Webinar 1: Innovative strategies for public sector productivity
Lucia Real-Martin, Executive Director - Relationships, ACCA
Lucia Real-Martin is the executive director, Relationships for ACCA. In her role, Lucia is accountable for the development and advancement of ACCA’s relationships in ACCA’s markets, growing ACCA’s influence around the world. Lucia has 29 years’ international business and strategy experience developing a global footprint for organisations in a number of sectors, with the last 19 years in the accounting and finance profession. Lucia’s focus has been on the upskilling of finance and accounting professionals whilst developing the accounting profession globally. She has built relationships with governments, regulators, employers and educators, first within the Australian accounting profession working in Asia Pacific, and now with ACCA globally
Mark Johnson, Senior Subject Manager, Public Sector, ACCA
Mark leads on public sector research in ACCA’s Policy and Insights team, focusing on issues relevant to the public sector globally. He is the author of ACCA’s report on public sector productivity, launched in this session. Before joining ACCA, he worked in finance and policy roles in local government.
Bart van Ark, Managing Director, The Productivity Institute
Bart van Ark is managing director of The Productivity Institute and professor of productivity studies at the Alliance Manchester Business School. He is an internationally acclaimed economist in the field of international comparative productivity measurement and analysis, innovation and technology, and digital transformation.
Trish McAuliffe, CFO, StatsNZ
Trish McAuliffe is CFO of StatsNZ. A highly experienced senior finance professional with a background in financial modelling, business process improvement and analysis, she has held key positions in New Zealand’s Toitu Te Whenua Land Information and the Ministry for the Environment.
Dr Margaret Nyakang’o, Controller of Budget
Dr Margaret Nyakang’o, FCPA is the Controller of Budget in Kenya. She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Liverpool, UK. A practicing member and Fellow of Kenya's Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Dr Nyakang’o holds the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear for her distinguished service.
Webinar 2: Unexpected leaders, unmatched impact: AI in public finance
Alistair Brisbourne, Head of Technology Research, ACCA
As the head of technology research in the policy and insights team, Alistair Brisbourne leads on research that supports the ACCA’s global technology and skills agenda. He is currently interested in exploring opportunities for and the implications of wider artificial intelligence adoption and what this means for the future of finance. Alistair joined the ACCA from BDO LLP where he worked as a manager in Research and Commercial Insights, helping position the company as an industry leader through data-driven reports, business intelligence and insightful analyses of the audit and advisory market.
Ed Olowo-Okere, Senior Adviser in Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions, World Bank
Ed Olowo-Okere is senior adviser in equitable growth, finance and institutions at the World Bank, and has three decades of experience in development issues around the world. Before joining the bank, he held public and private sector roles in Nigeria, Britain and New Zealand.
Iain McGregor, Director of Innovation and Development, UK Government Internal Audit Agency
Iain is the director of Innovation and Development at the UK Government Internal Audit Agency. He leads the strategy on innovation including the application of data analytics to internal audit and counter fraud and investigation activities. He previously worked at the Knowledge Transfer Network, Tata Steel, Lotus Engineering, ABB Rail Vehicles and Alcan International.
Webinar 3: How can countries develop an effective PFM reform strategy?
Srinivas Gurazada, Head of Secretariat, PEFA
Before joining PEFA in 2020, Srini worked in the Africa region and the global unit of the World Bank. He is the global lead for public financial management at the World Bank. Prior to joining the Bank, Srini worked as accountant general in government of India and as advisor to the minister in the Sultanate of Oman.
Laura Takamizawa, Principal, IFAC
Laura Takamizawa is a Principal in IFAC's thought leadership team, focusing on initiatives in support of finance and accounting professionals working in business and the public sector. She was previously an audit manager at Grant Thornton, specialising in public sector audit in the UK, and prior to that worked for the Audit Commission. She also spent a year on secondment to the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), where she was responsible for managing their public sector and business network programs. Laura is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), and holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Mathematical Physics from the University of Nottingham (UK).
Gary Bandy, Consultant
Gary Bandy is a freelance consultant specialising in public financial management for public sector and voluntary organisations. He has taught at masters’ level at several universities and delivered training courses for public organisations. Gary is also an author of books, articles and courses, including ACCA’s Certificate in Public Financial Management.
Webinar 4: A new frontier of sustainability reporting in PFM
Jessica Bingham, Regional Lead Policy & Insights for EEMA and UK, ACCA
Jessica Bingham is the regional policy and insights lead for ACCA, working with key stakeholders and partners to support its professional insights, advocacy and policy work across the UK and EEMA. Her background spans the public, private and NGO sectors, and she has spent considerable time working in both financial and value for money audit. Jessica is a Chartered Accountant with a specialism in sustainability and nature-related reporting.
Celine Chan, Principal, International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board
Celine Chan is a Principal at the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB). Since joining IPSASB in 2022, she has worked on sustainability reporting technical projects and is currently leading the Climate-related Disclosures Standard Project.
Prior to joining the IPSASB, Celine was an AVP in Accounting Policy and Advisory at TD Bank where she led a team advising on transactions, business and intangible valuations, and retail banking under IFRS and U.S. GAAP.
Bernhard Schatz, Director, PwC Austria
Bernhard Schatz is a director at PwC Austria where he is an expert in public sector sustainability reporting. He serves as a board observer at the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and as a member of the sustainability reporting working group at the Chamber of Austrian Accountants and Auditors. Schatz also lectures in public financial management at Austria’s University of Applied Sciences.
Webinar 5: Safeguarding supreme audit institutions
Gareth Davies, Comptroller and Auditor General, National Audit Office, UK
Gareth Davies is comptroller and auditor general (C&AG) at the UK’s National Audit Office. Prior to this he was head of public services at Mazars and managing director of the Audit Commission’s Audit Practice. He is also a non-executive Board member of the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI).
Tsakani Maluleke, Auditor General of South Africa
Tsakani Maluleke is the auditor-general of South Africa. She has more than 20 years of experience in areas including auditing, consulting, corporate advisory, development finance, investment management and skills development.She has participated on numerous corporate boards and strategic committees in both the private and public sectors.
Gavin Hinks, Business Journalist
Gavin Hinks is a business journalist of more than 20 years experience focused on issues as wide ranging as audit, regulation, business ethics, technology, sustainability, consulting and public sector finances. He currently contributes a regular column to ACCA’s Accounting and Business magazine.
Lucia Real-Martin, Executive Director - Relationships, ACCA
Lucia Real-Martin is the executive director, Relationships for ACCA. In her role, Lucia is accountable for the development and advancement of ACCA’s relationships in ACCA’s markets, growing ACCA’s influence around the world. Lucia has 29 years’ international business and strategy experience developing a global footprint for organisations in a number of sectors, with the last 19 years in the accounting and finance profession. Lucia’s focus has been on the upskilling of finance and accounting professionals whilst developing the accounting profession globally. She has built relationships with governments, regulators, employers and educators, first within the Australian accounting profession working in Asia Pacific, and now with ACCA globally
Pamela Monroe Ellis FCCA, Auditor General, Government of Jamaica
Pamela Monroe Ellis was appointed auditor general in 2008 and is responsible for the effective management of the Government of Jamaica’s financial management systems, as well as complying with financial management policies. She is also Secretary General of the Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (CAROSAI), and a member of the International Association of Supreme Audit Institutions’ (INTOSAI), a working group of the Value and Benefit of Supreme Audit Institutions.
