Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines Partner and Risk Services Leader Maria Rosell Gomez was one of the speakers at the 2025 HAPUA Internal Audit Summit held on 13–14 August at the Westin Manila.
The event convened leaders from various ASEAN power utilities associations to advance internal audit practices across the region. It was spearheaded by the Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA), the recognized electricity organization in the Southeast Asia region.
In her capacity as Second Vice-President and Board of Trustees member of the Institute of Internal Auditors – Philippines (IIA-P), Rosell delivered a timely and insightful presentation titled “Gridlocked: Untangling Cyber Risk in Smart Grid Systems.” The session highlighted the growing cyber threats facing smart grids and the critical role of internal audit in building enterprise-wide resilience.
Rosell emphasized that although smart grids are transformative, they are also increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks due to legacy systems, third-party dependencies and rapid digital adoption. As smart grid systems become more interconnected, the need for strong cyber governance and assurance becomes even more crucial.
Therefore, internal audit must evolve from reactive controls to strategic risk enablers—bridging operational technology (OT) and enterprise risk management. It is also essential to focus on the organization’s cyber resilience, which requires proactive governance, continuous improvement and the integration of cybersecurity into strategic planning.
We thank HAPUA for this opportunity to contribute to an important dialogue. We remain committed to helping organizations navigate cyber complexities and build resilient digital infrastructure.
Learn more about our cybersecurity and internal audit services here.
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