Gillian Waldbauer FCA has been with the Institute of Public Auditors in Germany (IDW) since 2003 as a technical manager in the department of international affairs and from November 2014 as head of international affairs. In June 2023, she became the Principal of Public Affairs. Her work at IDW is concentrated on international issues in auditing and assurance, financial reporting, non-financial reporting and previously financial reporting in the public sector. Within the IDW she provides support to both the accounting and auditing boards in regard to international auditing and corporate reporting issues. She is also involved in drafting the IDW's comment letters on international auditing and accounting issues.

Ms. Waldbauer’s international experience includes active involvement in the Audit and Assurance Policy Group and the Sustainability Policy Group of Accountancy Europe; she is also currently technical advisor on the IFAC Board and the IFAC Small and Medium Practices Advisory Group.

Ms. Waldbauer is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and has several years of audit experience with a medium-sized firm of professional accountants in London.

In cooperation with IFAC Member Colegio de Contadores Públicos de Costa Rica (CCPCR), IFAC is hosting a Statements of Membership Obligations (SMOs) workshop in San Jose, Costa Rica, on February 13. The workshop will bring together leaders and representatives from 17 professional accountancy organizations in Central and South America and the Caribbean to address regional issues affecting the profession.

The event will also provide insights on the status of fulfillment of the IFAC SMOs in the region and provide the opportunity for a greater explanation and discussion of the Dashboard Reports methodology now used by IFAC. In addition, the event will be a key opportunity to share experiences, both successes and challenges, and identify opportunities for regional collaboration.

The event also supports the IFAC Member Compliance Program’s strategic objective of collaboration and seeks to help IFAC and the Compliance Advisory Panel more fully understand the challenges some jurisdictions face in adopting or implementing some of the SMOs.

Nominations for the IFAC International Gold Service (IGS) award are now open. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding leaders for their contributions to the accountancy profession on the global level. These contributions should be unique, innovative, and recognized worldwide—beyond national professional accountancy organizations and IFAC.

Past recipients include Ian Ball in 2014, recognized for his many contributions to the global accountancy profession and his groundbreaking work in public sector accounting and transparency, as well as Professor Mervyn King in 2012, and Sir David Tweedie and Professor Stephen Zeff in 2011.

Please email a CV and letter of support, stating why the individual’s contributions to the global profession are worthy of recognition, to Anna Lee (AnnaLee@ifac.org) by March 15, 2016. The letter of support should be signed by the president and/or chief executive (or equivalents) of the nominating organization. IFAC members, associates, and affiliates may nominate candidates.

If awarded, the IGS Award will be presented at the annual Council meeting in Brazil in November 2016.