Insights from a seminar on integrated reporting: A tool for financial stability and sustainable development

Celebrating 25 years of engagement in India on 12 March 2019, Australia’s Deakin University – in association with the Indian School of Business based in Hyderabad – organised an international seminar on ‘Integrated Reporting: A Tool for Financial Stability & Sustainable Development’, with the support of KPMG India as Consulting Partner. Given the Securities and Exchange Board India (SEBI) guidance, the seminar aimed at increasing the engagement and understanding of integrated reporting at leaderships levels in Indian companies.

The seminar featured panel discussions on the why and how of integrated reporting, its evolution and global trends, with insights and challenges shared by adopters of integrated reporting.

The highlight of the seminar was a special address by Chief Guest, Mr U.K. Sinha (Former Chairman, SEBI & IIRC Board Member) underscoring the importance of quality disclosures for increasing investor confidence in the Indian market. He highlighted that over the years regulators have made gradual progress on improving corporate governance and reporting that have contributed towards improving the ease of doing business in India. Mr. Sinha also commended the progress on integrated reporting in India in such a short span and said that now there was a need to move to a multi-disciplinary approach to improve the quality, impact and evolution of reports.

Other key speakers shared their global insights at the event including, Alfred Deakin Professor Mike Ewing (Executive Dean, Faculty of Business and Law, Deakin University); John Stanhope AM (Chancellor, Deakin University and Vice Chair, IIRC Council); and Michael Bray (KPMG Fellow in Integrated Reporting, Deakin University and IIRC Board Member).

An academic and research perspective on integrated reporting was shared by Professor Sanjay Kallapur (Deputy Dean, FPM, Indian School of Business) and Associate Professor Luckmika Perera (Director of Pathways and Partnerships, Faculty of Business and Law, Deakin University).

Pankaj Tewari (Senior Vice President & Group Company Secretary, Bharti Airtel Limited) and Anil Sharma gave the audience insights into the implementation of integrated reporting in their organisations.

Visit the Deakin University webpage for more insights into this event.