- Final program announced with Private Equity in accounting under the spotlight, alongside panels on regulatory shifts, market transparency, firm culture, technology & AI, and financial crime.
- Keynotes feature Maria Luís Albuquerque (European Commissioner), Jean-Paul Servais (IOSCO Chair), and Joaquim Miranda Sarmento (Portugal’s Finance Minister), joined by more than 20 global leaders.
- Over 700 registrants confirmed from nearly 96 jurisdictions across six continents, including more than 250 in Lisbon. In-person registration closed; virtual participation still open.
The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) today unveiled the final program for its inaugural Ethics and Independence Conference, taking place on September 15 in Lisbon and online.
The program is complete, with the confirmation of speakers for the afternoon panel on the rise of private equity in accounting firms. The discussion, moderated by Ken Siong, IESBA Program and Senior Director, will feature Mark Babington, Executive Director of Regulatory Standards at the UK Financial Reporting Council and IESBA Board Member; Liam Boyle, Chief Risk Officer at Teneo; and Wendy Russel, Head of Audit at Grant Thornton UK.
This will be one of six targeted discussions covering key developments shaping the accounting services sector and financial markets. Panels will address regulatory shifts and their impact on accounting and capital markets, sustainability reporting, firm culture and governance, ethical tax planning, the accountant’s role in combatting financial crime, and the ethical implications of technological disruption and AI.
Keynote speakers include Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, Jean-Paul Servais, Chair of IOSCO, and Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, Portugal’s Minister of State and Finance. They join a distinguished line-up of more than 20 global experts and leaders.
More than 700 participants have registered, representing 96 jurisdictions across six continents, with over 250 registered to attend in Lisbon. While in-person registration is now closed, virtual participation remains available.
The full program and registration details can be found at www.ethicsboard.org/iesba-conference-2025.
As regulatory pressures intensify and innovation accelerates, the conference offers a timely platform to explore how ethics and independence can strengthen competitiveness, resilience, and public confidence in business, the accounting profession, and global financial markets.
This event marks IESBA’s first global conference on ethics and independence, reflecting the Board’s commitment to engaging with stakeholders worldwide and promoting the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards), a benchmark adopted or referenced in over 130 jurisdictions globally.
The conference also marks the beginning of the September 2025 IESBA Board Meeting, which will take place at the ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics and Management.
The event is made possible with the support of ISEG, as well as Portugal’s two professional accountancy organizations: OCC – Ordem dos Contabilistas Certificados and OROC – Ordem dos Revisores Oficiais de Contas.
Their support was critical to hosting the conference in Lisbon and reflects their alignment with IESBA’s mission to foster international dialogue on timely and pressing issues for the profession, financial markets, and the wider economy.
About IESBA
The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) is an independent global standard-setting board. The IESBA’s mission is to serve the public interest by setting high-quality, international ethics (including independence) standards as a cornerstone to ethical behavior in business and organizations, and to public trust in financial and non-financial information that is fundamental to the proper functioning and sustainability of organizations, financial markets and economies worldwide.
Along with the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), the IESBA is part of the International Foundation for Ethics and Audit (IFEA). The Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB) oversees IESBA and IAASB activities and the public interest responsiveness of the standards.
Media Contacts:
Rui Peres Jorge
Director of Strategic Communications
International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA)
ruiperesjorge@ethicsboard.org | Direct: +351 966-301-383
David Johnson
Senior Manager
IESBA Communications
davidjohnson@ethicsboard.org | Direct: +1 (212) 471-8732