Sydney hosts world’s largest gathering of accountants & finance professionals for first time in 46 years

 

 

16 November 2017 — Many thousands of business and finance professionals are looking up “Sydney” this week as registrations open for the World Congress of Accountants (WCOA), the world’s largest gathering of accountants being held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Sydney, Australia from 5-8 November next year. The numbers add up for Sydney, which last hosted the event in 1972, with it estimated to be worth $18 million to New South Wales (NSW) in 2018.
Held every four years, WCOA is an initiative of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). Expected to attract more than 6,000 delegates from 130 countries next year, Chartered Accountants ANZ (CA ANZ) and CPA Australia will co-host the prestigious event being held in Sydney for the first time in 46 years.
“I’ve heard people call WCOA the ‘Olympics of Accountants’ — I guess because it’s held every four years, and brings together the best business and finance minds from around the world. It truly is a milestone event for our profession. To give you an idea of the calibre of speaker and global insight afforded delegates, Pope Francis spoke at the last WCOA in Rome 2014 about the positive impact our profession can make on society,” said Mr Rick Ellis, CEO, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
“A high bar has been set throughout the illustrious history of WCOA, but in true Australian style, we intend to set new records and make it the most prestigious, memorable, and professionally powerful experience of a lifetime.  WCOA will give delegates a chance to hear from local and global leaders, network with peers from across the world and access the latest and best in field products and software.  We look forward to welcoming a record number of delegates from around the world to Sydney next November,” said Peter Wilson, Chair, CPA Australia.
ACCA and RMIT confirmed as first official sponsors
Debut sponsors for WCOA Sydney 2018 include ACCA, one of the leading global accountancy bodies; and RMIT, a global university of technology, design and enterprise and Australia’s largest tertiary institutions.
Helen Brand OBE, chief executive of ACCA, said: “ACCA is proud to be supporting World Congress 2018. The accounting profession is evolving to meet the needs of a rapidly changing business and economic landscape, and this important event will enable the profession to come together to debate the future and demonstrate the leadership that will be required in the years ahead.”
“Technology and innovation are making a profound impact on the accounting and finance profession. RMIT nurtures some of the world’s best business minds when it comes to combining research, technology and enterprise, so it made sense for us to sponsor this international coming together of leading accounting and finance professionals,” said Ian Palmer, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Business) and Vice-President, RMIT.

The WCOA 2018 program themes include Protecting the Public Interest and Building Prosperity; Building Trust and Confidence in the Role of the Accounting and Finance Profession; Addressing the Leadership Challenge; Embracing Disruptive Technologies and Innovation; Enhancing Ethics and Integrity; Exploring Sustainable Solutions to Business, Social Enterprises and Economies ; and Safeguarding the Future of the Accounting Profession.