The Organization of Innovation
Join us for the FAR Conference 2026 on 17–18 June
This two-day event brings together leading academics, practitioners, and regulators to explore the latest research and developments in auditing and assurance. With keynote speakers, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, the FAR Conference offers a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge insights and connect with peers from around the world. The event will be introduced by FAR’s new chair, Steven Maijoor, and moderated by FAR’s academic director, Anna Gold.
Day 1 - 17 June 12.00 - 18:15
12:00-13:00: Complimentary lunch
13.00-13.15: Opening
Professor in Accounting, Vrije Universiteit
Academic Director, FAR
Chair of Supervision, DNB
Chair of the board, FAR
Keynote
13.15-14.00: Ten Years On: A FAR Retrospective and Some Ideas for the Next Ten Years
Professor Knechel will discuss the story of FAR, its role in fostering audit research over the past ten years, some lessons learned from FAR’s efforts so far, and the major accomplishments of FAR-sponsored research. Professor Knechel will also discuss some of the pressures faced by the audit profession from technology, personnel, and organizational control. Finally, he will discuss the future of audit research and how FAR can contribute to the rapidly changing ecosystem of the audit profession through economics-based research.
Distinguished Professor and Frederick E. Fisher Eminent Scholar, University of Florida
Director, International Accounting and Auditing Center (IAAC)
Departing Board Member, Foundation for Auditing Research (FAR)
Research presentation
14:00-14:45: Attracting Students to the Auditing Profession: A Role for Audit Innovation?
Audit firms are struggling to attract the next generation of auditors. This session dives into what students’ expectations are about the auditing profession and whether those expectations match with the day-to-day experiences of young professionals already working in the field. The presenters will also explore whether audit innovation can enhance the profession’s attractiveness to emerging talent.
Full Professor in Accounting, Tilburg University
PhD student in accounting, Tilburg University
Panel Discussion
15:15 – 16:15 Managing Challenges in Audit Innovation. Lessons Learned from Audit Firms
Partner, EY
Partner, Deloitte
Partner, KPMG
Partner, PwC
Partner, Coney Minds
Professor of Auditing, Vrije Universiteit
Partner, EY
Partner, Deloitte
Partner, KPMG
Partner, PwC
Professor of Auditing, Vrije Universiteit
Research presentations
16.15 – 17:00: Learning from Experts as a Necessary Step in Innovation: Can It Backfire?
Xiaoxing Li will present research findings on how prior consultations with inhouse audit data analytics (ADA) specialists influence superiors’ reliance on auditors’ later ADA work. Although consultation experience makes auditors appear more competent, it unexpectedly leads managers to rely less on their independent ADA testing(a backlash effect). This dynamic may discourage consultation, particularly among auditors who need it most to build ADA skills. The findings highlight how team dynamics can unintentionally hinder the effective integration of new technologies into audit practice.
Assistant Professor, NHH Norwegian School of Economics
17:30 – 18:15: Fail, Learn, Improve. Understanding Social Error Learning to Improve Audit Quality and Enable Innovation
How do auditors learn from errors through social interactions within their networks in the audit firm? Diane Breesch and Marie-Laure Vandenhaute present a study that analyses how personality, interpersonal dynamics, and firm culture influence this process. Such social error learning can enhance audit quality but fundamentally lies at the heart of any continuous improvement and innovation.
Professor of Accounting and Auditing, Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Associate Professor of Accounting and Auditing, Solvay Business School, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
18:15 – 20:45: Dinner and Evening Drinks
Day 2 - 18 June
08:30 – 08:45: Opening by Steven Maijoor, FAR’s new chair and Anna Gold, FAR’s academic director
Keynote
08:45 – 09.30: Auditors as Professional Judgment Pioneers in a High Tech, High Stakes Era: Emerging Research Questions
Drawing predominantly on behavioral research using qualitative and experimental approaches, but also informed by key archival research findings, Professor Peecher will provide a useful framework for identifying hot-topic research questions of interest to audit academics, practitoners, and regulators. One theme is that the audit profession is entering a new era of heightened uncertainty about effective paths forward to continue to create high value for investors, creditors, and other key stakeholders in society. Another theme is that the active collaboration among academic and practitioners is indispensable for ensuring that audits create sustainable value.
Executive Associate Dean of Faculty and Research and Arthur R. Wyatt Chair in Accountancy, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Board Member, Foundation for Auditing Research (FAR)
Research presentation
09:30 – 10:15: Audit Quality, Professional Learning, and the Changing Nature of Expertise in the Age of AI
What turns experience into true expertise in auditing, and how might this change in an AI-enabled profession? This session explores professional learning as a central driver of audit quality, drawing on research from auditing, psychology, and organizational learning. Therese Grohnert will discuss how learning from critical incidents drives individual expertise, how teams can leverage learning to form shared judgments, and how firms can foster continuous and purposeful learning. She will also look ahead: how can professionals build expertise more efficiently and effectively as AI becomes a key partner in auditors’ judgment and decision-making?
Associate Professor, Maastricht University
Keynote
10:45 – 11:30: The Future of Work with AI
At a time when technological developments are accelerating and artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly significant role in organizations and professional decision-making, it is essential to look beyond the technology itself. We must focus on the interaction between people, organizations, and technology. Based on research about the future of work, innovation, culture, and human-machine collaboration, Saskia Nijs will explore how organizations can navigate technological change. She will discuss what this means for audit professionals, and which skills and forms of collaboration will become important in the future.
The Human Workforce, Advisor and researcher Future of work – human & AI
Research presentation
11:30 – 12:15: From Data to Quality. Predictions in Practice
Audit firms collect extensive data through Business Intelligence projects and Engagement Quality Reviews (EQR’s). This session focuses on how these data can be used to predict EQR outcomes, even when datasets are relatively small and imbalanced. It discusses the use of XGBoost as a modelling approach and highlights a second, equally important challenge: communicating predictions in a way that provides context and supports insight and action in practice. The session connects advanced analytics with decision-making in audit quality management.
Senior director, PwC
Senior Data Analyst, PwC
12:15 – 12:30 Closing reflections by Anna Gold, FAR’s academic director
12:30 – 13:30 Complimentary Lunch