In this episode of "Auditor Save the World," host Leita Hart-Fanta interviews Yves Genest, a seasoned auditor with extensive experience in food safety and compliance. The conversation dives into the complexities of auditing food safety, particularly in the context of aquaculture and the risks associated with raising salmon. Yves shares insights from his audits, highlighting the challenges of ensuring food safety in a rapidly evolving industry where regulations often lag behind emerging practices. He emphasizes the importance of empirical evidence and data-driven decision-making in auditing, illustrating how outcomes should guide regulatory practices rather than mere compliance with checklists.

Yves discusses the significant risks posed by antibiotics in aquaculture, the environmental impacts of fish farming, and the need for rigorous testing and oversight. He reflects on the challenges auditors face in convincing regulatory bodies to take action based on their findings, often encountering resistance when the data suggests a need for change. The episode concludes with a broader discussion on the evolving landscape of auditing, including the integration of technology and data analytics, and the importance of addressing cultural factors within organizations to improve compliance and accountability.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Introduction to the Super Auditor

01:01 - Meet Yves: The Food Safety Crusader

02:28 - The Emerging Risks in Aquaculture

05:19 - Understanding the Risks of Antibiotics

10:03 - The Challenges of Regulatory Compliance

20:36 - Data-Driven Auditing: A Case Study

24:52 - The Broader Implications of Food Safety Audits

30:06 - The Evolution of Auditing Practices

37:33 - Current Trends and Future Challenges in Auditing

ABOUT YVES GENEST

Yves Genest is an experienced audit professional, having worked in a variety of organizations and offices over the past thirty years. Yves is presently an Advisor at the Office of the Auditor General of Manitoba where he is responsible for advising teams and executive leadership on determining appropriate objectives and criteria for performance audits, preparing audit proposals, the quality of audits, the appropriate application of the Office’s audit methodology to these audits, and drafting the audit report.

He was previously Vice-President, Research and Strategic Initiatives at the Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation (CAAF). Yves was responsible for the development of research projects and activities requiring expertise and knowledge of public sector auditing.

Prior to joining CAAF, he served as CAE at Shared Services Canada and as Principal, Practice Development at the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. He holds master’s degrees in public administration and political science.