Saadiya Adam appointed Director: Standards at the IRBA
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Johannesburg, Tuesday, 15 July 2025 — The Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Saadiya Adam as the Director: Standards effective 1 July. Saadiya has been Acting Director: Standards since December 2024. Says Imre Nagy, IRBA CEO: “We wish to congratulate Saadiya on her successful appointment to the position. Saadiya is a dedicated professional whose passion for auditing and ethics standards is recognised both locally and internationally.” Ms Adam is a seasoned auditing standards and ethics professional with extensive experience, including significant roles at the International Ethics Board for Accountants (IESBA), where she has contributed to drafting amendments at an international level. Saadiya joined the IRBA in 2011 as Professional Manager: Ethics before taking up the role of Senior Professional Manager: Standards in 2019. Prior to joining the IRBA, she was an Audit Senior at Deloitte for four years, of which a year was on secondment to the United Arab Emirates. Her exposure at an international level has been a catalyst for local excellence. South Africa is recognised as a valued contributor to global standard setting, with several of her team members actively involved in international forums across standard-setting and regulatory committees. These opportunities allow IRBA to share expertise and gain insights that benefit the regulator and the profession. “Being part of the global process strengthens our local due process and enhances our agility in jurisdictional adoption. Staying ahead of emerging issues, sharing and learning from peers across jurisdictions enables us to contribute meaningfully,” says Adam. “We live in a world of constant evolution, and the current pace of change—coupled with increasingly complex issues—may be approaching a threshold that is difficult to monitor and manage effectively. Developments such as generative AI, shifting political landscapes, and evolving policy frameworks are just a few examples. Yet, this very challenge presents a unique opportunity. It empowers standard setters to adopt a more agile and forward-looking approach, building on a strong foundation of transparency, communication, and collaboration to advance the development and issuance of standards or guidance that continues to serve the public interest. “Audit standard setting is a dynamic and impactful space, involving diverse topics, multiple stakeholders, and far-reaching implications. High-quality standards are foundational to public trust, professional integrity, and resilient economic systems. What continues to energise my involvement is the transformative nature of standard setting—not only through its technical rigour, but also in its ability to shape behaviour, drive accountability, and foster confidence in corporate reporting. Being part of this process is both a privilege and a daily source of inspiration.” Adam is a CA(SA) with a B Comm Accounting from University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Post Graduate Degree in Accounting. She is also a Certified Ethics Officer with The Ethics Institute of South Africa.
About IRBA: The Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA) is the statutory body mandated to regulate the auditing profession in South Africa. Established by the Auditing Profession Act 26 of 2005, the IRBA's mission is to protect the public interest by ensuring the highest standards of audit quality and ethical conduct among registered auditors.
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