The Fast Future With IFAC is a conversational podcast series that features innovative SMPs sharing how they’re adapting to the rapidly changing global economy.

Episode one features an interview with Amela Kmetas, a member of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). Her small firm in Melbourne, Australia specializes in taxation advice, management accounting, budgeting, and bookkeeping.

Our host, IFAC principal Kristy Illuzzi, spoke with Amela about many pressing issues facing the SMPs, including:

• The impact of technological advances on the firm’s business model
• The firm’s experience with cybersecurity
• Covid-19’s effect on the firm, its clients, and its employees
• Advisory services
• Recruiting and hiring

Visit IFAC's iTunes podcast channel or click below to listen to this episode of The Fast Future With IFAC.

Stay tuned for our next conversation with an innovative practitioner, coming in March.

(Back to the Fast Future With IFAC homepage.)

To mark this year’s International Women's Day (IWD), we have invited two empowering leaders and diversity champions:

Joanna Spencer is a senior manager at the IPSASB and is responsible for the development of accounting standards for the public sector as well as working on other technical projects. Joanna is currently working on several projects including developing an IPSAS for Retirement Benefit Plans. Other projects include Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations, and Property, Plant and Equipment. Joanna is also part of the IPSASB Social media team.

Prior to joining the IPSASB, Joanna was a project manager with the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB), where she worked on various projects including Revenue, and Reporting Service Performance Information. Joanna was also the technical advisor to the Australian IPSASB member. Whilst at the AASB, Joanna was seconded to the UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC) as a project director. During her three years at the FRC, Joanna developed the public benefit entity/not-for-profit requirements for FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard for the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Joanna also has experience in the mining, and advertising industries.

Ms. Spencer holds a First-Class Honours Bachelor of Commerce with majors in Accounting and Marketing from the University of Tasmania (Australia). She is also a member of CPA Australia.

Carl Peterson is Vice President of Small Firms at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. In this role, he serves as the small firm advocate and representative for the profession. In this capacity, he meets with firms regularly to understand their issues and represent these firms from an advocacy and firm development perspective. Peterson serves as the voice of small firms within the AICPA on standard-setting, regulatory and small business issues. He is responsible for ensuring AICPA initiatives continue to meet the needs of small firms. Carl has been identified as one of the Top 100 Influential People in Accounting by Accounting Today, 2014 thru 2021. Carl is also a technical advisor on the International Federation of Accountants Small Medium Practice Advisory Group.