Family: A committed, family-oriented individual; a wife and mother to two young children
Arlene-Lynn Volmink
Chief Executive Officer
Cape Town,Western Province
Work Preference
Summary
Dynamic executive with a strategic vision and a proven track record of driving organizational growth and enhancing operational efficiency. Expertise in leading transformative initiatives that streamline processes and cultivate innovation across various industries. Strong leadership and strategic planning capabilities are consistently leveraged through analytical thinking and adept problem-solving to meet and exceed organizational objectives. Committed to fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement, ensuring sustainable success in competitive environments.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
10
10
Certifications
1
1
Language
Work History
CEO
INSTITUTE OF INTERNAL AUDITORS SOUTH AFRICA (NON-PROFIT PROFESSIONAL BODY)
06.2023 - Current
SENIOR MANAGER: STRATEGIC SUPPORT – GROUP INTERNAL AUDIT
SANTAM (GENERAL INSURER)
09.2011 - 05.2023
- Strategic Audit Leadership: Co-led GIA strategy and Annual Audit Plan across IT, Change and Enterprise Support, aligning assurance to business priorities and risk.
- Regulatory & Control Oversight: Ensured audit delivery met Prudential Authority and Financial Sector Conduct Authority expectations; strengthened Internal Financial Controls (IFCs).
- Digital Audit Transformation: Implemented computer-assisted auditing (ACL) and transitioned to Teammate audit software, improving efficiency, standardisation and reporting.
- Innovation & Automation: Streamlined audit reporting through automation, reducing cycle times and enhancing committee insights.
- Programme Assurance Leadership: Established Programme Assurance and embedded Agile audit capability across major transformation initiatives.
- Executive Engagement & Team Development: Reported to Exco and Board committees; upskilled team in process mapping, controls, data analytics and audit technology.
AUDIT MANAGER: IT & PROJECT GOVERNANCE
MUTUAL & FEDERAL (SHORT TERM INSURER)
01.2009 - 08.2011
- Team Leadership: Led a team of Senior IT & Project Auditors; delivered the Annual Audit Plan across IT and Change Assurance, reporting to the Chief Internal Auditor and Head of IT Audit Analytics.
- Governance & Committee Reporting: Oversaw performance, stakeholder liaison and reporting to Risk & Audit Committees; partnered with first-line IT Risk & Compliance and second-line Risk functions.
- Executive Stakeholder Engagement: Built trusted relationships with the CIO, CRO and senior IT and Strategy executives; participated in key risk, IT and governance forums feeding into Board committees.
- IT & Project Assurance Delivery: Executed Application Control Reviews, General Computer Control Reviews and Project Assurance audits across strategic and BAU initiatives.
- Data Analytics Enablement: Introduced and expanded CAATs/data analytics capability across audit teams, enhancing insight and audit effectiveness.
- Broader Organisational Contribution: Supported disaster recovery and business continuity testing, served as BC liaison, and contributed to internal culture initiatives.
AUDIT MANAGER
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS (BIG 4 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES)
07.2005 - 12.2008
- IT & Risk Assurance Specialist: Delivered SAS70, COBIT, IT General Controls and Application Control Reviews within Governance, Risk & Advisory.
- Business Continuity & DR Consulting: Transitioned into Advisory (Performance Improvement), leading business continuity and disaster recovery engagements using PwC methodologies to build client resilience capability.
- Public Sector Audit Leadership: Led consortium-based internal audits for Provincial Government departments (Community Safety; Economic Development & Tourism), coordinating multi-firm audit teams.
- Risk Advisory Lead (Johannesburg): Directed IT audits for major corporates including LG Electronics, South African Breweries and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
- Online & Web Assurance Lead: Managed high-risk web security and privacy compliance reviews, delivering recurring assignments for Metropolitan Holdings and Trans Hex Group.
- International Secondments: Selected for cross-border assignments including SAS70 reviews in Johannesburg and London (Bank of America data centre) and leading a business continuity team for a commercial bank in Doha, Qatar.
- Broad-Based Risk Expertise: Progressed across IT audit, advisory and internal audit functions, building multi-sector, multinational risk and assurance experience.
SENIOR AUDITOR
OLD MUTUAL SOUTH AFRICA (LIFE INSURER)
04.2004 - 06.2005
- IT Audit Planning & Delivery: Planned and coordinated IT audit assignments; led system walkthroughs and risk assessments to focus audit effort.
- Framework-Driven Assurance: Applied COBIT to develop test plans, execute audit procedures and deliver clear, actionable reports to senior management.
- Stakeholder Reporting: Presented findings to clients and collaborated with Senior Management to finalise high-quality audit opinions.
- Career Progression: Promoted within Senior Auditor band in recognition of performance and delivery.
- Cross-Border Experience: Performed IT General Controls review for Old Mutual Namibia.
IT AUDITOR / DATA ENGINEER
METROPOLITAN HOLDINGS LIMITED (LIFE INSURER)
12.2002 - 03.2004
- End-to-End Application Audits: Led full lifecycle audits (planning to reporting) across multiple business units, including Metropolitan Asset Management, Metropolitan Employee Benefits and Metropolitan Health.
- Integrated & Data-Driven Assurance: Delivered application, integrated, compliance and security audits; provided data analytics support (ACL) to internal and external audit teams.
- Analytics Enablement: Strengthened audit insight and efficiency through practical use of CAATs across diverse engagements.
- Career Progression: Promoted from IT Auditor / Data Engineer (Grade 9) to Grade 9B in recognition of performance.
SENIOR CONSULTANT
DELOITTE (BIG 4 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES)
02.2000 - 11.2002
- Data Analytics & CAATs Expertise: Conducted complex data analytics, recalculations, data integrity, migration and consolidation reviews to support Financial and Forensic Audit teams.
- Training & Capability Building: Delivered ACL/CAATs training at Deloitte and client sites, including Old Mutual Shared Services and Sanlam; mentored junior consultants to enhance audit capability.
- Process Improvement & Assurance: Performed quality assurance, general computer controls, and process improvement reviews across multiple clients, industries, platforms and applications.
- Efficiency & Project Prioritization: Identified opportunities to embed CAATs to improve audit efficiency and prioritized projects to meet key milestones and deadlines.
- Client Secondments: Supported Sanlam via a 1.5-month secondment, implementing CAATs solutions and process enhancements in internal audit assignments.
Education
Masters in Business Administration (MBA) - Postgraduate
University of Stellenbosch Business School
Cape Town01-2012
Higher Diploma in Computer Auditing - Postgraduate
University of Witwatersrand
Johannesburg01-2002
Bachelor of Commerce - Information Systems and Financial Accounting
University of Cape Town
Cape Town01-1999
High School - undefined
Sans Souci Girls’ High School
Cape Town01-1996
Skills
Effective communication
Strategic team guidance
Organisational skills
Skilled in digital tools
Advocacy strategies
Strategic thinking
Employee talent development
Risk mitigation strategies
Strategic succession planning
Accomplishments
- Santam Senior Leaders Development Programme, Graduate, 2018
- Santam Women in Leadership Programme, Graduate March 2018 (top of class of 30+ women in Cape Town and Johannesburg)
Affiliations
- The Institute of Internal Auditors: # 83049
- The Information Systems Audit and Control Association: # 152977
- Institute of Directors Southern Africa
Certification
The Ethics Institute, 2025
Interests
Timeline
CEO
INSTITUTE OF INTERNAL AUDITORS SOUTH AFRICA (NON-PROFIT PROFESSIONAL BODY)
06.2023 - Current
SENIOR MANAGER: STRATEGIC SUPPORT – GROUP INTERNAL AUDIT
SANTAM (GENERAL INSURER)
09.2011 - 05.2023
AUDIT MANAGER: IT & PROJECT GOVERNANCE
MUTUAL & FEDERAL (SHORT TERM INSURER)
01.2009 - 08.2011
AUDIT MANAGER
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS (BIG 4 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES)
07.2005 - 12.2008
SENIOR AUDITOR
OLD MUTUAL SOUTH AFRICA (LIFE INSURER)
04.2004 - 06.2005
IT AUDITOR / DATA ENGINEER
METROPOLITAN HOLDINGS LIMITED (LIFE INSURER)
12.2002 - 03.2004
SENIOR CONSULTANT
DELOITTE (BIG 4 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES)
02.2000 - 11.2002
Bachelor of Commerce - Information Systems and Financial Accounting
University of Cape Town
High School - undefined
Sans Souci Girls’ High School
Masters in Business Administration (MBA) - Postgraduate
University of Stellenbosch Business School
Higher Diploma in Computer Auditing - Postgraduate
University of Witwatersrand
Speaking, Training & Facilitation
Accredited CISA Trainer, ISACA
Speaker at IIA Harare Annual Conference, 2025
Speaker at Higher Learning Conference, 2025
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Board Experience
Executive Director, IIA South Africa Board, June 2023 - Present
Non-Executive Director, ISACA South Africa Board, March 2012 - May 2024
Non-Executive Director, Sheleads Tech Advisory Board, xxx - xxx
Non-Executive Director, Mathmoms Advisory Board, 2020 - March 2026
Languages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Afrikaans
Advanced (C1)
Quote
“Love what you do. Do what you love.”
Wayne W. Dyer