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About the lecture series

The Birkett Memorial Lecture series celebrates the life, achievements, and visionary insights of the late Professor Bill Birkett, by showcasing the latest thought leadership from distinguished academics and industry leaders.

Attending the lecture presents a wonderful professional development opportunity. The series provides an invaluable networking opportunity by attracting large and diverse audience. For family and friends of he latest Professor Birkett, the lecture also provides an opportunity to catch up and remember his many remarkable achievements.

This year’s lecture – special 20th Anniversary event!

Driving Business Sustainability: Professor Robert Kaplan and E-Liability Accounting

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming 20th anniversary presentation of our Bill Birkett Memorial Lecture, Featuring Harvard Business School’s Professor Robert Kaplan.

Professor Robert Kaplan, renowned for co-developing Activity-Based Costing and the Balanced Scorecard, will present his groundbreaking innovation for tackling the challenge of greenhouse gas reporting: e-liability accounting.

David Fallon (GM of Energy Transition at Chevron Australia) will share his company's experiences with implementing e-liability accounting and how it is supporting their decarbonization efforts.

Moderated by Elysse Morgan (Stafford Capital Partners, former host of ABC's The Business), this event promises thought-provoking discussion and Q&A, and valuable professional development/CPD opportunity.

Register now to secure your spot to:

  • be at the forefront of business sustainability developments.
  • learn from industry leaders and academic pioneers.
  • connect with like-minded business professionals and academic thought leaders.

This event is held by the UNSW School of Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, in partnership with CPA Australia, to celebrate the legacy of the late Professor Bill Birkett.

About Professor Birkett

Professor Bill Birkett began his academic career at UNSW in 1962. Over the course of over 40 years, until his untimely passing in 2004, Professor Birkett established himself as a pioneering and highly experienced scholar in accounting. Professor Birkett published extensively in areas such as Australian company failures, activity-based costing, value creating and risk management in financial services, and strategic resource management.

Professor Birkett’s passion was to advancing the latest thinking in accounting practice. In his time, and in additional to serving in a number of leadership roles in the UNSW Business School, Professor Birkett played an significantly influential role in the development of the accounting profession. Most notably, Professor Birkett established the Australian Centre of Management Accounting Development (ACMAD), which at its height was a national network for the exchange of discussion and development of new accounting ideas. Professor Birkett also influenced through his service in a number of professional leadership roles, including with CPA Australia and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).  

Bill was a visionary and an innovative scholar, and his pioneering spirit lives on through this lecture series. 

Past lectures

  • 2023:ÌýAnna Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Flybuys
    Reshaping Accounting’s Value Proposition. Is it Time?
    View webpage
  • 2022:ÌýAlison Kitchen, National Chairman of KPMG Australia
    Beyond the Financials – the Role of the Profession in Accounting for ESG Impact
    View webpage
  • 2021: Steve Bingham, EY Partner and Asia Pacific Technology Consulting Leader; UNSW Alumnus
    Digital Transformation and Technology: Implications for the Future of the Accounting Profession.

    *Password:CPAAustralia2021
  • 2020:ÌýJessica Fries, Accounting for Sustainability Project (Prince’s Trust) 
  • 2019: Rachel Grimes, Westpac Group 
    Embracing accounting’s technological disruption: It’s as easy as ABCDE.
  • 2018:ÌýMark Uncles, UNSW Sydney
    Transforming Accounting Education – are we ready for the ride?
  • 2017: Baljit Sidhu, UNSW Sydney
    How accountants can contribute to society and act as agents for transformational change.
  • 2016: Ray Ball, The University of Chicago
    International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) After a Decade.
  • 2015: Roger Simnett, UNSW Sydney
    Integrated Reporting and Assurance: Trends and evidence of benefit.
  • 2014:ÌýClinton Free, UNSW Sydney
    The Fraud Triangle – a critical analysis.
  • 2013: Peter Roebuck, UNSW Sydney
    Competency Frameworks: A Way Forward For Internal Audit And Practice.
  • 2012:ÌýProfessor Shannon Anderson, University of California
  • 2011:ÌýProfessor Norio Sawabe, Kyoto University
  • 2010: Professor Philip Brown, University of New South Wales and University of Western Australia
  • 2009: Professor Roger Simnett, University of New South Wales
  • 2008: Professor Kim Langfield Smith, Monash University
  • 2007:ÌýProfessor Jan Mouritsen, Copenhagen Business School
  • 2006:ÌýProfessor Wai Fong Chua, University of New South Wales
  • 2005: Professor Rob Chenhall, Monash University and James Cook University