Welcome Address by Dr David Sun, GBS, JP
Chairman, AFRC

Opening Remarks by Guest-of-Honour
The Honourable Paul Chan, GBM, GBS, MH, JP
Financial Secretary of the Government of the HKSAR

Launch Ceremony

Governing Emerging Risks in Financial Reporting and Audit

As technology, artificial intelligence and evolving business models continue to transform the accounting and audit landscape, the foundations of trust, governance and regulatory oversight are being tested in new ways. Regulators are considering where supervisory attention should be focused, whether existing frameworks remain fit for purpose, and what they should expect of firms.

Panellists will discuss how regulation and governance should evolve with this changing landscape, what adequate oversight and accountability look like when work is technology-enabled, and how regulators, standard-setters and the profession can strengthen capabilities, transparency and safeguards to uphold professional judgement and the public interest.

Board Stewardship for Long-Term Value

The board’s stewardship role is central to creating and protecting the long-term value of the organisation it serves. By setting the tone at the top, a board with the right capabilities can help management identify emerging risks and opportunities early, strengthen resilience and support sustainable value creation.

Panellists will offer practical insights into how boards build the capabilities to make effective strategic decisions, oversee emerging risks, and discharge their responsibilities effectively, all of which underpin trust in the capital markets.

By Professor Frederick Ma, GBS, JP
Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Strengthening Transparency in the Financial Reporting Chain

Clear, meaningful transparency across the financial reporting chain is essential to market integrity and investor confidence. As innovation, technology and new business models reshape the basis of value creation, financial statements increasingly reflect judgement and estimation rather than direct measurement.

This panel will examine how participants across the financial reporting chain each contribute to clearer, more decision-useful reporting. Panellists will consider how significant judgements, valuations and uncertainties are considered, reporting expectations placed on companies coming to market, and how investor stewardship is evolving in response.

Audit Firm Culture and Professionalism

Professionalism depends not only on individual skills and conduct, but also on firm culture. Audit quality is shaped well before an engagement begins, by a firm’s leadership, governance and culture, which influence ethics, incentives and resourcing.

Against growing global attention on audit firm culture and governance, this panel will examine issues of resourcing, fee pressure and professional scepticism, how firms can close the gap between governance principles and practice, and provide insights for small and medium practices.

By Ms Janey Lai
CEO, AFRC