Preparing for the New Quality Management Standards: ISQM 1 Quality Objectives and Quality Risks
Kirsten S. Albo, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D
Kirsten is the founder of ASK KSA Consulting Inc., providing consulting and advisory services to small- and mid-sized practitioners (SMPs) to help ensure they are conducting their assurance engagements in an effective and efficient manner and meeting the requirements of being in public practice. Kirsten works closely with SMPs in all aspects of practice including monitoring, file inspections, engagement quality reviews and file efficiency assessments. Another large component of her business is developing and delivering professional development sessions for firms of all sizes.
Kirsten has been in public practice for over three decades. She gained much of her experience as a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where she was responsible for her many public and private company clients operating in a variety of industries. In this role, Kirsten developed a strong technical background and the ability to deal with complex matters. Kirsten has an in-depth knowledge of assurance standards.
Kirsten is also very involved in the profession. She is a member of the Advisory Group to the Canadian Audit and Assurance Standards Board (AASB) on the Audits of Less Complex Entities and has been involved with a variety of other CPA provincial and Canadian Task Force Committees. In addition, Kirsten authors and instructs assurance courses for substantially all the provincial Canadian CPA bodies. Kirsten is known for her drive, passion and leadership and recognized for setting and achieving high standards without sacrificing quality.
Crucial Today and Tomorrow: Professional Accountancy Organizations’ Support for SMPs
The Main Challenges of Public Sector Accounting Reforms and World Bank’s Public Sector Accounting and Reporting (PULSAR) Program
Tashia Batstone
Canada
Tashia Batstone, MBA, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D joined the IFAC Board in November 2021. She was nominated by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada). Ms. Batstone previously served as Technical Advisor on the IFAC Board and was a member of IFAC's Technical Advisory Committee.
Ms. Batstone is President and CEO of FP Canada, the leading body for the financial planning profession in Canada. Previously, Ms. Batstone held senior leadership roles within the CPA profession in Canada at both the provincial and national level. As Senior Vice President of External Relations and Business Development at CPA Canada, she led transformational change initiatives for the accounting profession both in Canada and on the international stage. As Vice-President Education Services at CPA Canada, she played a significant role in the unification of the accountancy profession and led the development of the CPA Certification Program.
Prior to joining CPA Canada, Ms. Batstone served five years as CEO of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2020, Ms. Batstone was named in Practice Ignition's top 50 women in accounting globally.
Ms. Batstone has extensive experience in Board Governance and serves on not-for-profit boards including the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Patricia Stock
South Africa
Patricia Stock is the CEO of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. Her previous experience includes being a co-founder and former CEO of MGI RAS, a member firm of MGI Worldwide. A Chartered Accountant (South Africa) and Chartered Director (South Africa), Ms. Stock has held various senior executive and non-executive directorship roles, including working in the public and private sectors, advisory, skills development, and assurance, including auditing United Nations’ organizations during her tenure at the Auditor General of South Africa’s office. She also serves as the Head of Transformation (DEI) at a global firm..
Ms. Stock is a Certified ESG Analyst (CESGA®) with a specialization in governance, audit, and IFRS. She also holds a master’s in international accounting.
Pamela Steer
IFAC Board Technical Advisor for Tashia Batstone
Canada
As president and CEO of Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada), Pamela leads one of the most influential professional accounting bodies in the world.
Prior to assuming this role, she was the chief financial and corporate strategy officer at Payments Canada where she oversaw the organization’s finance and corporate planning functions. Previously, she was the chief financial officer and head of finance and employer services with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
Over the course of her career, Pamela has worked in the technology and financial services industries (pensions, insurance), including publicly traded, private and regulated entities in Canada and abroad.
Today, Pamela sits on the Michael Garron Hospital board. She is an active and founding member of the advisory board for the Institute for Sustainable Finance as well as a faculty member for the Competent Boards designation. Also, she currently sits on the University of Waterloo’s School of Accounting and Finance advisory council. She is a past Chair of the CFA Society Toronto, former board member of Quarterhill Inc. (TSX: QTRH), and was a founding member of the Canadian Chapter of the Accounting for Sustainability CFO Leadership Network.
Pamela is a CPA Fellow and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Business Valuator designations. In 2019, she was selected as Canada’s CFO of the Year™.
Gregory Anton
United States of America
Gregory J. Anton, CPA, CGMA joined the IFAC Board in November 2021. He was nominated by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.
Mr. Anton is a retired Partner of BDO USA, P.C. He was a founding partner of ACM LLP an accounting firm in the US where he served as Chairman and CEO prior to ACM joining BDO in 2020.
Mr. Anton has an extensive history serving the accounting profession. From 2004-present, he has served as a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Governing Council and served six years on the AICPA Board including Chairman from 2011-2012. Mr. Anton previously served as chairman of the Colorado Society of CPAS and on the IFAC Nominating Committee.
He is a recipient of the AICPA's Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Service; the highest award granted by the AICPA and is given to CPAs who have made major contributions to the CPA profession. Mr. Anton has nonexecutive board service including, past board member of Citywide Banks, a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. ("Heartland"), a multibillion-dollar financial services company. Prior to Heartland's acquisition of CIC Bancshares, he served on the board and chaired the audit committee of CIC. Mr. Anton also served on the board of WeeSchool, Inc. and served on the Management Committee of Cosyntris Advisory Network, LLC.
Sustainability and the CFO: Standard Chartered Bank Perspectives
Presentation by Simon Connell, Global Head of Sustainability Strategy & Subhradeep Mohanty, Regional CFO, Africa & Middle East