2024 Hubbard Award: Mary Breslin

Named in honor of the late ACFE Regent Emeritus Dr. Thomas Hubbard, the ACFE’s Hubbard Award recognizes the best feature article in Fraud Magazine, as decided by the members of the ACFE Editorial Advisory Committee. This prestigious award commemorates Hubbard's significant contributions to fraud examination and highlights the importance of excellence in journalism and education within the profession. Each year, numerous articles compete for this coveted award, and the selection process is rigorous, ensuring that only the most impactful and well-written pieces are considered. 

This year’s winner is Mary Breslin for her article “Is ChatGPT the newest gateway to fraud?” in the May/June 2023 edition of Fraud Magazine. Breslin highlights concerns about ChatGPT being used by cybercriminals to create malware and other malicious activities. The piece underscores that while ChatGPT's capabilities are impressive, they can also empower less tech-savvy individuals to engage in cybercrime, broadening the pool of potential fraudsters. 

Mary Breslin, the founder of Verracy, an internal audit training and consulting firm, embodies the spirit of excellence that the Hubbard Award celebrates. She is a renowned speaker and training facilitator specializing in internal audit, risk and fraud. With more than 30 years of experience, Breslin has lent her expertise to global giants such as Costco, Barclay’s Capital, ConocoPhillips and Boart Longyear. Her extensive career is marked by a commitment to advancing the field of internal auditing and fraud detection through education and innovation. 

Breslin's expertise extends far beyond the confines of the boardroom, such as managing comprehensive audit programs in more than 50 countries. Her career includes conducting major fraud investigations on multiple continents, which has given her a unique perspective on the global nature of fraud. Additionally, she has been instrumental in developing and implementing robust fraud auditing programs across various industries, ensuring that organizations are better equipped to detect and prevent fraudulent activities. 

Highly regarded within the industry, Breslin has received numerous prestigious accolades for her contributions to the field. In 2023, she was honored as the ACFE James R. Baker Speaker of the Year. She has also been recognized as a top-rated speaker for ISACA and named Best of the Best by the IIA.