KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Professor Christopher Napier – University of London (UK)

Christopher Napier is Emeritus Professor of Accounting at Royal Holloway University of London. After studying Mathematics and Philosophy at the University of Oxford, Christopher trained as a Chartered Accountant at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., now part of KPMG. After qualifying, Christopher joined the faculty at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he remained for 16 years. He moved in 1996 to a full chair at the University of Southampton, and then in 2006 to Royal Holloway, where he remained until retiring in 2025. Christopher’s main research interest is the historical development of accounting, and he has also researched into aspects of financial reporting standards, including retirement benefits, intangibles and revenue from contracts with customers. More recently, he co-edited, with Garry Carnegie, the Edward Elgar Handbook of Accounting, Accountability and Governance. Christopher has written or contributed to over 120 academic books, book chapters and journal articles, and his most cited paper, “Social Reporting by Islamic Banks” (Abacus, 2006) has over one thousand citations on Google Scholar. In 2018, Christopher was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Accounting and Finance Association. Christopher has served on numerous boards and committees, and he was a member of the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, representing the academic community, for several years.

Professor Mahbub Zaman – Hull University (UK)

Professor Mahbub Zaman is a distinguished scholar in auditing, corporate governance, and sustainability. He has held senior academic appointments at institutions including Queensland University of Technology (Australia) and the University of Manchester (UK), and has served as a visiting professor in Canada, Denmark, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United States. His research explores the evolving roles of audit committees, board governance, audit quality, and regulatory accountability in the context of global sustainability challenges. His publications have appeared in leading journals such as the Journal of Business Ethics, Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, and Journal of Banking & Finance, with over 4,000 citations. He has received research support from international professional bodies including ACCA, CAANZ, and ICAEW. Professor Zaman is particularly interested in how governance frameworks can address complex risks at the intersection of corporate responsibility, environmental sustainability, and digital transformation. He has supervised numerous doctoral candidates and continues to shape academic and policy debates on ethical and effective governance in a changing world.

Professor Xavier Castañer – University of Lausanne (Switzerland)

Professor Xavier Castañer holds a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota and degrees from ESADE Business School. He has taught strategy, corporate development, and organizational theory at HEC Lausanne, HEC Paris, and ESADE, among other leading institutions. His research has been published in Strategic Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Journal of Management, and Administrative Science Quarterly, exploring topics such as strategic planning, alliances, acquisitions, governance, and innovation. Professor Castañer has served in editorial roles for journals like Strategic Management Journal, Organization Science, and Nonprofit Management and Leadership. He was President of IFSAM (2021–2022) and has held leadership roles in AOM, EURAM, and SMS.

Professor Florence Rodhain – University of Montpellier (France)

Florence Rodhain is Professor of Management at the University of Montpellier and former Director of the MRM-SI research team within Montpellier Research in Management. She has authored over 280 academic publications, including journal articles, book chapters, and peer-reviewed conference papers. Her research focuses on ethical issues in management, often adopting an interdisciplinary and international perspective. She has supervised eight PhD theses, six of which received dissertation awards. Professor Rodhain has held several leadership roles, including Equality Officer at the University of Montpellier 2 and member of the National Ethics Committee of the National Research Institute for Sustainable Development. She has lived and worked in the United States, New Zealand, and India, strengthening her international academic outlook.

Professor Teerooven Soobaroyen – Aston University (UK) 

Teerooven Soobaroyen is a Professor of Accounting at Aston University and formerly held a professorship at the University of Essex. He has also occupied academic positions at the University of Southampton, Aberystwyth University, and the University of Mauritius. His research focuses on social, environmental, and governance disclosure practices, the implementation of corporate governance codes, accounting standards and professionalisation, as well as reforms in public financial management, particularly in so-called emerging economies. His principal contributions have been published in leading academic journals. He serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies (JAEE), the Journal of Accounting Literature, and Accounting Forum, and he co-leads several special issues. Professor Soobaroyen has promoted and led academic associations and networks, including serving as President of the British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA), the African Accounting and Finance Association (AAFA), and the French-speaking Accounting Association (AFC). He is also the Research Coordinator of the Africa Call for Accounting and Finance Research Initiative (ACAFRI), funded by the Pan-African Federation of Accountants (PAFA). Through his sustained engagement with BAFA, AAFA, AFC, and the Accounting and Accountability in Emerging Economies (AAEE) network, he actively contributes to the mentoring and development of a scholarly community focused on accounting and governance in emerging economies.

Professor Mahmoud Elmarzouky – University of St Andrews (UK)

Dr. Mahmoud Elmarzouky is an Associate Professor of Accounting and Director of Research at St Andrews Business School. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy with over 18 years of academic and professional experience, his work focuses on sustainability, corporate governance, and disclosure. He has published 33 peer-reviewed articles in top journals, including Business Strategy and the Environment and Journal of Environmental Management, and serves as Associate Editor at Business Strategy and the Environment. Dr. Elmarzouky has secured prestigious grants from IAAER–KPMG and The British Academy, and contributed to FRC-funded research on UK corporate governance reforms.