Steering a Steady Course through the Crisis: A Leadership Role for the Accounting and Auditing Profession

Good morning. As president of the International Federation of Accountants, IFAC, I want to thank you for joining us here this morning as we speak of issues that are critical not only to Brazil and Latin America but to the world. In addition, I want to extend greetings to our CReCER partner organizations - the World Bank, Inter-America Development Bank, IFAC member CFC and the six largest accounting networks - for all their work in the preparation of this week's program.

As I was preparing to travel to Brazil, the IFAC staff has helped by providing me background information about the economy and other issues that quite relate to the country I am visiting.  One of the things that step out in my mind about the background information I have received was the motto of São Paulo, "Non ducor, duco"; which as I understand correctly, means, "I am not led; I lead." This speaks directly to the independence and the spirit and leadership in São Paulo and its people, and it forms the perfect background for me today, in choosing the themes that I would like to share with you. 

There are four areas/four themes, of leadership that I would like to discuss. The first is: Speaking out as the global voice of the profession. The next is: Showing the way to an improved financial infrastructure. The third concerns: Supporting SMEs and micro-entities that need extra care; and, last, is: Sharing tasks when collaboration is appropriate.