacy and diverse perspectives. For seven years, I’ve sought to shine a light on those who strengthen and advance our profession. The Internal Audit Beacon Awards have honored men and women whose thought leadership and influence have inspired internal auditors around the world. The community of global voices championing internal audit has never been stronger.

I am pleased to announce the 8th Annual Internal Audit Beacon Awards through AuditBeacon.com. In December, we will once again recognize professionals who have made exceptional contributions to advancing the internal audit profession in 2026. Honorees will be selected for their impact through writing, speaking, video and audio media, and their advocacy for the value of internal auditing globally.

As I recently noted, artificial intelligence is playing a more prominent role in the creation of thought leadership. Using AI does not disqualify anyone from receiving a Beacon Award, whether they write, speak, or produce video or audio. I use AI tools myself for research, testing ideas, editing and creating feature images. AI can make you more efficient. It can sharpen your thinking and help you say what you mean more clearly. Used well, it makes human thought leadership better.

However, I will not weigh thought leadership created entirely or extensively by AI the same as work driven by human inquiry, analysis and creation. For that reason, the seven principles I articulated recently will guide the evaluation and selection of award recipients:

• The idea should originate with the author. AI can research, challenge, organize, edit, and illustrate. The central insight has to be yours.
• AI should amplify expertise, not manufacture it. A useful AI-generated summary is still just content. Usefulness alone does not make it thought leadership.
• Originality should matter more than polish. A plain 500-word piece with one genuinely new idea beats a spectacular infographic recycling arguments that have circulated for years.
• Human judgment should be evident. Experience, professional skepticism, context, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge assumptions are what set real thought leadership apart.
• Authors must remain accountable. If your name is on it, you own it. You cannot blame AI for a bad statistic, a fabricated citation, or a flawed recommendation.
• Material AI involvement should be transparent. You don’t need to disclose that AI fixed your grammar or built your feature image. If AI substantially generated your ideas, analysis, or content, say so.
• You should be able to defend the work without AI. This is my favorite test. Why do you believe this? What evidence supports it? What is original here? What experience shaped your thinking? If you cannot answer those questions, you are probably looking at content, not thought leadership.

How to Nominate

To nominate someone, send an email that includes:

• Name of the nominee
• Nominee’s title or role
• A brief rationale describing how the nominee demonstrated thought leadership in 2026 and the impact of their work, whether globally or within their country or region
• Links to at least three examples of 2026 thought leadership (such as articles, blogs, videos, podcasts, roundtables, or other forms of advocacy)
• Name and contact information of the nominator
• Any material AI involvement in the nominee’s work, if known

Additional Information

Past recipients are automatically considered. New nominations that document exceptional 2026 contributions will strengthen any nominee’s case. [Self-nominations are welcome.]

Deadline

Please submit all nominations by November 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET, via email to awards@richardchambers.com.

Thank you in advance for helping celebrate those who champion and elevate the internal audit profession. Check back on AuditBeacon.com in December for the announcement of the 2026 Internal Audit Beacon Award honorees.

I welcome your comments via LinkedIn or X (@rfchambers).