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21st annual ifrs masterclass

IFRS MasterClass 2026

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26 February 2026  |  VIRTUAL EVENT

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Master the complexities of global financial reporting standards​

The online conference is designed to empower finance professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate IFRS challenges in financial reporting, ensuring compliance and transparency in reporting practices.

Please note: This conference is a virtual event.

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What you will gain

This unique platform offers a comprehensive learning experience that will empower you to make informed decisions and achieve compliance with confidence.

  • Stay ahead of the curve: Get the latest developments within IFRS regulations. 
  • Real-world application: Hear expert observations on how IFRS standards are impacting the New Zealand economy.
  • Actionable insights: Gain practical knowledge from in-depth case studies.

Key themes

1

IFRS Updates & Global Impact

Stay informed on IFRS changes and their global influence.

2

Communication Strategies

Learn to effectively communicate financial information to non-financial audiences

3

Financial
Innovation

Explore the impact of AI and embedded finance on business models.

4

Emerging
Issues

Understand and address rising topics like climate disclosures and AI ethics in finance.

5

Financial Reporting Compliance

Master compliance with comprehensive strategies and avoid potential consequences.

6

NZ Economic & Regulatory Environment

Plan for NZ’s economic future and navigate its evolving financial regulations.

Agenda

8:45

Virtual platform opens

9:00

Welcoming remarks from the Chair

Richard Smyth, Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary, Steel & Tube

9:10

The future of IFRS Standards: navigating global consistency in an uncertain world

  • Reviewing the role of IFRS Standards in strengthening global financial stability amidst economic volatility, geopolitical shifts, and technological disruption

  • Understanding the evolving priorities of the IASB and ISSB for 2026 and beyond. How standards respond to uncertainty in global markets

  • Exploring how IFRS Standards can remain relevant as business models, supply chains, and financial systems transform in unpredictable ways

  • How IFRS Standards support sustainable, inclusive, and transparent economies while balancing the need for flexibility in an era of rapid change

Dr Alan Teixeira, Global Director of IFRS Research, Deloitte

9:50

Global consistency vs. local flexibility in IFRS Standards adoption

  • Exploring the original vision of IFRS accounting standards as a single global accounting language for comparability across markets and now extended to IFRS sustainability standards

  • Analysing how local jurisdictions, including New Zealand, adapt IFRS accounting and sustainability standards to reflect unique economic, legal, and cultural contexts

  • Considering the role of the IASB and ISSB as standard setters, and regulators in maintaining alignment while respecting jurisdictional differences

  • Identifying practical strategies for CFOs, auditors, and regulators to manage this balance in practice, ensuring both global credibility and local relevance

David Pacey, Partner, Grant Thornton

10:30

Morning break

11:00

IFRS 18 - Transition of Financial Reporting

  • Exploring the transition to IFRS 18 (Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements)

  • Aligning financial statement presentation with user expectations

  • Lessons from early adopters in Australasia

Rosalea Paterson, Partner , Deloitte

Matthew Strickett, Director, Audit & Assurance, Deloitte

11:40

Case study: IFRS 17 insurance contracts - lessons from implementation

  • Reviewing global progress on IFRS 17 compliance

  • Key implementation challenges for insurers in New Zealand

  • Improving systems, actuarial models, and disclosures

  • Post-implementation assurance and audit considerations

Brendan Counsell, Partner, Financial Services, EY

12:20

Lunch

13:20

Integrating sustainability into corporate reporting and building trust in sustainability disclosures

  • Reviewing the role of the ISSB in establishing a global baseline for sustainability disclosures through IFRS S1 (General Requirements) and IFRS S2 (Climate-related Disclosures)

  • Exploring information on  sustainability-related risks and opportunities  connects with financial statements  ensuring consistency, comparability, timeliness and understandability

  • Addressing uncertainty and complexity in various areas such as data collection challenges, climate-related scenario analysis, and forward-looking assumptions

  • Understanding investor expectations around sustainability  reporting in New Zealand and how this links to capital allocation decisions

  • Balancing compliance with the opportunity to use sustainability reporting as a driver of long-term value creation and resilience

Dr Caroline Bridges, Consultant, Caroline Bridges Consulting

14:00

Case Study: Technology and data challenges in sustainability reporting

  • Exploring the practical complexities of collecting reliable sustainability data across New Zealand’s diverse operations and supply chains

  • Addressing real-world challenges in integrating financial and non-financial systems for sustainability reporting

  • Tackling data gaps, inconsistencies, and verification issues to ensure disclosures remain decision-useful for investors and regulators

  • Examining case studies from New Zealand organisations, particularly in agriculture, infrastructure, and financial services to highlight lessons learned and successful approaches

  • Reviewing evidence on current practices, costs, and outcomes in sustainability data managemen

  • Considering immediate opportunities to strengthen transparency, comparability, and stakeholder confidence through better processes and governance

Pip Best, Partner, Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader, EY

14:40

Digital Innovation: AI, finance transformation, and the future of IFRS Standards reporting

  • Exploring AI, automation, and advanced analytics are reshaping financial control and reporting

  • Opportunities and risks of adopting cutting-edge technologies in regulated environments

  • Preparing finance teams for the next wave of digital transformation

  • Considering how NZ companies can balance innovation with accountability, ensuring compliance while future-proofing reporting systems

Ivan Wells, Manager Financial Control, Suncorp New Zealand

15:20

Afternoon break

15:40

Effective communication strategies to engage with non-financial stakeholders

  • Tailoring financial information for non-financial stakeholders

  • Simplifying complex financial concepts without losing essential detail

  • Using storytelling techniques to make financial data more relatable and impactful

  • Addressing common misunderstandings around financial information

  • Leveraging visual aids and other communication tools to enhance understanding and engagement

Jay Patel, Head of Finance , Fidelity Life Assurance

16:20

Summary remarks from the Chair & end of conference

Richard Smyth, Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary, Steel & Tube

Speakers

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Richard Smyth

Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary
Steel & Tube
Since joining Steel & Tube in April 2021, I have held the roles of Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary. As a business leader informed by a philosophy that a business is nothing more than a group of people working together for a common goal, I am passionate about identifying and developing high performers within my team by encouraging each individual to focus on their strengths and consistently ask questions. The way in which Steel & Tubers enjoy working together is deeply motivating. I have had the opportunity to visit Steel & Tube sites across New Zealand and this is certainly the common thread.  I am also a member of the New Zealand Accounting Standards Board, a sub board of the External Reporting Board. This allows me to keep up to date with technical accounting best practice. As a group, we also have great debates and I really enjoy being a part of that community.  Prior to joining Steel & Tube, I held the position of Manager – Group Accounting and later Deputy Chief Financial Officer at SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited. The latter role focused on external financial reporting, group taxation and treasury reporting.

Dr Alan Teixeira

Global Director of IFRS Research
Deloitte
Dr Alan Teixeira is Deloitte’s Global Director of IFRS Research. Alan leads a new Deloitte initiative to help the firm and its clients better understand IFRSs, their development and implementation by companies worldwide. Alan is a leading technical expert in the development of global accounting standards with over ten years of experience with the IASB, most recently as its Senior Technical Director. He has also contributed to the development of the integrated reporting framework and electronic filing requirements and is the author of several books on financial reporting.

Jay Patel

Head of Finance
Fidelity Life Assurance

Jay Patel is a senior finance leader with broad experience in reporting, taxation, leadership, and transformation across roles in New Zealand and the UK. He heads the Finance team at Fidelity Life, leading 15 staff across four functions. A champion of agile thinking, Jay has driven major improvements, including reducing monthly reporting from 15+ to 4 days. His team was named Fidelity Life’s Team of the Year and was a finalist at the 2020 NZ CFO Awards.

Dr Caroline Bridges

Consultant
Caroline Bridges Consulting
Caroline was a Technical Director at the IFRS Foundation for three years, overseeing the Integrated Reporting and Sustainability Council (IRCC) and serving as the International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB) academic liaison. She previously held a technical role at the IIRC (advisory body to the IFRS Foundation) and was a financial accounting and sustainability lecturer at the University of Auckland for 20 years, with a research interest in integrated reporting.

David Pacey

Partner
Grant Thornton

Pip Best

Partner, Climate Change and Sustainability Services
Ernst & Young, New Zealand
Pip has worked with both the public and private sector in understanding the impacts of climate change and other sustainability issues such as emissions trading, green bonds, sustainable finance, impact, as well as outcomes measurement.  She has assisted in the development of sustainable financial products across the Asia Pacific region, and has worked in New Zealand, Australia and the UK within capital markets and sustainability roles.

Brendan Counsell

Ernst & Young
Partner, Financial Services
Brendan leads EY Oceania’s actuarial practice and is based in Sydney. He has advised a wide range of insurers on implementation of IFRS 17 and business management in an IFRS 17 context. He is actively involved in local and global working groups including the Australian Actuaries Institute and International Actuarial Association.

David Phillips

Director - Assurance & Advisory
Deloitte

Matthew Strickett

Director, Audit & Assurance
Deloitte
Matt is a Director at Deloitte within the Accounting and Reporting Advisory Team, where he partners with CFO’s and Finance functions to enhance finance operations and leverage technology to drive transformation. He has lead a wide range of projects, and supported clients with various complex issues and problems.

Ivan Wells

Manager Financial Control
Suncorp New Zealand
Ivan Wells is currently a Manager Financial Control at Suncorp New Zealand. A Certified Practising Accountant (CPA Australia), he has over a decade of experience leading finance transformation, reporting, and compliance across major banks and insurers. Ivan has played a pivotal role in IFRS17 adoption, delivering first full-year audited financials under the new standard at Suncorp. His career spans senior leadership roles at Westpac and BNZ, where he drove IFRS implementations, finance systems change, and enterprise data governance. Ivan brings deep expertise in financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and organisational change, with a proven track record of guiding teams through complex transitions.

Sponsors

Sponsors to be announced

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Want to join this virtual conference?

PRE SALE

$ 790 +gst
  • For valid ticket, payment by 31 October, 2025.

Multi Buy 3+ tickets

$ 700 +gst
  • Must be from same organisation and book at the same time. For valid tickets, payment by 26 February, 2026.

Individual Tickets

Super Saver

$1450
$ 1090 +gst
  • For valid ticket, payment by 19 December, 2025.

Early Bird

$1450
$ 1350 +gst
  • For valid ticket, payment by 30 January, 2026.

Last Minute

$ 1450 +gst
  • For valid ticket, payment by 26 February, 2026.
Registration Conditions

Ticket Terms
All prices are in New Zealand dollars ($NZD)
A surcharge of 2.5% + GST applies to credit card payments on top of the total amount.
Pre-Sale Tickets are valid only for the specific event for which they were purchased and cannot be transferred to other events. To remain valid, Super Saver and Early Bird tickets must be paid by date quoted.
Group ticket options are valid for registrations from the same organisation, booked at the same time.
By selecting any special pricing offer for classes of organisation, sector, or individuals or using any promotion code, you are asserting to the organiser your right to claim any such pricing offer, and acknowledge the organiser’s right to audit such claim and, if in the opinion of the organiser using its sole discretion the conditions for special pricing are not met, reject any registration.

For full terms & conditions, please visit https://www.brightstar.co.nz/terms-and-conditions

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