Future ready: empowering auditors, transforming tomorrow
This event is organized by the ASQ Audit Division. All inquiries, please reach out to Andrew Davison.
The 2026 ASQ Audit Division Conference will be held in collaboration with the ASQ Food, Drug and Cosmetic Division.
2026 Audit Division Conference
Wednesday, September 23 - Thursday, September 24, 2026
Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel - Rosemont, IL
This year’s Conference theme is Future Ready: Empowering Auditors, Transforming Tomorrow. Auditors are no longer just gatekeepers of compliance — they are strategic partners in shaping resilient, transparent, and forward-thinking organizations. Empowering auditors means:
- Equipping them with cutting-edge tools like AI, data analytics, and automation to enhance precision and efficiency.
- Fostering continuous learning so they can adapt to evolving regulations, technologies, and risks.
- Amplifying their voice in boardrooms and decision-making processes, recognizing their insights as catalysts for change.
Tomorrow’s audit landscape demands agility, foresight, and innovation. Transformation begins when auditors are empowered to:
- Redefine audit methodologies with predictive analytics and real-time monitoring.
- Collaborate across functions to deliver holistic risk assessments and strategic guidance.
Discounted hotel room rates of $239 per night (excluding taxes) are in effect until August 31, 2026, or sold out.
Conference Perks
Conference Perks:
- Exclusive Audit Division Room Rate = $239 per night!
- Inspiring Keynote Presentations from distinguished leaders in the quality profession
- Complimentary Conference Bag to commemorate the event
- Delicious Lunches provided during the conference
- Mornings & Afternoon Refreshment Breaks paired with networking opportunities
- Spectacular Gala Opening Reception featuring hors d'oeuvres, beverages, live enterintainment, and dancing
- Networking Opportunities throughout the entire conference
- Sponsor Showcase Area spotlighting leading professional organizations
- Engaging Discussions with seasoned quality auditors, professionals,and industry specialists
- Full Access to Conference Activities alongside ASQ Audit Division Officers and the Conference Committee
Confirmed Speakers & Topics
Main Track
| Speaker Name | Presentation Topic |
|---|---|
| Aditya Desai & Dani Hestermann | Holistic Approach to Prepare Auditors for the Future |
| Amanda Lyon | Auditing Smarter with Copilot: Applying Generative AI Without Losing Trust |
| Angelo Scangas | Auditing Risk Assessment Quality (Not Just Scoring) |
| Attrayee Chakraborty | Empowering Auditors with Agentic AI: Build, Validate, and Audit with Confidence |
| BJ Johnson & Urmi Vidyarthi | Navigating the New Regulatory Landscape: EU MDR 2.0 & US QMSR |
| Christy Furlan | Identifying and Avoiding Lean’s 10 Wastes in Audits |
| Dan Cannon | Benchmarking Internal Audit Duration: Are Organizations Under-Auditing? |
| Denholm Kendall | Data Quality |
| Denis Devos | A First Look at ISO 9001:2026 |
| Derek Purdy | Playing Defense: Strategies for Avoiding, Containing, and Resisting Audit Findings |
| George Kwiecinski | AI-Powered Regulatory Intelligence and Auditing: What the Future Brings |
| Heather Wade | Demystifying Calibration Accreditation Scopes |
| Jd Marhevko | Yes, Humans Can Be Calibrated As Effective Gages |
| Jennifer Stepniowski | Social Audits: Strengthening Ethical Practices Across Global Supply Chains |
| Jim Shore | How Do I Validate This QMS Software? |
| Kathy Lyall | The Future of Quality Auditing: Insights from a Futurist on the Evolving Role of Auditors |
| Kellan Ilse | Future Ready: The AI-Enabled Auditor |
| Kristin Shuler | From Reactive Audits to Preventive Control: Building a Risk-Tiered Contract Governance Model |
| Lance Coleman | ISO 9001:2026 – What’s Next? |
| Laura Halleck | Auditing the “Gray Areas”: How To Evaluate Effectiveness (Not Just Conformance) |
| Manish Dnyaneshwar Baviskar | Future-Ready Audits: Risk-Based Validation of AI, Software, and Automation in GxP Environments |
| Melody Scott | Third-Party Verification as a Catalyst for System Quality Improvement |
| Michael Ford | Quality Auditing as Investigative Analysis: Break Out Your Inner Sleuth! |
| Paul Russell | Open-Ended Requirements: More Keep Coming, How Do I Audit Them? |
| Prashant Patel | Adapt or Fall Behind: The New Audit Reality |
| Shwetha Jayachandran | Audit Smarter: Practical AI Techniques for Everyday Auditing |
| Srividia Narayanan | Step-By-Step Audit of Digital Twin of Digital Twin-Controlled Robotic Assembly Systems |
| Whitney Davis | Beyond Compliance: Future-Ready Auditing for Risk and Safety in the QMSR-ISO 9001:2026 Era |
Food, Drug & Cosmetic Track
| Speaker Name | Presentation Topic |
|---|---|
| Balasz Bozsik | How to Communicate with Your Conformity Assessment Body |
| Balasz Bozsik | Standards for EU Medical Device Regulatory Compliance |
| Cathleen Howick | Auditing for FSMA Intentional Adulteration Rule |
| Jennifer DuCree | Food Safety Culture as a Strategic Asset: Driving Excellence Beyond Audits |
| Nish Abeysiriwardena | Medical Device Product Development: What An Auditor Should Look for in Every Stage |
| Shelly Blackwell | Who Owns Quality?: Auditing Considerations for OWN Label Distributors Dietary Supplements |
Conference Location
Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel
5300 N River Rd
Rosemont, IL
Sponsorship Opportunities
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