Working through Collaborations to Facilitate Change in Accounting Education

When: December 9, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EST (note that the time has been decided based on the speaker’s geographic locations).

In this session, Irene Wiecek (FCPA and Professor Emerita, University of Toronto) will share her experiences in leading and effecting change through collaborations with CAAA, CPA Competency Map (CM2.0) Task Force, International Federation of Accountants (International Panel on Accountancy Education), Climate Risk Institute, the IMI BIGDataAIHUB and in her role as Canadian co-author on an Intermediate Accounting text book.

In this session, Irene Wiecek (FCPA and Professor Emerita, University of Toronto) will share her experiences in leading and effecting change through collaborations with CAAA, CPA Competency Map (CM2.0) Task Force, International Federation of Accountants (International Panel on Accountancy Education), Climate Risk Institute, the IMI BIGDataAIHUB and in her role as Canadian co-author on an Intermediate Accounting text book.

This event will be moderated by AFI Event Coordinator and Outreach Leanne Keddie.

Register HERE (free and open to everyone

Past events

Double Materiality in Action: Advancing Sustainability Disclosure in the Aviation Sector

Access the recording HERE

When: September 24, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EST 

Drawing on decades of experience shaping sustainability disclosure at global leaders such as Nestlé and 3M, and his work with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Amr ElAlfy  reflected on how these lessons inform his current applied research agenda with Flair Airlines through his role as the Associate Director of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA). He shared insights on translating corporate sustainability frameworks into actionable, aviation-specific practices through a double materiality lens, a principle he views as the starting point for meaningful disclosure. Dr. ElAlfy also presented updates from his SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant with Flair Airlines, exploring the challenges of sustainability disclosure in the highly energy-intensive aviation sector as it aims to achieve net-zero targets. The talk highlighted both the opportunities and tensions that emerge when aligning global reporting mandates with sector-specific realities, offering practical pathways for industry and policymakers alike.

This event was moderated by AFI Co-Founder Erica Pimentel.

Weaving Indigenous Approaches: From Research to the Classrooms

When: June 25th at 4 pm to 5 pm EST

Access the recording HERE

This was a thought-provoking discussion on the theme of weaving Indigenous knowledges into organizational sciences. The session featured leading scholars who are integrating Indigenous approaches into organizational science and practices, including in alphabetical order: Pr. Stephen Cummings, Professor of Strategy at Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Innovation and Co-Director of The Atom (Te Kahu o Te Ao); Pr. Michelle Evans, Associate Professor in Leadership at the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Melbourne and Director of The Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership; Pr. Ana Maria Peredo, Canada Research Chair in Social and Inclusive Entrepreneurship at Telfer University of Ottawa; Pr. Jesse Pirini, Senior Lecturer in Management at Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

The discussion drew from their work which explores how Indigenous knowledge systems can shape the field of organizational studies.

This event was moderated by AFI Website Coordinator Julie Bernard.

Accounting for Impact Summit – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Indigeneity

When: October 4th, 2024 from 8:45am – 5pm EST

View full agenda here

The Accounting for Impact Summit, hosted by CPA Ontario, Schulich, and Smith School of Business, focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and Indigeneity (DEII) in accounting. Held at Smith School of Business in Toronto, the event featured a keynote by Dr. Oliver Nnamdi Okafor and a panel discussion with Indigenous advocates and industry leaders. Participants explored DEII’s role in transforming organizations and advancing accounting practices.

Examining Unequal Relationships in Research Partnerships

When: June 26, 2024 from 10:00 to 11:00 am EST

Access the recording HERE.

In this event, we engaged with Jess Auerbach Jahajeeah to explore what business school academics can do to have deeper impact when engaging in unequal relationships in research partnerships. Jess will also discuss different global incentives around impact. The discussion drew upon Jess’s background as an anthropologist and ethnographer, as well as her recent contributions to management science.

The event was moderated by AFI Event Coordinator and Outreach Joel Bothello.

Professor and Executive Director: The Pros and Cons of Achieving Impact through Dual Roles

When: April 30, 2024 from 10:00 to 11:00 am EST

Access the recording HERE.

This facilitated discussion examined how Kate Ruff‘s works with the Common Approach to Impact Measurement has engaged community stakeholders to develop novel, research-informed impact measurement standards. Kate also discussed strategies and challenges of implementing research into practice and the pros and cons of her non-traditional approach to academic impact.

The event was moderated by AFI Event Coordinator and Outreach Leanne Keddie.

Developing Impactful Tools from Research Programs

When: February 15, 2024 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm EST (February 16, 2024 from 8:00 am to 9:00 am AEDT – note that the time was decided based on the speaker’s and moderator’s geographic locations).

Access the recording HERE.​

This workshop illustrated how a research program in the cooperative and mutual sector has led to the development and commercialisation of a performance measurement framework. Paul Thambar reflected on how performance measurement take place in ‘alternative organisations’ (e.g., cooperatives and mutuals, non-governmental organisations) where traditional accounting frameworks do not fully capture the total value created. Their work showcases the issues and challenges of measuring performance in these purpose driven organisations and describes the research based frameworks they have developed which have been taken up and are creating impact across three continents. 

This event was moderated by AFI co-founder Erica Pimentel.

The Transition from Academia into Policy Advocacy

When: November 7, 2023 from 9:00 to 10:00 am EST

Access the recording HERE.

At this event, we discussed the topic of young scholars transitioning from academia into policy advocacy to contribute to the field of sustainability disclosure. The event featured two speakers: Theresa Spandel (Climate & Company) and Raphael Tietmeyer (Climate & Company) who shared their experiences and insights on this subject. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about how academics could have a significant impact in policy making processes while utilizing the scientific knowledge and background.

This event was moderated by AFI European Ambassador Blerita Korca.

Academics Engaging with NGOs and Grassroots Organizations

When: June 21, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:30 am EDT

Access the recording HERE.

At this Accounting for Impact (AFI) event, we discussed the topic of academics engaging with NGOs and grassroots organizations, and the use of participatory methodologies to increase the impact and relevance of research. The event featured three speakers, Noomi Weinryb (Södertörn University), Julie Bernard (Ivey Business School at Western University) and Nelson Dueñas (Universidad Externado de Colombia) who shared their experiences and insights on this subject, moderated by AFI’s Joel Bothello. It was a great opportunity to learn about how to foster mutually beneficial relationships between (accounting) researchers and non-profit organizations, and how participatory methodologies can be utilized to create meaningful impact.

The event was moderated by AFI Event Coordinator and Outreach Joel Bothello.

Teaching with Cases: Impact in the Classroom

When: May 10, 2023 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am EDT

Access the recording HERE and the slides HERE.

This was an interactive session on teaching with cases, led by Nadine de Gannes, Faculty Director of the HBA Program and Curriculum Coordinator of the Sustainability Area Group at Ivey Business School.

This session began with a discussion on what makes good cases and why we teach with cases. Drawing from research in the classroom and generating future ideas, Nadine led participants in a first exercise to identify their triad (practice, research, and teaching) for case writing. The second exercise focused on mapping the space to identify motivations, expertise, and space to teach and write cases.

This event was moderated by AFI Wesbite Co-Coordinator Julie Bernard.

Academics involved in Policy and Regulatory Bodies

When: March 24, 2023 from 9 am to 10 am EST

Access the recording HERE.

This workshop featured Daniel Aobdia, a prominent accounting scholar who has been very involved in policymaking and regulatory bodies such as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). He shared his experience in terms of the work he did, his overall insights and any outcomes of this work that made an impact on policy/regulation and/or society.

The event was moderated by AFI Event Coordinator and Outreach Leanne Keddie.

Academics’ participation in the policymaking process

When: November 8, 2022 from 9 am to 10 am EST

Access the recording HERE.

At this event, ​Mercedes Luque-Vílchez built the capacity of (academic) participants to engage with the process of policymaking. It provided information on resources available to contribute their expertise to problems of public interest in the field of social and environmental accounting. The session equipped attendees to:

• Understand how to successfully approach the world of policymaking in the field of social and environmental accounting.
• Develop a capacity to connect their research with policy-making issues in the field of social and environmental accounting.
• Learn about some of the opportunities available to participate in policymaking processes in the field of social and environmental accounting.
  
  The event was moderated by AFI Co-Founder Charles H. Cho.

​Write Compelling Commentary

When: This is a two-part event; Participants should attend both parts

Part 1: September 14, 2023 from 9:30 to 11:30 am EDT Part 2: September 21, 2023 from 9:30 to 11:30 am EDT 

This highly interactive workshop built participants’ leadership capacity and enhances their credibility and influence. It provided participants with the confidence and tools to contribute their expertise to the public discourse through compelling, short-form written commentary for newspaper op-ed pages and online sites. The session equipped attendees to:

• Own and articulate their authority as experts;
• Understand the essential elements and format of newspaper commentaries, including how to build a concise, persuasive and accessible argument that is likely to engage a lay audience;
• Increase their publication prospects by linking their expertise to the news and enhancing the relevancy and timeliness of their knowledge;
• Submit their work to online and print editors.

This workshop was facilitated by Informed Opinions CEO & Catalyst Shari Graydon.

Canadian Accounting Association Conference – Concurrent Session: Accounting for Impact

When: June 9 and 10, 2022 from 9.45 am to 11.15 EDT

The purpose of this session was two-fold: the first was to introduce participants to AFI’s mission and describe the motivation for launching this initiative. The second was to introduce participants to the fundamentals of using the social platforms most used in business and academia: Twitter and Linkedin. Discover how to connect with your audience and create engagement on topics that matter to you through social media. ​

More information: HERE

This workshop was facilitated by AFI Co-Founder Erica Pimentel and AFI Event Coordinator and Outreach Leanne Keddie.

Social Media: Basics and Beyond 

When:  May 4, 2022 from 9 am to 10:30 am EDT

Access the recording HERE.

In this workshop, we had a chance to learn about the fundamentals of using the social platforms most used in business and academia: Twitter and Linkedin. Discover how to connect with your audience and create engagement on topics that matter to you through social media. 

By the end of this 90-minute workshop, participants were be able to:

• Create a basic LinkedIn and Twitter profile
• Learn when and how to use hashtags, retweets and create posts that will gain traction
• Understand how to use Twitter engagement data to measure impact

This workshop was facilitated by AFI Co-Founder Erica Pimentel and AFI Event Coordinator and Outreach Leanne Keddie.

Accounting for Impact – LAUNCH

When: March 29, 2022

Access the recording HERE.

Launch event of Accounting for Impact – a network to inspire accounting academics to create impact and engagement. The event showcased Stephanie Bertels and the Embedding Project, and provide interactive space for Q&A. We aimed at creating opportunities to learn how to turn research into action.