EUROSAI. Magazine N22 - 2016

Magazine No. 22 - 2016 11 European Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions INTERVIEW After being awarded with the Jörg Kandutsch prize during the 22 nd INCOSAI and coinciding with the closing of its period chairing the INTOSAI Professional Standards Committee (PSC), we have interviewed Ms. Lone Strøm, Auditor General of SAI Denmark, and Ms. Nanna Henning, Assistant Auditor General in SAI Denmark and former Chair of the PSC, so they could share with us their views, impressions and experience with respect to these issues, as well as the future involvement of their Institution within INTOSAI and EUROSAI. INTERVIEWWITH THE DANISH NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE 1. During the 22 nd INCOSAI, Rigsrevisionen received the Jörg Kandutsch prize for having contributed to establishing international standards, ensuring the quality and independence of the audit and contributing to ensuring sound financial management of public funds. What has this award meant for your SAI? Lone Strøm: It was a huge honour for me to receive this award on behalf of the Danish national audit office and on behalf of the many people who have been involved in the work of the PSC since the beginning in 2004. The award represents – in a very tangible way – INTOSAI’s recognition of the effort that has gone into INTOSAI’s standard- setting activities for the past twelve years. It is sitting on a prominent place in my office where it is attracting attention and generating questions on our engagement in international collaboration through INTOSAI. In our organisation – and I guess in any organisation of a certain size – staff are generally focused on what goes on in their immediate surroundings and on their next deadline, but the Jörg Kandutsch prize has actually changed this picture somewhat and spurred a wider interest in the activities of INTOSAI. 2. How do you appraise your experience leading the PSC in INTOSAI? Could you share with us the challenges and also opportunities you have faced chairing the PSC, a Committee composed of more than 70 SAIs, 4 permanent sub- committees and cross cutting project groups? Nanna Henning: SAI Denmark has led the PSC for twelve years – twelve years that have given new meaning to - not the three E’s - but the three P’s: patience, persistence and perseverance. Possessing these qualities is a must for anyone that is engaged in international collaboration and trying to achieve some sort of consensus among, in our case, first, the 19 members of the PSC Steering Committee, second, the 70 members of the PSC Main Committee and third, the almost two hundred national institutions that are currently members of INTOSAI. We had the luck that our task as chair of the PSC – from the very beginning – was very clearly defined by INTOSAI: We were to promote strong, independent and multidisciplinary SAIs and encourage good governance by advocating for, providing and Ms. Lone Strøm, Auditor General of the SAI of Denmark. Ms. Nanna Henning, Assistant Auditor General in the SAI of Denmark and former Chair of the INTOSAI PSC.