What Company Directors need to know - an update from the IASB

On Thursday, 1 June 2023, the AASB and the Australian Institute of Company Directors held a face-to-face session in Sydney that provided company directors with an update on financial reporting matters they need to be aware of.

Dr Andreas Barckow, IASB Chair and Professor Ann Tarca, IASB Member, were in attendance.  Dr Barckow was joined by Christian Gergis, Head of Policy, Education and Policy Leadership at the AICD and Robin Low, an experienced and accomplished Non-Executive Director, for an informative discussion covering:

• The IASB'S project priorities over the next 12 – 24 months, including the IASB's project on Climate-related risks in financial statements; and
• Connectivity between the IASB and ISSB, what it means for financial statements and how the Boards will work together.

The discussion highlighted matters of particular relevance to Australian company directors, and attendees had the opportunity to ask questions of the panel at the end of the session.

Speakers

• Dr Andreas Barckow, IASB Chair
  
  

  Dr Andreas Barckow is a highly regarded leader in the field of international accounting. From 2015 to 2021, he served as President of the Accounting Standards Committee of Germany (Deutsches Rechnungslegungs Standards Committee e.V.).
  He has been an active participant in numerous advisory bodies to the IFRS Foundation and the IASB, including membership of the IASB’s Accounting Standards Advisory Forum and the IFRS Advisory Council. Moreover, he is an acknowledged expert in IFRS Standards, having previously served as the lead technical partner for financial reporting matters in the German member firm of Deloitte.
  Dr Barckow holds a Diploma and Doctorate degree in Business Administration from the University of Paderborn and is an Honorary Professor at WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management. 
  He started his term as Chair of the International Accounting Standards Board in July 2021.

• Christian Gergis, Head of Policy, Education and Policy Leadership at the AICD
  
  Christian is responsible for providing strategic leadership of the AICD’s public policy agenda and governance practice program, engaging with members, government, industry and other stakeholders.
  Before joining the AICD, Christian held senior roles at financial services industry bodies, including most recently as the Head of Policy & Research at the Australian Investment Council.
  Christian was previously a diplomat with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade and began his career as a solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills. He holds a Bachelor of Economics (Social Sciences)/Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from the University of Sydney and a Master of Laws from the Australian National University (ANU).
• Robin Low, Non-Executive Director
  

  Robin Low is currently a non-executive director and Audit and Risk Committee Chair of Appen, AUB Group and Marley Spoon, and a Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair of IPH. She also holds not for profit directorships with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and the Sax Institute. She was formerly the Deputy Chair of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board and a partner for 17 years at PwC, as well as a former director of Australian Reinsurance Pool Coporation, Primary Ethics, Sydney Medical School Foundation, Public Education Foundation and CSG.