Afternoon | Keynote

Building Competitive, Resilient Economies (20 minutes)

In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, technological disruption, and shifting global markets, economic competitiveness and resilience are increasingly interconnected. Drawing on his experience in business, government, and financial policy, Mr. Shin will share perspectives on how economies can strengthen their capacity to navigate disruption, foster innovation and investment, and build the foundations for sustainable, long-term growth.

Afternoon | Leadership Exchange

Leading Without a Playbook (50 minutes)

What do leaders do when there is no precedent to follow? Through candid reflections on real leadership challenges, this panel explores how leaders make difficult decisions, balance competing priorities, and build resilient organizations in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Afternoon | Fireside Chat

The Future of Financial Stability (20 minutes)

Strong economies are built on more than sound policies. They depend on institutions and markets that people trust. This conversation will explore how financial systems can remain resilient as global markets continue to evolve, and why international cooperation remains essential to preserving confidence in an increasingly interconnected world.

Morning | Keynote

Rise2040: Human-Led. AI-Powered. Future-Ready Profession (30 minutes)

Drawing on global insights from the Rise2040 initiative, this keynote explores how AI, trust, talent, regulation, and geopolitics are reshaping the future of the accountancy profession and why remaining Human in the Lead™ will be essential to creating lasting value for business and society.

Morning | Leadership Exchange

Leading Through AI and Digital Transformation (50 minutes)

AI is transforming the way organizations operate, but trust remains the foundation of every financial decision. Leaders from technology, regulation, and the profession will explore how to harness AI's potential while preserving the confidence that underpins markets.

Morning | Interactive Demonstration Session

The Art of the Impossible: Building Agentic AI with Microsoft Copilot (45 minutes)

AI is rapidly evolving from a tool that assists with individual tasks to intelligent agents that can plan, reason, and execute complex workflows. In this session, Miles Masterclass will demonstrate how Microsoft Copilot can be used to build agentic AI solutions that enhance productivity, accelerate decision-making, and unlock new ways of working across finance and professional services. Through real-world examples and live demonstrations, delegates will gain practical insights into how organizations can move beyond experimentation to harness the next generation of AI.

Morning | Leadership Exchange

Relevance by Design: Building the PAO of the Future (45 minutes)

Professional accountancy organizations are navigating profound changes in how accountants work, learn, and engage with their profession. Using new global AI research from Chartered Accountants Worldwide and Ipsos as a starting point, this panel of PAO CEOs will explore how they are rethinking education, member services, workforce development, and organizational strategy to remain relevant and responsive. The discussion will focus on the leadership decisions, innovations, successes, and lessons that can help PAOs prepare their organizations—and their members—for what comes next.

Morning | Plenary Panel Discussion

The Next Generation: The Critical Success Factors to Attract and Retain Future Talent (60 minutes)

Across the globe there is a battle for talent. The accountancy profession must reflect on how rapid changes in technology and reporting, as well as the lived experiences of young professionals, impact on its ability to win the fight for talent and ensure its longevity into the future. Join us for a lively debate on what the critical success factors are to attract the next generation, with views being shared from across the profession.

Delegate Networking Lunch

Afternoon | Concurrent Sessions (45 minutes each)

Afternoon | Plenary Panel Discussion

Keeping Pace with Innovation: The Future of Global Standard Setting (50 minutes)

As business, markets, technology, and stakeholder expectations continue to evolve, global standard setters must navigate an increasingly complex environment while maintaining trust and serving the public interest. Leaders of the global standard-setting boards will discuss the forces shaping their work, how they are responding to change, and what will be needed to keep international standards relevant and fit for the future.

Afternoon | Strategic Dialogue

Strategic Dialogue: Building Trust and Resilience in a Changing Global Financial Ecosystem

In this forward-looking discussion, panelists focus on forces reshaping the global financial ecosystem. The dialogue will explore the importance of high-quality global standards and international cooperation in maintaining trust and resilience in an increasingly interconnected world, and consider how AI and technological transformation are changing risk, governance, professional judgment and the skills needed for the future.

Morning | Plenary Panel Discussion

Building Stronger Institutions for Sustainable Development (50 minutes)

Strong institutions are the foundation of sustainable development—but how is this possible when resources are limited? Bringing together leaders from international development, public financial management, and the accountancy profession, this panel will explore the difficult choices governments face, the trade-offs that shape long-term success, and why lasting impact depends on strengthening the entire ecosystem, not just one part of it.

Morning | Keynote

Shaping the Trust Infrastructure for the Next Decade (30 minutes)

Markets can withstand volatility. They struggle when confidence begins to erode. Drawing on experience spanning regulation, standard setting, and global business leadership, this keynote will explore why trust is the foundation of resilient capital markets—and what leaders must do to strengthen it in the decade ahead.

Morning | Plenary Panel Discussion

Leading Through Uncertainty: Creating Value When Every Decision Counts (50 minutes)

We have more data than at any point in history. Why aren't we necessarily making better decisions? Today's CFOs are expected to do far more than manage financial performance. They are helping shape strategy, allocate capital, and guide organizations through constant disruption. This session explores how finance leaders are balancing investment, resilience, and long-term value creation in an increasingly complex business environment.

Morning | Plenary Panel Discussion

Audit Quality and Regulatory Innovation: Lessons from Korea's Accounting and Audit Reform and Beyond (40 minutes)

To examine how regulatory innovation can improve audit quality, using Korea's Accounting and Audit Reform Act (KARA) and selected jurisdictional case studies as reference points.

Delegate Networking Lunch

Afternoon | Concurrent Sessions (45 minutes each)

Afternoon | Plenary Session

Women in Leadership – Then, Now, Next (45 minutes)

The next generation of leadership will be defined not by hierarchy, but by adaptability, resilience, and the ability to lead through disruption. Drawing on their experiences leading organizations through periods of profound change, this panel will explore the decisions, setbacks, and leadership practices that build stronger organizations, and what every leader can do to develop the talent that will shape the profession's future.

Afternoon | Closing Session

Close of the 2026 World Congress of Accountants / Introduction of 2028 WCOA (SAICA)