Centres of Excellence

CPA Australia Centres of Excellence are specialist advisory groups that provide expert advice and input to our policy, advocacy, standards and thought leadership activities.

Applications are open to experienced professionals with recognised expertise in the relevant discipline. CPA Australia membership is preferred but not essential.

Members contribute technical expertise, review policy positions, assist in consultations, support research projects and help identify emerging issues affecting the profession.

We have seven Centres of Excellence covering:

• Audit and assurance
• Digital transformation
• Environment, social and governance
• Ethics and professional standards
• Financial reporting
• Retirement savings
• Taxation

The time commitment for Centre of Excellence members is around 50 to 70 hours over a year depending on the Centre of Excellence and the agreed meeting schedule.

CPA Australia’s Policy and Advocacy team selects Centre of Excellence members based on experience, expert domain knowledge, ability to actively contribute and organisational requirements.

Each Centre of Excellence generally has up to 10 members.

Members are selected for a two-year term and are able to reapply for consecutive terms up to six years.

Members will receive 10 hours of verified CPD each year for participation in a Centre of Excellence. This will need to be manually entered into your CPA Australia CPD Diary.

Commencing 2027 following separation of Reporting and Assurance Centre of Excellence

Strengthening trust and confidence in audit, assurance and corporate reporting.

Reliable audit and assurance are essential to trust and confidence in financial and non-financial reporting. The Audit and Assurance Centre of Excellence examines the evolving role of auditors and assurance practitioners in an environment of growing stakeholder expectations, regulatory and technological changes and expanding reporting obligations. Members help shape CPA Australia's policy, advocacy, standard-setting and thought leadership on audit quality, sustainability assurance, emerging assurance services, technology-enabled audit and the future capability of the profession in Australia and internationally.

What we're working on

• Audit quality, professional scepticism and public trust in audit and assurance
• Implementation and interpretation of auditing and assurance standards
• Sustainability assurance and assurance over non-financial information
• Technology-enabled audit, data analytics and responsible use of AI in assurance
• Regulatory reform affecting audit firms, auditors and assurance providers
• Proportionate and scalable approaches for small and medium-sized practices and entities
• Fraud risk, internal controls and auditor’s responsibilities
• Future assurance services, skills and evolving stakeholder expectations
• International standard-setting and regulatory development affecting the profession

Examples of recent activities

Our members

Members include audit and assurance practitioners from small, medium and large firms, academics, public sector leaders, sustainability assurance specialists, corporate reporting experts, and regulatory specialists. Together they bring experience across listed companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, government, not-for-profit organisations, academia and professional services.

This deep knowledge and diversity of experience strengthen CPA Australia’s ability to respond to audit and assurance issues with practical, technically sound and globally informed perspectives.

• Sagar Adhau, CPA 
• Nives Botica Redmayne
• Enrico De Santi, FCPA 
• Liz Giust, FCPA 
• Zaryab Hyder 
• Len Jui, FCPA 
• Gabriel Teo, FCPA
  

Helping the profession navigate the AI era.

Artificial intelligence, automation and emerging technologies are transforming the way accountants and finance professionals work. The Digital Transformation Centre of Excellence helps CPA Australia understand the opportunities, risks and practical implications of technological change, informing thought leadership, policy development and resources that support members through digital transformation.

What we're working on

• Artificial intelligence and automation in accounting and finance
• Digital transformation of finance functions and business operations
• Cybersecurity, digital risk and resilience
• Data analytics, business intelligence and decision-making
• Emerging technologies and innovation
• Digital skills and workforce capability
• Technology governance, ethics and responsible AI adoption

Our members

Members bring expertise from finance, technology, business transformation, cybersecurity, academia and executive leadership. The group includes leaders who have driven enterprise-wide transformation programs, implemented emerging technologies and helped organisations navigate the opportunities and challenges created by artificial intelligence, automation and digital innovation.

• Guy Ioppolo, FCPA, Chair 
• Rosalie Adriano, FCPA 
• Annette Del Pra, FCPA 
• Yulia Didenko, CPA 
• Jannat Maqbool, CPA
• Annie Ryan, FCPA 
• Dimitrios Salampasis 
• Tyler Wise, FCPA

Supporting a sustainable and resilient economy.

Sustainability is increasingly becoming a core business, reporting and governance issue. The Environmental, Social and Governance Centre of Excellence explores the policies, standards and business practices shaping the transition to a more sustainable economy. Members provide insight on sustainability reporting, climate-related disclosures, governance and emerging ESG regulation affecting organisations across sectors.

What we're working on

• Sustainability reporting and climate-related disclosures
• Implementation of international sustainability standards
• Governance and accountability in a changing regulatory environment
• Responsible business practices and stakeholder expectations
• Climate risk, resilience and transition planning
• Integrated reporting and the connection between financial and non-financial reporting
• Emerging ESG regulatory developments and policy reform

Our members

Members represent a diverse mix of sustainability practitioners, academics, finance professionals, governance specialists and leaders from the corporate, not-for-profit and public sectors. Their experience spans sustainability reporting, climate-related disclosure, social impact, governance, responsible business practices and emerging ESG regulation in Australia and internationally.

• Tim Timchur, FCPA, Chair
• Maria Balatbat, FCPA 
• Robyn Erskine, FCPA 
• Nikole Gyles, FCPA
• Cissy Ma, FCPA 
• Biju Philip, FCPA 
• Carman Wilson, CPA 

Maintaining trust in the profession.

Integrity and trust are the foundation of the accounting profession. The Ethics and Professional Standards Centre of Excellence examines the ethical and professional  challenges facing accountants in a rapidly changing environment. Members contribute expertise that helps strengthen professional standards, support sound judgement and reinforce confidence in the profession's role in serving the public interest.

What we're working on

• Ethical leadership and professional conduct
• Application and evolution of the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants
• Governance, accountability and organisational culture
• Ethics challenges arising from technology and AI
• Professional judgement in complex, evolving and uncertain environments
• Public trust and confidence in accountants and advisers

Our members

Members bring experience across accounting professional ethics, governance, leadership, public practice and financial management. The group includes professionals who have contributed to ethics education programs, contributed to professional standards development, presented on ethics and governance issues and helped organisations navigate complex professional and ethical challenges.

• Wayne Stokes, FCPA, Chair
• Sylvia Ashley CPA
• Tanuja Bissa CPA
• Anju De Alwis FCPA
• Shanna Hunter FCPA
• Ralph Khoury FCPA
• Paul Nelson CPA
• Alex Ooi Thiam Poh FCPA
• Kimberly Singh FCPA
• Matthew Zappulla

Commencing 2027 following separation of Reporting and Assurance Centre of Excellence

Improving how organisations communicate value.

High-quality financial reporting supports informed decision-making, investment, market and economic confidence. The Financial Reporting Centre of Excellence brings together CPA Australia members and other experienced leaders, including preparers, practitioners, technical specialists and academics, to provide insight into accounting standards, corporate and other sector reporting trends and emerging disclosure challenges. Through this expert advisory forum, members help CPA Australia identify current and emerging issues, respond to consultations and standard-setting developments, contribute to professional resources, and advance thought leadership on decision-useful, transparent and comparable reporting. The Centre’s work spans financial reporting and related disclosures across the corporate, public and not-for-profit sectors, helping CPA Australia respond to developments that are reshaping how organisations measure, report and communicate performance and value.

What we're working on

• Implementation and application of accounting standards
• Corporate reporting trends and emerging reporting challenges
• Financial reporting and connectivity with sustainability reporting
• Digital reporting and technology-enabled disclosures
• Reporting of intangible assets, business value and non-financial factors
• Regulatory and standard-setting developments
• Financial reporting issues affecting private enterprise, listed entities, the public sector and the not-for-profit sector

Our members

Members include accounting standard-setters, technical accounting specialists, auditors, academics, regulators and finance leaders from the private and public sectors. Their expertise spans financial reporting, corporate disclosure, sustainability reporting, public sector reporting, accounting research and international standard-setting, providing a uniquely broad perspective on the future of reporting.

• Michelle Harrison, FCPA, Chair 
• Michael Davern, FCPA 
• Nikole Gyles, FCPA 
• Kirsten Hengen
• Neha Juneja, CPA 
• Eric Lee, CPA 
• Kerry Phillips, FCPA 

Shaping the future of retirement.

Retirement income systems around the world face increasing scrutiny as demographic, economic and policy pressures reshape the future of retirement. The Retirement Savings Centre of Excellence brings together experts from across the superannuation and retirement sector to inform policy discussions, examine emerging challenges and contribute thought leadership on retirement adequacy, consumer outcomes and system sustainability.

What we're working on

• Superannuation and retirement income policy
• Retirement adequacy and financial wellbeing
• Governance and regulation of retirement savings systems
• Self-managed superannuation funds and emerging issues
• Retirement income products and decumulation strategies
• Financial advice and consumer outcomes
• Demographic, economic and policy trends shaping retirement

Our members

Members work across major parts of the retirement savings ecosystem, including industry, retail and corporate superannuation funds, financial advice, SMSFs, fund administration, auditing, governance and policy. This diversity of experience enables the group to provide practical insights into the retirement income system, consumer outcomes and the policy settings that shape Australians' financial futures.

• Nicole Oborne FCPA, Chair 
• Robert Alder FCPA
• Leon Jennings CPA
• Lou Krstevski FCPA
• Shaun La Motte CPA
• Chris Malkin FCPA
• Brett Marsh CPA
• Hayley Pope
• Timothy Roach FCPA
• Keith Wells-Jansz FCPA

Influencing the future of tax.

A well-designed tax system is critical to economic growth, investment and community confidence. The Taxation Centre of Excellence helps shape CPA Australia's advocacy on tax policy, tax administration and the regulation of tax practitioners. Members contribute practical expertise and frontline insights on tax reform, compliance, emerging risks and the issues affecting taxpayers, businesses and advisers.

What we're working on

• Tax reform and the future of Australia's tax system
• Tax administration and taxpayer experience
• Regulation and professionalism of tax practitioners
• Direct, indirect and international taxation developments
• Digitalisation of the tax system and AI in tax practice
• Improving tax policy design and simplifying compliance
• Emerging tax challenges affecting business, individuals and the profession

Our members

Members include tax practitioners, lawyers, academics, partners and senior advisers from firms ranging from specialist practices through to major national and international professional services organisations. Collectively they bring expertise across tax policy, tax administration, direct and indirect taxation, international tax, tax controversy, SME taxation and tax practitioner regulation, helping ensure CPA Australia's advocacy reflects a wide range of practical and technical perspectives.

• Alexis Kokkinos FCPA, Chair
• Christina Allen CPA
• Megan Bishop
• Cameron Blackwood
• Catherine Dean
• Emma Fabbro FCPA
• Jacqueline Hardwick
• Simon How FCPA
• Joseph Meoli
• Sean Neary CPA
• Liam Telford