In addition, the conference will feature a parallel track held in collaboration with the 76th World Continuous Auditing & Reporting Symposium (WCARS), organized by the CARLAB of Rutgers Business School. WCARS is a leading international forum focusing on continuous auditing, reporting, and emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and real-time assurance. Authors presenting in this track will present their work as part of the main conference program while benefiting from the visibility and international network associated with WCARS. This collaboration aims to foster closer ties between both communities and to strengthen the global dialogue on the future of auditing in an AI-driven environment.

Information about the speakers and the conference program will be updated continuously. Please note that this is a preliminary version.

Prof. David A. Wood - Brigham Young University (BYU)

Dr. David A. Wood is passionate about understanding new technologies and implementing them into the curriculum of Brigham Young University, where he works as the Glenn D. Ardis professor of accounting. He has published over 230 articles in a combination of respected academic and practitioner journals, monographs, books, and cases, including a recently released book on AI titled, “Rewiring your Mind for AI: How to Think, Work, and Thrive in the Age of Intelligence”.

He has been awarded more than 30 awards for teaching, research, and service contributions. He has helped companies and organizations around the world learn about and implement GenAI and other tech topics. He was previously named by Accounting Today one of the 100 most influential people in accounting. He has worked with the EY Academic Resource Center to (EYARC) to produce experience.eyarc.site, which hosts free, cutting-edge content for universities to use. 

Egemen Lipinski - Uniper SE

As SVP Audit Operations, HSSE and Sustainability at Uniper SE, Egemen Lipinski is responsible for overseeing critical audits of power plants, asset projects, and sustainability initiatives. He is also a driving force behind the integration of Artificial Intelligence into Internal Audit - redefining how audit teams operate, communicate, and deliver value. He holds a Diplomkaufmann degree from the University of Mannheim.

Prof. Scott Emett - Arizona State University (ASU)

Scott Emett is an associate professor at Arizona State University. His research examines how producers and consumers of financial disclosures make judgments and decisions, focusing on how technological disruptions shape those judgments and decisions. He strives to conduct research that offers valuable insights for practitioners in the field, bridging the gap between academic research and practical application.

His research has been published in several top accounting journals, including Journal of Accounting and Economics; The Accounting Review; Contemporary Accounting Research; Accounting, Organizations, and Society; Review of Accounting Studies; and Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory, among others.

Professor Emett has won multiple prestigious awards, including the 2020 AAA Innovation in Accounting Education Award, the 2021 AAA Innovation in Auditing and Assurance Education Award, and the 2023 Arizona Society of CPAs Excellence in Teaching Award.

Angelo Giardina – IAASB

Angelo Giardina is a Principal at the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), where he leads the team supporting the IAASB’s technology initiatives. In this role, he helps advance the IAASB’s strategic response to the evolving impact of technology on audit and assurance, including the implications of emerging technologies for audit quality, standard setting, and the public interest.

Before joining the IAASB, Angelo spent 13 years at the Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB), Canada’s independent audit regulator for public company audits. Most recently, he served as Head of CPAB’s Thought Leadership Group, where he led the development of CPAB’s perspectives on significant audit quality matters, including fraud in financial statement audits, the use of technology in audits, and good practices in auditing crypto-assets.

Angelo began his career in KPMG Toronto’s financial institutions assurance practice and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in Canada.

Patrick Beyer – Deutsche Telekom AG

Patrick Beyer is the Vice President Advanced IT & Technology Audits at Deutsche Telekom AG. He is responsible for all IT, Network Technology, and Security audits across the Telekom Group, leading a team of 30 auditors in Germany and the national companies. His role also includes participation in the audit committees of various Telekom entities and key account management for the Board members of T-Systems and Technology & Innovation. In addition, he is driving the digital transformation of auditing through AI, agile methods, data analytics, and standardized global audit plans.

Prior to his current role, Patrick held various executive positions within operational business units of Deutsche Telekom and T-Systems, including Vice President Global Business Operations, Vice President IT Portfolio Strategy, and Head of Strategic Commercial Steering. His responsibilities spanned strategic transformation, financial steering, portfolio management, and organizational restructuring—often with large international teams and a strong focus on cost efficiency and performance improvement.

Dr. Ilias Tsimpoulis – Aegis Intelligence

Dr. Ilias Tsimpoulis is a renowned physician, executive, and expert in digital health and artificial intelligence. Former CEO of Doctolib Germany, he now serves as Managing Director at Aegis Intelligence in Nuremberg, helping clinics harness AI while ensuring EU AI Act compliance. His unique blend of medical expertise, executive leadership, and deep knowledge of AI governance makes him a pivotal voice at the intersection of technology, healthcare regulation, and innovative auditing practices.

Prof. Sergeja Slapnicar – University of Queensland

Prof. Sergeja Slapničar is an associate professor of accounting at the University of Queensland and an internationally recognized expert in audit, governance, and risk management. Her current research focuses in particular on cyber risk, governance, and assurance, as well as the impact of new technologies on accounting and auditing. She also brings extensive practical and board experience to her role and has been actively involved in teaching, research, and the professional development of the accounting profession for many years.

Alexander Rühle – Zapliance

Alexander Rühle, Founder and Managing Director of zapliance, leads a pioneer in innovative GRC software solutions. With deep expertise in audit automation, data analytics, and AI-driven risk management, he has revolutionized continuous controls monitoring and process mining for organizations worldwide. His visionary leadership positions zapliance as a key player in modern internal auditing, delivering practical tools that enhance compliance efficiency and decision-making in complex regulatory environments.

Dr. Björn Nill – Mercedes-Benz Group

After earning his law degree and PhD, Dr. Björn Nill began his career at a leading commercial law firm in 2004 before joining the legal department of DaimlerChrysler AG in 2007. In 2011, he transitioned into the compliance function, where he held several leadership roles and, from 2017 onwards, assumed additional responsibility for the Data Governance program. In that capacity, he and his team developed the automotive industry’s first AI governance model. Since 2021, he has served as Audit Director, where he and his team have designed an audit methodology for AI use cases.

While the program includes items related to catering (food and beverages), the purchase of a ticket does not entail any entitlement to specific catering arrangements as outlined in the program. Program elements are subject to change; however, the ticket price generally covers participation in all listed agenda items.

Please note that accommodation is in addition to the conference registration fee and should be paid in accordance with the payment terms of the respective hotel. No special Conference Rate available. Please arrange a hotel reservation yourself and make sure to book as early as possible as we cannot guarantee that additional rooms are available once the hotels are fully booked.

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