Accounting firms as gatekeepers: Navigating contemporary governance and accountability challenges

In recent years, some of the world’s largest accounting firms have been in the spotlight for controversies involving conflicts of interest, audit failures or complicity in corporate scandals with global repercussions. As gatekeepers, auditors play a significant role in safeguarding the interest of the public. Reforms are presently being considered to mitigate the loss of public trust in accounting firms.

This seminar brings together three experts from industry and academia to discuss recent developments from regulatory and ethical perspectives, drawing insights from domestic and international experience. Join us for an engaging discussion of strategies for enhancing the regulation of the audit sector and public trust.

The seminar is jointly organised by Monash Business School’s Corporate Law, Organisation and Litigation Research Group and Faculty of Law  Monash Centre for Commercial Law and Regulatory Studies (CLARS).

Registrations close Wednesday 23 September 2026.

This activity may be claimed in the following CPD categories (subject to the attendee’s assessment):

• Substantive Law

• Ethics and Professional Responsibility

Participants should determine the appropriate allocation of CPD units in accordance with their applicable CPD rules.

Speakers:

• Vanessa Chapman, Group Executive General Counsel and Corporate Assurance,Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand 

• Philip Koh, Senior Partner, Mah-Kamariyah & Philip Koh

• Professor John Bevacqua, Head of the Department of Business Law and Taxation, Monash Business School, Monash University