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At a glance
1. You have visited more than 35 countries in your first year as IFAC president. What has that told you about where the global accounting profession stands right now?
It has been a privilege to speak with people from so many different countries and cultures. The thing that stands out is the way professionals are working together to solve problems.
Accountants are engaging on so many different topics and are facing issues they probably have not faced before, such as artificial intelligence (AI), so the ability of the profession to come together and collaborate has been a standout for me.
The expectations are high for accountants, and a lot is being demanded of them. Professionals are always stronger when they work together to set a higher standard, and it has been wonderful to witness that around the world.
2. AI is reshaping what accountants do every day. What opportunities does this create for the profession?
Since I began my role at IFAC in November 2024, the narrative on AI has changed from one of fear to one of opportunity. At that time, the discussions were about the threat AI poses to the profession and the possibility that it might take jobs. Now, the accountants and CFOs I speak to view it more as a tool, and the challenge is to harness that tool as effectively as possible.
Of course, that opportunity comes with an element of risk, and professionals need to mitigate things like cybersecurity threats and data errors by placing as much emphasis on governance as possible in the transition to new technologies. Transparency, scepticism and judgement remain key.
3. Australia has a strong and longstanding relationship with IFAC, and CPA Australia is proud to play an active role within the global federation. How important is it to IFAC that regional voices — particularly from the Asia-Pacific region — are reflected in the way the global profession develops and evolves?
IFAC is an association of members, and without those members we would not exist. CPA Australia is not only a founding member of IFAC, but it has been around a lot longer than us — CPA Australia was 91 years old when IFAC started, so it is wonderful that we have been able to work with an association with that kind of experience and such a wonderful legacy. As such, the voices of CPA Australia and other regional members of IFAC are incredibly important, both to us and to the profession more broadly.
4. You have spoken about trust as the profession’s most fundamental asset. What gives you confidence that accountants are well placed to sustain and build on that trust in the years ahead?
Building and maintaining trust is a never-ending process. It is a career-long objective and one that starts during the early education phase of a career, when the foundations and principles are being ingrained. Trust is fragile and it can never be taken for granted.
Fortunately, there sems to be widespread appreciation for the value of trust and all the things that underpin it, such as ethics and integrity. When I have discussions in different regions across the world, there is a belief that without trust the profession has no foundation. Trust defines and distinguishes us as a profession.
5. You spent 44 years as an auditor before stepping into global leadership. What do you wish you had understood earlier in your career that you know now?
As I have gotten older, I have gained more of an appreciation for the impact of the profession and just how much it means to businesses and economies around the world. Whether it is public sector or private enterprise, whether it is a role in tax, audit or reporting, the work that accountants do is fundamental to functional, developed societies.
Working in the industry so long, then having the opportunity to visit, listen and share with professionals in so many corners of the world has convinced me just how important accountants are. Accountants should be proud of their role in society and in the economy.
