Ms. Akiko has been the Technical Director of the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA) since 2024. She previously worked for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in Japan.

Yigga Zhang, CPA, joined the IFAC Young Leaders Collective in 2026. She is a Senior Manager in the Office of the CEO at Caseware International, where she leads enterprise-wide strategic initiatives from the Toronto, Canada headquarters. She began her career at McKinsey & Company and completed her CPA while working in Caseware’s R&D organization, giving her unique insight into how technology and AI are reshaping the profession globally. With a Master of Accounting from the University of Waterloo, Yigga is deeply committed to inclusion and mentorship and looks forward to championing a more international, innovative, and future-ready accounting profession.

Zhiwei Xu joined the IFAC Young Leaders Collective in 2026. He is a final-year undergraduate student majoring in Accounting at Hunan University of Technology in China. He was awarded the Champion and Best Individual Award of Changsha Final in ACCA Job Hunting Competition 2025, where he demonstrated exceptional strategic and financial modeling skills. Passionate about social volunteering, Xu has led multiple rural education initiatives, delivering digital literacy and English programs in underserved communities. He is committed to advancing ethical accounting practices and sustainable development through youth leadership.

Nipun Alwis joined the IFAC Young Leaders Collective in 2026. He has over 10 years of experience in both Australia and Sri Lanka across investment, fund management, risk management, and internal and external auditing. He is currently working as an Audit Officer for the Northern Territory Government, Australia. He has completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA – UK), Certified Practising Accountant (CPA – Australia), and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA – Australia). Through IFAC, he hopes to explore ways to modernize audit and risk frameworks, promote transparency, and better attract young talent to the profession.

Matheus Zurli joined the IFAC Young Leaders Collective in 2026. He is an accountant with an MBA in Finance and Controllership from the University of São Paulo and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Federal University Fluminense. He has progressed from a trainee to an Audit Manager at EY – Ernst & Young, specializing in external auditing, project management, and financial analysis across various sectors, including Automotive and Retail. 

Sawan Shah became a member of the IFAC Young Leaders Collective in 2026. He is an Audit Quality Improvement Manager at Baker Tilly International with extensive experience in audit quality reviews, regulatory compliance, and professional standards. He began his career in audit before moving into quality reviews, thematic reviews, and the implementation of ISQM 1 and 2 across Baker Tilly’s global network. Through his role, Sawan has supported firms across all regions in strengthening compliance with ISAs and enhancing their overall audit quality. His work has contributed to meaningful quality improvement initiatives worldwide.

Nifemi Ogunbiyi joined the IFAC Young Leaders Collective in 2026. She is a Chartered Accountant with a background in biochemistry. She trained at PwC, earning top 4 placements in her ACA exams before becoming a financial accountant at Fenergo, an Irish fintech firm. In 2025, she was named Rising Star Accountant of the Year at the Irish Accountancy Awards, recognizing her impact within and beyond the profession as a mentor to aspiring accountants and a champion for education and representation.

Sandile Nkala joined the IFAC Young Leaders Collective in 2026. She is an Audit Supervisor at KPMG Lower Gulf with five years of experience in the accounting profession. She is a part-qualified ICAEW ACA accountant and currently serves as Chair of the ICAEW Middle East Student Committee. Sandile holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Curtin University, where she graduated as Valedictorian. Her experience spans external audit, financial reporting, and client service across various industries. 

Sanuvi Mudannayaka joined the IFAC Young Leaders Collective in 2026. She is a triple-qualified Chartered Accountant, holding memberships with ACCA (UK), CIMA (UK), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, and became chartered at the age of 21. She is a corporate finance leader currently serving as Head of Finance at a leading group of companies, where she drives financial strategy, governance, and operational excellence. She holds a BSc in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University (UK) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Economic Development from the University of Colombo, and is currently pursuing an MPhil in Business Economics at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

In addition to her corporate career, Sanuvi is a bilingual media personality and presenter on TV Derana (SL) and Ada Derana (SL), with experience hosting national television programs and high-profile corporate events.