We are excited to announce our second Audit Assistant Conference. We loved being able to provide this special in-person event in March 2025, and now have early bird pricing available until 31 January 2026 for $649 (+GST), before the price goes up to $749 (+GST).
After taking into consideration feedback from our first event the conference will be held in Christchurch at Rydges Latimer – we hope the shortcomings will be fewer and the successes will be greater!
Included in the ticket price is full day catering on both Thursday 05 March 2026 and Friday 06 March 2026, and a networking buffet dinner on Thursday night catered by Bloody Mary’s restaurant (located within Rydges).
We have arranged a special 20% discount off accommodation for anyone wishing to stay at the Rydges while attending the conference (discount code & instructions will be displayed after checkout).
Book now to secure your place!
If you really can’t make it in person, we will make the conference available to attend online – price is the same, but you don’t get the delicious food and networking opportunities.
More speakers will be added once confirmed.
“Extremely helpful conference with great content”
“Extremely relevant, all speakers were excellent. Entire two days were well targeted with all speakers relevant”
“This was the best conference I have attended”
View more about the 2025 conference here.
To register for the conference, fill out your details here:
Sue Barker is the director of Sue Barker Charities Law, a boutique law firm based in Wellington specialising in charities law and public tax law. Since its founding in 2012, the firm has won a number of awards, including Boutique Law Firm of the Year at the New Zealand Law Awards. Sue is the author of Taxation of Charities in Aotearoa New Zealand (LexisNexis, 2025) and a contributor to a number of other charities law publications, including The Law and Practice of Charities in Aotearoa New Zealand 2ed (LexisNexis, 2024). Sue is a director of the Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand and is recognised internationally as a Charity Law Scholar. In 2019, Sue was awarded the New Zealand Law Foundation International Research Fellowship Te Karahipi Rangahau ā Taiao, New Zealand’s premier legal research award, to undertake research into the question “What does a world-leading framework of charities law look like?”
Misha is responsible for heading the team that supports the New Zealand Auditing and Assurance Standards Board in its role of developing and issuing auditing and assurance standards. Misha has been with the XRB from its establishment in 2011 and has over 20 years of experience in audit and assurance standard setting. Prior to joining the XRB, she worked for KPMG, in both New Zealand and South Africa, providing assurance and technical advisory services, specialising in IFRS implementation and interpretation.
Karen is the Technical Director – Assurance at the External Reporting Board (XRB). The XRB develops and issues climate reporting, accounting, auditing and assurance standards for New Zealand. Karen joined the XRB in February 2023 and she has over 20 years of experience in financial audit and sustainability assurance.
Prior to joining the XRB, she worked for a New Zealand based carbon and sustainability assurance entity leading their client delivery team. Originally from the UK, Karen worked for Deloitte in the UK, and Germany providing assurance services before relocating to New Zealand. Karen lives in Christchurch with her husband and two children.
Reuben shares science-based insights to help individuals, leaders, and teams thrive. Holding a PhD in well-being science from the University of Melbourne, he is an internationally experienced presenter and a recognised expert in his field. Reuben is dedicated to creating enduring positive change by shaping psychological, social, and physical environments to influence key behaviours, thoughts, and experiences. He believes leaders play a pivotal role in cultivating these environments and is passionate about improving performance and well-being through research-based approaches.
Talia is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) with 20 years of audit experience. She is the current owner and director of Silks Audit Chartered Accountants Limited. She brings strong commercial and financial governance experience as well as experience on charitable, community based and public sector boards. Talia is a current board member of Lotto NZ, current Board member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at PHARMAC, and previously the Chair of the Whanganui Local Committee for Chartered Accountant Australia New Zealand. Ms Anderson-Town is also an Appointed Auditor of the Officer of the Auditor General and Licensed Auditor registered with the Financial Markets Authority.
Desere is a Chartered Accountant with 17 years of experience in audit, assurance, and financial reporting across South Africa and New Zealand. She is currently with PKF Goldsmith Fox, where she serves as the firm’s Independence Officer and contributes to the technical and quality teams of PKF New Zealand.
Her work focuses on enhancing audit quality, implementing new auditing and accounting standards, and supporting ethical and independent practice across the network. Desere also serves on the External Reporting Board (XRB) Technical Reference Group, contributing to the development of standards that strengthen public trust.
Passionate about the human side of auditing, Desere believes that genuine connection—with clients, teams, and purpose—enhances audit quality and reinforces ethical behavior. Outside of work, she enjoys travelling and spending time outdoors with her husband and three young children
After completing her articles and final qualifications at a KPMG in South Africa, Laura was granted an international secondment to KPMG Guernsey where (with her husband) she lived and worked for 4 years until the birth of their first child. After immigrating to New Zealand she worked for KPMG Tauranga, then after the birth of their second child, Laura worked as a part-time lecturer at the local Polytechnic. After the birth of their third child, she opened a small Accounting practice. It was soon evident that a demand existed for assurance practitioners for Charities and NFPs, so she focussed solely on assurance. Laura is the sole employee in her micro business; and believes that Audit Assistant was a game-changer.
Kirsten has over 20 years of audit experience in public practice. 6 years with Deloitte, 11 years running her own practice in the North Island, 3 years with Silks Audit. She likes to make auditing approachable and understandable.
Kirsten now provides support services to auditors, accountants, and preparers of financial statements (to be updated).
Michael has amassed a wide range of experience over the years from an agricultural upbringing in the South Island, to professional endeavours in the technology sector in London which has equipped him with a versatile skill set. Returning from his overseas experience, Michael now applies his expertise across accounting, audit, insolvency, and project consultancy services.
Michael is also a Qualified Auditor and offers assurance services across various sectors, leveraging his ability to analyse organisations from a unique perspective.
Beyond his professional endeavours, Michael is a sports enthusiast, dedicating his spare time to squash and mountain biking. He has also played integral roles as a board member, chair, and committee member within the sports and health sectors.
Michelle works with a diverse range of clients in her role as an audit manager at Ashton Wheelans.
Throughout her audit career her passion for the Not-for-Profit sector has grown hugely and this has become a big focus area for her.
Being a sector with many challenges that’s often overlooked, she enjoys delving into the issues that NFPs face and helping to find solutions. Her audit career has given her a wealth of knowledge around financial reporting and internal controls for NFPs and helps her truly understand the sector.
A welcome to the conference, and a reveal of the latest Audit Assistant features - new Trial Balance, Sharing Centre, Risk tools, and more. (Clive & the AA Team)
Walkthough tests and controls, addressing ethics and risks in small practices, and using readily available and secure AI tools to enhance your work. (Kirsten & Laura A)
Digging into the psychology of what makes us act unethically, practical ways to build connection with clients and team, and ways to encourage our clients to act ethically. (Reuben, Desere & Talia)
Digging into risks identified by NZICA Practice review, firm level risks related to independance and quailty control, and the legal risks auditors face and how to reduce them to an accepatble level. Finishes with a panel discussion. (Matt, Desere, Sue & Talia)
An update on the LCE standard, other new standards that will impact us, and a panel discussion on challenges and opportunities with LCE audits . (Misha, Karen & Clive)
What can go wrong? The risks that auditors face with governance issues. (Sue, Talia & Kirsten)
The new risk library, finishes with a Q & A panel. (Clive & the AA Team)
The conference will be held in the Savoy West room located located within the modern Rydges Latimer Christchurch (approx. 20 minutes drive from the Airport).
Savoy West makes up half the Savoy Ballroom and boasts an abundance of natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, which invite inspiring views over Latimer Square – an iconic green space located directly opposite – inside the space.
Catering will be provided just outside of the conference room and dinner will be hosted by Bloody Mary’s located within the Hotel.
A down-to-earth hotel accommodation where natural beauty and warm hospitality set the scene for your renewal in the Garden City. We have arranged a special discounted rate for any attendees wishing to stay at the Rydges while attending the conference – discount code is available once registration is complete.
Located in the vibrant innovation precinct and SALT district, Ramada Suites Christchurch offers ideal accommodations for any stay. Our central location provides easy access to cafes, bars, and eateries. To find out more about Ramada Suites – follow the below link.
Quest Cathedral Junction offers guests the best of local living on their doorstep. Fantastic restaurants? Check. Crafty bars? Check. Boutique shopping? Check. Beautiful parks? Check. Unique buildings that are a mix of old and new? Check. To find out more about the venue – follow the below link.
