Rania Bejjani

Global cross-sector Governance, Risk and Internal Audit leader and advisor. Founder of a boutique advisory and training practice supporting Boards, CAEs and CROs to elevate performance, perception and partnership across Risk and Audit. I advise on modernising functions, strengthening culture and building strategic resilience. Former Chief Audit and Risk Executive at VEON, FirstGroup and Colt after roles with Deloitte, Chevron, GE and Qantas.

What makes you a Risky Woman?

With 25 years across complex, highly regulated global organisations, leading teams of 80 and transforming Risk and Audit functions across multiple sectors, I have consistently taken on roles where courage, clarity and cultural change were essential. My career has focused on elevating governance and risk culture, integrating assurance, strengthening ethics under demanding regulatory environments including a DPA, championing analytics, leading investigations and developing future leaders. I am passionate about reframing Risk and Audit into trusted strategic business partners who drive value and resilience.

Name your top 3 achievements

1. Becoming a global voice for the profession through international speaking, panel engagements and thought leadership for institutes including IIA Global, IIA UK, IIA UAE, IIA Oman, IIA Lebanon, ACFE, ICAEW, CIMA and others, helping Boards and GRC teams elevate their strategic impact.
2. Building a successful advisory practice, supporting Boards and CAEs across industries on governance transformation, ERM, culture alignment and the strategic repositioning of Audit and Risk. Recent work includes implementing ERM for Arriva plc and mentoring senior leaders globally to strengthen influence and leadership capability.
3. Leading major transformations in three multinational organisations. At VEON, rebuilt and modernised Internal Audit across 9 countries under SEC and DOJ scrutiny and contributed to the successful completion of a multi-year DPA. At FirstGroup, modernised Risk and Audit, rebuilt relationships and delivered strategic value. At Colt Technology Services, elevated Risk and Audit to world-class strategic partners trusted by the Board and C-suite. Across all organisations, I delivered measurable shifts in risk culture, organisational trust and leadership capability, and built strong, future-ready teams.

What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?

Three. Launching my consultancy during Covid in a volatile market. Taking on the VEON role to rebuild Internal Audit under a DPA and intense regulatory scrutiny. Moving alone to London over 20 years ago with no network and building my career from scratch after starting in Australia.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Deeply passionate about governance, risk and audit. A world traveller. An enthusiastic writer. Pilates fan. Lover of dance. Mentor to emerging Gen Z talent. I am also a leader of leaders and more than twenty members of my former teams have gone on to become Chief Audit Executives, Chief Risk Officers or senior leaders in the profession.

What is the best quality for successful leaders in Risk?

Confidence, curiosity and courage combined with emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, commercial acumen and a modern, tech-savvy mindset.