SINGAPORE, 25 NOVEMBER 2009 - The Hong Kong chapter of ISACA has expanded to include 1,700 members from mainland China. This step will enable better training of mainland professionals in the areas of IT auditing, security, control and governance. Trained professionals will contribute more towards sustaining the nation’s economic growth and compete with global players.
This global association has 86,000 information technology (IT) governance professionals and the newly formed ISACA China Hong Kong chapter now has a total of 3,500 professionals.
The Hong Kong chapter has not only changed its name but has also restructured its board of directors. The management believes this restructuring will encourage more development of exchange and education opportunities among industry professionals, academia and business communities in both Hong Kong and mainland China.
Help companies in the region grow
Noting the current information age and global marketplace, Vincent Chan, president, ISACA China Hong Kong chapter, said sound alignment of business objectives and IT goals is critical for success for large and small businesses in this business environment.
This realisation has caused this organisation to change its structure, title and expand in China. Chan added that all these moves will help ISACA to fulfill its commitment to helping enterprises in the region grow.
As part of changes in ISACA, the new chapter will have representative committees in several mainland Chinese regions, based on the number of existing and potential members as well as outreach opportunities.
These committees will be in south China (Shenzhen), central China (Shanghai) and north China (Beijing). These economic hot spots in China are now administered by a number of regional committee members under the directorship of board members from Hong Kong.
The board is watching the progress in all the regions and if it notices future growth in membership, these regional committees will be turned into full-scale chapters and be run by their own board of directors and presidents.
Better prospects
ISACA members, scholars and professionals in relevant industries can expect better times ahead in terms of having access to ISACA certification review courses, monthly review sessions on IT security and the business governance of IT, as well as application of best practices, fraud and computer forensics guidance. They will also get an opportunity to attend seminars on report writing, business negotiation in Hong Kong and mainland China, and other broader business topics.
“ISACA has long recognised China’s economic significance in the global economy. From our point of view, the country’s need for good practices in IT governance, assurance and security is a positive and foreseeable outcome of the nation’s economic success,” said Frank Yam, former ISACA international vice president and the guiding force behind ISACA’s China expansion.
Yam is currently the chairman of ISACA’s international China task force, and is supported by volunteers in the original Hong Kong Chapter. He has spent significant time in evaluating and helping mainland China to have business governance of IT.
“With our members’ experience and professional expertise in business-IT alignment in Hong Kong and China, ISACA is very well-positioned to help businesses and organisations perform better over the long run,” said Yam.
