Today I’m sharing with you something a little bit different. I was asked to give a keynote speech as part of the ACCA Virtual Conference 2021 conference ACCA Virtual Conference 2021 Reshaping Finance: Digitally Enabled, Sustainability-Focused. The speech was entitled: 6 Steps to Transform to a Digitally-Enabled and Sustainability-Focused Accountancy Services Firm.

 

The topic was something they asked me to talk to, as it was in line with the theme of the conference. The keynote led into a panel discussion with five experts. Typically, I moderate sessions, so it was a bit daunting talking for twenty minutes, and then leading into the panel session. It was extremely gratifying, and relieving that during the 90 minutes panel session, each of the panelists referenced a part of my talk in their responses. I’d successfully delivered a keynote, that formed a foundation for, and warmed up everyone for the panel discussion to follow.

 

If you find yourself giving a speech after someone else, it helps with the continuity of the conference, and the connection to the audience, if you can weave an element of what they said into  what you are sharing.

 

To get you in the mood I will read to you the synopsis of the conference: A renewed optimism about the future, post-COVID-19, is establishing itself – led by the growth of the Digital Economy. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has introduced several ground-breaking initiatives to promote Green Finance. There have also been significant developments in AI and intelligent automation; and the launch of 5G networks in Singapore, that will further transform the way finance functions operate in future. While these are primarily Singapore examples, they can serve to showcase trends and best practice in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

This Conference is guided by three themes: Shaping a Green & Sustainable Future, Shaping an Ecosystem for Innovation, and Shaping the Future of Your Firm. This keynote was a part of the third track. It will open with a strategic plenary session to set the common dynamic context, before being followed by three interactive tracks to provide you with targeted knowledge on specific areas of developments relevant to you, to enable you to respond to these evolving but dramatic changes to the economy.

 

And finally, I’ve chosen not to heavily edit it, so you will hear some references to the conference at the start and at the very end, but I do not think it detracts from what I’m sharing. I hope you enjoy it.

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