Jan Jaap Boontjes is Manager International Affairs and Strategic Advisor at the Royal Netherlands Institute of Chartered Accountants (NBA). He has extensive experience in representing the interests of the profession to a broad range of stakeholders, both nationally and internationally.

He joined the NBA in 2016 as Manager Public Affairs. From 2020 to 2022, he worked for the Dutch Ministry of Finance as a senior policy advisor, where he was involved in audit reform legislation and served as secretary to the 'Quartermasters for the Future of the Accountancy Sector.'

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the voice of the global accountancy profession, has announced the election of Jean Bouquot as its President. Mr. Bouquot will serve a two-year term through November 2026, having served previously as IFAC Deputy President since November 2022.

“It is my honor to serve as IFAC President,” said Mr. Bouquot. “Together with my fellow Board members, I will work on behalf of all IFAC members, convene the profession and its stakeholders to highlight the role and activities of IFAC, and always advance the profession in the public interest.”

Mr. Bouquot joined the IFAC Board in November 2020, nominated by Compagnie Nationale des Commissaires aux Comptes (CNCC) and Conseil National de l'Ordre des Experts-Comptables (CNOEC). During his term as CNCC President and together with the CNCC Board, he led reforms that significantly strengthened the French audit profession. Mr. Bouquot was also the President and Deputy President of the Compagnie Régionale des Commissaires aux Comptes de Versailles et du Centre (CRCC Versailles). He is currently a Board member of the Fédération Internationale des Experts-comptables et commissaires aux Francophones (FIDEF), an IFAC Network Partner organization.

Mr. Bouquot has over 44 years of experience as an auditor in various positions at EY with wide exposure to international activities. He currently runs his own small firm in Paris, France.

Taryn Rulton Named IFAC Deputy President

IFAC also announced the election of Taryn Rulton as its Deputy President. Ms. Rulton joined the Board in November 2020.

Ms. Rulton has over 30 years of experience across the United Kingdom and Australia. She brings a diverse background that involves the banking industry, Big-4 firms (KPMG & EY), government, private companies, NGOs, and universities. She currently holds the position of Chief Commercial Officer at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.

Ms. Rulton has significant corporate governance experience and currently serves on multiple corporate Boards and committees in the not-for-profit and public sector, including as the Chair of Audit and Risk Committees. She has standard-setting experience and completed two terms on the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB).

New Board Members Elected

IFAC also announced new and re-appointed Board members:

New appointments:

• Ms. Josephine Su Han Phan (CPA Australia)
• Mr. Michael Niehues (IDW/WPK, Germany)
• Mrs. Patricia Stock (SAICA, South Africa)
• Mr. Mark Vaessen (Royal NBA, Netherlands)
• Mr. Lei Yan (CICPA, China)
• Dr. Ahmad Almeghames (SOCPA, Saudi Arabia)

Reappointments:

• Mr. Greg Anton (AICPA, USA)
• Ms. Tashia Batstone (CPA Canada)

Lee White, Chief Executive Officer, said: “On behalf of the IFAC President, Jean Bouquot, and entire IFAC community, I wish to extend our sincere gratitude to Asmâa Resmouki, the Immediate Past President, and outgoing Board members—Lisa Padmore, Margrét Pétursdóttir, Jeanine Poggiolini, Dr. Jianhua Tang, and Ayşe Arıak Tunaboylu for their tremendous service to our profession, and for the invaluable wisdom and support to me and all of our members during their tenures.”

New IFAC Members and Associate Admitted

In addition to the election of new Board members, the IFAC Council also approved new Member and new Associate organizations.

New IFAC Members:

• Colegio de Contadores Públicos de Pichincha y del Ecuador
• Consejo General de Economistas de España
• Emirates Association for Accountants and Auditors

New Associates:

• Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Maldives  
• Ordre National des Experts-Comptables Algériens
• Ordre des Professionnels Comptables du Burundi
• Ordre National des Experts Comptables du Gabon

The new appointments and membership admissions were approved at the 2024 IFAC Council hybrid meeting, with a physical location held in Paris, France on November 6-7, 2024.

About IFAC

IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.

IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition.

IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.

Mr. Lei Yan joined the IFAC Board in November 2024. He was nominated by Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountant (CICPA).

Mr. Lei Yan is currently the leading Partner of Assurance and International Business in Baker Tilly China. He has extensive experience in auditing and consulting of large scale international operation company and IPO auditing in the Chinese capital market.

Mr. Lei Yan is a member of the SME Implementation Group of IFRS and HR development committee of CICPA to focus on the training of the talent in the industry. He is a Chinese certified public accountant.

Mr. Lei Yan received his bachelor's degree in accounting from North China Electric Power University and Master's degree in business management from Central University of Finance and Economics.

Mark Vaessen joined the IFAC Board in November 2024 after being nominated by the Royal Nederlandse Beroepsorganisatie van Accountants (The Royal Netherlands Institute of Chartered Accountants).

Mr. Vaessen is a senior partner with KPMG in the Netherlands and the Global Head of Corporate & Sustainability Reporting for KPMG internationally. In that capacity he maintains the relationship with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and is a member of the Integrated Reporting and Connectivity Council, an advisory body to both the ISSB and IASB.

In addition, Mr. Vaessen is currently the President of Accountancy Europe, a Brussels-based organization representing nearly one million professional accountants from across Europe. He previously also was a board member at the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).

Mr. Vaessen has been a partner in KPMG’s global audit practice since 1999. He lived and worked in London for nearly 20 years, building and leading KPMG’s global international standards network as global IFRS leader. In 2017, he returned to his native the Netherlands where he was Head of Professional Practice until the end of 2022.

Michael Niehues was elected to the IFAC Board in November 2024, jointly nominated by the Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer (IDW) and the Wirtschaftsprüferkammer (WPK).

Mr. Niehues is currently a member of the WPK’s Board (since 2014) and of the IDW’s working group on audit and professional ethics regulation. He chaired Accountancy Europe’s Ethics & Professional Competencies Working Party (2007 to 2020), served as member of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (2006 to 2011), and as National Expert to the European Commission (1999 to 2001) he worked on audit regulation and auditor independence.

Mr. Niehues is a partner at Deloitte Germany, a German certified tax advisor, and German certified public accountant. In 1989 he started his career with Deloitte Germany where he gained experience in auditing large multinational companies, corporate restructuring, and forensic services. He served as the firm’s Director of Independence and regulatory contact (2001 to 2020) before he joined its executive leadership as Chief Risk Officer (2020-2024).

Mr. Niehues holds a Diplom (MBA equivalent) in business administration from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has selected Ms. Sheila Fraser of Canada and Dr. Andreas Bergmann of Switzerland as the 2024 recipients of the IFAC Global Leadership, recognizing their outstanding contributions to public sector accounting.

Ms. Sheila Fraser

Sheila Fraser is highly respected for her pioneering work in public sector auditing and governance. She is a former Auditor General of Canada and was the first woman to hold this position. During her tenure, she set new benchmarks for transparency and accountability in government financial management. Fraser’s efforts focused on promoting ethical governance and strengthening public sector accountability across Canada, making her a globally recognized advocate for financial integrity.

Fraser also contributed her expertise internationally, serving on several key advisory groups and boards. She has been an influential voice on global public sector finance issues, particularly as a member of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB). She served as the IFRS Foundation Vice-Chair and as an IFAC Board Member, as well as serving in various other international audit forums where her insights have helped shape public sector auditing standards and practices around the world.

Her career has been marked by a dedication to fostering trust in public institutions and a commitment to rigorous financial oversight, which continues to inspire financial professionals globally.

"It is a great honor to present this award to Sheila, whose career has been a beacon of integrity and accountability," said IFAC President Asmâa Resmouki. "Through her exemplary leadership as Auditor General of Canada and her invaluable contributions on the international stage, Sheila has tirelessly championed transparency and good governance in the public and private sectors. Her unwavering commitment to public interest and financial stewardship continues to inspire professionals across the globe and strengthens the foundation of trust in our profession."

Dr. Andreas Bergmann

Dr. Andreas Bergmann, Director and Professor of Public Finance at the ZHAW School of Management and Law in Zurich, is a prominent figure in advancing public sector finance and governance. As the inaugural Chair of the IPSASB Academic Advisory Group, he fosters collaboration between academic research and international standard-setting bodies to tackle emerging public finance issues, such as sustainability reporting. Dr. Bergmann has also played a crucial role in supporting the implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in various regions, including Latin America, through partnerships with organizations like the Swiss aid agency SECO.

Beyond his academic contributions, Dr. Bergmann is recognized for his leadership as the former Chair of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) from 2010 to 2015. During this time, he strengthened global trust in public sector accounting standards, particularly in response to the sovereign debt crisis, and through leading the development of the ground-breaking Conceptual Framework, which has shaped all of the Board’s subsequent standard-setting work. He was also instrumental in establishing the Public Interest Committee (PIC), which has actively provided advice and recommendations concerning the development and delivery of the IPSASB strategy and work program to ensure that the Board’s activities, the appointment process for its members, and its standard-setting due processes all reflect the public interest. His advisory work extends across Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and particularly Latin America, helping governments improve financial transparency and governance. Dr. Bergmann has also authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and books, contributing to best practices in public sector accounting worldwide.

"I am honored to present this award to Andreas, a visionary leader whose work has transformed public sector finance globally," said IFAC President Asmâa Resmouki. "From his leadership during challenging economic times as Chair of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) to his continued advocacy for public sector transparency and governance reforms, Andreas has had a lasting impact on the profession. His commitment to enhancing global standards and fostering public trust is exemplary, and his contributions will continue to shape the future of public finance."

Established in 2017 by the IFAC Board, the IFAC Global Leadership Award in Honor of Robert Sempier recognizes individuals who make outstanding contributions to the global accountancy profession. The award honors the contributions of Robert Sempier, IFAC’s first executive director who greatly contributed to the development of the profession worldwide.

The Global Leadership Award was presented during IFAC’s Council meeting, held on November 6, 2024.

About IFAC

IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.

IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition.

IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.

The global search for the next International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) Chair is underway, led by the independent Search Committee (Search Committee) established by the Public Interest Committee and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).