Milestone Bill Birkett Memorial Lecture explores e-liability in accounting

• Dale Pinto, President and Chair of the Board of CPA Australia, thanks attendees at the Bill Birkett Memorial Lecture. — Dale Pinto, President and Chair of the Board of CPA Australia, thanks attendees at the Bill Birkett Memorial Lecture. Photo credits: Stanley Images.

Two leaders in the theory and practice of decarbonisation explored the challenges of greenhouse gas reporting as the University of New South Wales and CPA Australia marked 20 years of the Bill Birkett Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, November 12.

Professor Robert Kaplan, renowned for co-developing ‘Activity-Based Costing’ and the ‘Balanced Scorecard’, presented his groundbreaking innovation for tackling the challenge of greenhouse gas reporting: e-liability accounting.

David Fallon, General Manager of Energy Transition at Chevron Australia, shared his company's experience in piloting e-liability accounting and how it can contribute towards advancing a lower carbon future.

This 20^th anniversary Bill Birkett Memorial Lecture, hosted by the UNSW School of Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, was moderated by Elysse Morgan from Stafford Capital Partners, and former host of ABC's The Business.

E-liability accounting is a technique that allows organisations to produce real-time, accurate and auditable data regarding their direct and supplier emissions, including that of their products and services. It’s designed to assist consumers in factoring in environmental sustainability into their purchase decision-making, with the aim of reducing carbon outputs through dynamic competition.

CPA Australia President and Chair Professor Dale Pinto said that e-liability will increasingly play a significant role in accounting, allowing organisations to produce real-time, accurate and auditable data on total emissions, much like the ingredients found on a cereal box.

“The e-liability approach in accounting eliminates the issue of estimates in carbon accounting practices. Innovations such as e-liability within the accounting field are positively transforming perceptions of the profession.

“It was a pleasure to hear from global thought leaders and industry experts, on how e-liability accounting can be leveraged by any organisation to create dependable carbon reporting,” Professor Pinto said.

“I extend my gratitude to Professor Kaplan and David Fallon for their insightful and engaging presentations, which uphold the esteemed tradition of this landmark lecture.”

"At UNSW Business School, we’re dedicated to advancing big ideas that tackle major business challenges," said Professor Paul Andon, Senior Deputy Dean (Education & Student Experience).

"The insights shared by Professor Kaplan and David Fallon showed how accounting can play a pivotal role in driving sustainable outcomes across supply chains. Once again, the Birkett lecture has honoured Professor Birkett’s legacy by inspiring progress on a grand challenge for our profession and beyond."

The thought-provoking discussion celebrated the legacy of Professor Bill Birkett, a renowned professor of Management Accounting at UNSW for many years.

One of the most enduring features of Bill’s near 40-year academic career was his ability to mobilise and energise an active community of management accounting researchers within Australia.

At the time of his passing in 2004, Bill was the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Business and the Creative Arts at James Cook University, Townsville – a position he assumed after retiring from UNSW.

Robert Kaplan, Senior Fellow and Marvin Bower Professor of Leadership Development, Emeritus at Harvard Business School, discusses e-liability accounting with the audience at the Bill Birkett Memorial Lecture — Photo credits: Stanley Images.

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