the IESBA held four global roundtables to obtain input that will help shape the development of new ethics and independence standards for sustainability reporting and assurance.
The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) is saddened by the untimely passing of Brian Friedrich, a long-term board member, and friend to many.
Born and raised in Western Canada, Brian was a significant contributor to the IESBA’s work, including leading several initiatives and global outreach. He had an infectious energy in promoting the importance of education and ethics for professionals worldwide. Committed to inclusive and collaborative discourse, he always challenged colleagues to think about issues in fresh and innovative ways, especially in his role as Chair of the Technology Working Group.
He lived life – both personally and professionally – on his own terms, always pushing boundaries and questioning arbitrary conventions. His commitment to ethics and the public interest was unwavering, and his perceptive nature and intelligence played a significant part in promoting IESBA’s mission and elevating the role of ethics in the global accountancy profession.
Above all, Brian was a trusted friend to his fellow Board members and IESBA Staff, who will all miss him greatly. His warm personality and friendship will stay with his colleagues and friends, and his passion will continue to inspire.
The thoughts and condolences of the IESBA community are with Brian's wife and professional partner, Laura, and their family during this difficult time.
A celebratory memorial for Brian is being arranged. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or your local Heart and Stroke Foundation.
The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants and the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board applaud the recent announcement by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) that final decisions for all technical content related to ISSB's inaugural sustainability standards have been made and that the ISSB is entering the final stages of the standards development process ahead of an expected issuance at the end of Q2 2023.
We echo the recent statement of support from the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and appreciate IOSCO's encouragement for our boards’ work to develop standards by the end of 2024. The IOSCO statement is a timely reminder that providing the necessary assurance and ethics standards is essential to complete the sustainability reporting and assurance standards infrastructure. We will continue to work closely with all parties as we develop our sustainability standards, which we will discuss at our respective March meetings.
