Back

Preparing for high-quality sustainability assurance engagements

Preparing for high-quality sustainability assurance engagements

In-person event co-organised between Accountancy Europe and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

Watch the recordings

Welcome and introduction

Olivier Boutellis-Taft, CEO, Accountancy Europe

Keynote speeches

Rogier Wezenbeek, DG FISMA, European Commission
Tom Seidenstein, Chair, IAASB
David Madon, Director, Sustainability, Policy & Regulatory Affairs, IFAC
Isabelle Tracq-Sengeissen, Member, IAASB and Task Force sustainability assurance standards, IAASB

Panel discussion

Moderator: Isabelle Tracq-Sengeissen, Member, IAASB and Task Force sustainability assurance standards, IAASB;
Wim Bartels, Chair, Sustainability Policy Group, Accountancy Europe;
Jose María Hinojal, Member of the Assurance Expert Group, EFAA for SMEs;
Marc Boissonnet, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Bureau Veritas;
Patrick Parent, Chair, CEAOB

Fireside chat

Moderator: Olivier Boutellis-Taft, CEO, Accountancy Europe;
Tanja Castor, Sustainability Strategy, Head of Sustainability Reporting & Controlling Committee, BASF;
Ben Corris, Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Models, Schroders

Closing remarks

Olivier Boutellis-Taft, CEO, Accountancy Europe

About this event

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) mandates that businesses seek assurance on their sustainability reporting and empowers the European Commission (EC) to adopt assurance standards. The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) currently has a public consultation open on its recently proposed sustainability assurance standard. The EU could be the first jurisdiction to embed the IAASB’s proposed new standard—International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000—into its regulatory framework, as a response to new EU requirements.

Accountancy Europe and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) will bring a diverse range of stakeholders together to discuss the regulatory, policy and standard-setting path toward high-quality sustainability assurance and the main matters covered within the IAASB’s proposed standard.

Register now and join us to prepare for high-quality sustainability assurance with the IAASB, the EC, the Committee of European Audit Oversight Bodies (CEAOB), assurance service providers, investors and business community.

Our networking cocktail starts after the event, from 17:00 to 18:00 CEST.

Speakers (scroll down for programme):

  • Sven Gentner, Head of Unit, DG FISMA, European Commission
  • Olivier Boutellis-Taft, CEO, Accountancy Europe
  • Tom Seidenstein, Chair, IAASB
  • Patrick Parent, Chair, CEAOB
  • Isabelle Tracq-Sengeissen, Member, IAASB and Task Force sustainability assurance standards, IAASB
  • David Madon, Director, Sustainability, Policy & Regulatory Affairs, IFAC
  • Wim Bartels, Chair, Sustainability Policy Group, Accountancy Europe
  • Tanja Castor, Sustainability Strategy, Head of Sustainability Reporting & Controlling Committee, BASF
  • Marc Boissonnet, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Bureau Veritas
  • Jose María Hinojal, Member of the Assurance Expert Group, European Federation of Accountants and Auditors (EFAA) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
  • Ben Corris, Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Models, Schroders

Programme

  • 14:00 - 14:05

    Welcome and introduction

    Olivier Boutellis-Taft, Accountancy Europe

  • 14:05 - 14:15

    Keynote: CSRD implications for sustainability assurance

    Sven Gentner, European Commission

  • 14:15 - 14:30

    Keynote: Proposed ISSA 5000

    Tom Seidenstein, IAASB

  • 14:30 - 14:45

    State of play in sustainability assurance – Global benchmarking study

    David Madon, IFAC

  • 14:45 - 15:10

    Coffee break

  • 15:10 - 15:25

    Deep dive: ISSA 5000 key matters

    Isabelle Tracq-Sengeissen, IAASB

  • 15:25 - 16:25

    Assurance standards: Are they fit for purpose?

    Moderator: Isabelle Tracq-Sengeissen, IAASB
    Wim Bartels, Accountancy Europe
    Jose María Hinojal, EFAA for SMEs
    Marc Boissonnet, Bureau Veritas
    Patrick Parent, CEAOB

  • 16:25 - 16:55

    Fireside chat: issuers and investors’ expectations of sustainability assurance

    Moderator: Olivier Boutellis-Taft, Accountancy Europe
    Tanja Castor, BASF
    Ben Corris, Schroders

  • 16:55 - 17:00

    Closing remarks

    Olivier Boutellis-Taft, Accountancy Europe

  • 17:00 - 18:00

    Networking cocktail