In December, I recognized 15 outstanding thought leaders in the internal audit field. These were men and women who elevated internal audit’s full potential through a full body of thought leadership during 2024. They contributed through writing, speaking and social media.

The annual Internal Audit Beacon Awards prompt a great deal of interest, and after they are published I am often asked for the list of individuals that I follow on social media. Given the amount of time I devote to this space, I follow more people and organizations than are easily shared in a single blog post. So, as I have done in prior years, I want to highlight 25 of those leaders who are social media influencers on internal audit-related topics.

I must emphasize that I don’t always agree with everything they advocate or share, but they are active in the arena. That’s the value they bring. Those on this year’s list hail from 12 different countries and average more than 16,500 followers each on LinkedIn alone.

I acknowledge the list is subjective, and your list might look quite different. So, my apologies in advance for those I may have overlooked. Here is my list of those to follow in 2025, in alphabetical order, with a LinkedIn link embedded in their names:  

• Alaba Awolaja, Nigeria – Lead Consultant, IAGRC Advisory Services
• Jorge Badillo, Chile – Internal Audit Manager, SCM Minera Lumina Copper
• Robert Berry, USA – President, That Audit Guy
• Dr. Dominik Foerschler, Germany – Managing Director, ARC Institute
• Professor Marc Eulerich – Germany – Dean, Mercer School of Management, University of Duisburg-Essen
• Hal Garyn, USA – President, Audit Executive Advisory Services, LLC
• David Hill, UK – Managing DirectorManaging Director HillAudit Training Ltd
• Nam Phong Ho – Switzerland – Founder, Board Member and Strategic Advisor, Alpha Flow Zenith
• Salih Ahmed Islam, Turkey – Group Internal Auditor, Groupe Rocher
• Joseph Kassapis, Cyprus – Managing Director, F.S. Foresurance Services, Ltd.
• Abbas Al Lawati – Oman – Chief Internal Auditor Shell Oman Marketing Company
• Tim Leech, Canada – Managing Director, Risk Oversight Solutions, Inc
• Dr. Rainer Lenz, Germany – Director, Corporate Audit Services, SAF-Holland
• Norman Marks, USA – Author, thought leader, blogger, and occasional consultant
• Tracie Marquardt – Canada – Podcast Host, Inspiring Women in Audit
• Joseph McCafferty, USA – Editor and Publisher, Internal Audit 360°
• Tom McLeod – Australia – Chief Risk and Client Impact Officer, Yellow Canary
• Dr. Ahmed Shawky Mohammed, UK – Founder and Managing Director. LevelUp Ltd.
• Chidambaram Narayanan – Oman –  Assistant General Manager, Audit and Assurance, Suhail Bahwan Group
• Karem Obeid – UAE – Head of Internal Audit, Higher Colleges of Technology
• Tom O’Reilly – USA – Founder, Internal Audit Collective
• Trent Russell – USA – Founder, Greenskies Analytics
• Anthony Pugliese, USA – President and CEO, The Institute of Internal Auditors
• Andrew Struthers-Kennedy – USA – Managing Director, Protiviti
• Renato Trisciuzzi, Brazil – Founder, Instituto Renato Trisciuzzi

In addition to those 25 individuals, there are many organizations that have an active social media presence advocating for internal audit, including 10 that I follow closely:

• AuditBoard
• Chartered IIA, UK
• ECIIA
• Global IIA
• IIA Argentina
• IIA Brazil
• IIA Norge
• IIA Indonesia
• IIA South Africa
• UAE IAA

That’s my 2025 list of social media influencers on topics relevant to our profession. As always, I welcome your ideas (including those I might have overlooked) via LinkedIn or by email to blogs@richardchambers.com.