IPA National Congress: Everything you need to know

The IPA National Congress agenda spans three days and 30 CPD hours of technical and product knowledge, management and professional skills, and professional and ethical standards.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the event.

Planning concurrent sessions is essential

Last week, we discussed a few of the absolute standout sessions.

The agenda also includes concurrent sessions each day, so plan your personal agenda early with a mix of CPD competency areas. The colour coding system on the event program makes it simple to track each competency area at a glance and will help you get the balance right.

Not yet registered? Keen to tune in? Find out more here.

Live streamers: Make strategic choices

Those watching the live stream – if you can tune in to just a couple of sessions a day, try to select one ‘big picture’ and one practical discussion.

Wednesday’s a short day, so focus on the big picture – tune in to the 12pm ‘Funding the Future’ panel.

Thursday’s big picture session is the 11.10am ‘Future of the Accounting Profession’ discussion with IPA Group CEO Andrew Conway. Our pick of a technical session relevant to everyone in the profession is at 3.05pm, covering three quick automations that will help accounting professionals get some time back.

Friday offers the keynote at 3.10pm, with Dr Fiona Kerr discussing AI, and its ability to be both friend and foe. In the immortal words of Dale Kerrigan, “It’s what you do with it, darl”. Though we’re confident that Dr Kerr, who’s a world-renowned expert in the ways humans and emerging technologies can work together, will find better words to explain this topic.

Our pick of Friday’s technical sessions – one that’s relevant to all members – is the 2pm AML session with an assistant secretary from the Attorney General’s Department.

The logistics

This event is held across some of Sydney’s most stunning locations – you don’t want to miss a moment.

We recommend comfortable shoes for flitting about, a light bag with just the essentials, dressing as you would for a client meeting, and a big notebook.

Wednesday: In-person only

• 9am – 3pm: Four Seasons Hotel
• 6–8pm: Museum of Contemporary Art

Check in at the Four Seasons Hotel at 9am Wednesday, and you’ll have an hour to relax and get your bearings of the venue before the program begins. Proceedings commence with a Welcome to Country delivered by Wiradjuri and Gadigal woman Aunty Joan Bell, and event welcome from IPA Group President Julie Williams.

Grab a coffee, check in to your hotel room and get ready for the welcome reception, from 6pm, at the beautiful MCA – it’s a short walk from the Four Seasons.

Thursday:

• 9am – 4.20pm: Four Seasons Hotel (virtual and in-person)
• 6.30pm – 11pm: Art Gallery of NSW (in-person only)

Thursday is jam-packed. Schedule a little recharge time before the Gala Dinner with Dylan Alcott AO.

Friday:

• 9am – 4.20pm: Four Seasons Hotel (virtual and in-person)

The pre-show starts now

The agenda is so packed that it’s expanded with a series of pre-congress webinars. Tune in for an hour each business day between now and congress, as experts provide deep dives across professional skills and technical areas:

• Wed 22 Nov: Communication – Gary Edwards, Lecturer at UniSA Business, shares his expertise to help you speak and communicate effectively to supercharge your influence. Look out, TikTok.
• Thurs 23 Nov: Estate and succession planning – View Legal Co-founder Matthew Burgess provides his advice for accountants to brush up on this core discipline.
• Fri 24 Nov: Tax management – The team at Tax Depreciation Australia presents a masterclass.
• Mon 27 Nov: Tax residency rules – Reform is coming and aims to modernise tax residency rules. Velocity Legal Managing Director Andrew Henshaw provides a look forward to the changes and how accountants can start to prepare.
• Tues 28 Nov: Automation – Just as congress attendees clock out for a few days of learning and development, Thryv Head of Capability & Performance Greg Nicolle shows us how to use business automation to ease the administrative burden. Superb timing!