Australian Accounting Hall of Fame celebrates link between industry and profession

The University of Melbourne will induct three giants of industry and profession into the Australian Accounting Hall of Fame on Friday, 7th October.

Professor Emeritus Louis Goldberg AO from the University of Melbourne, Mr Kenneth Hugh Spencer AM of KPMG and Professor Ken Trotman from the University of New South Wales will be inducted for their services to the industry.

The final three were selected from a list of 11 nominations by a panel of 24 industry representatives. Hall of Fame Director Mr Phillip Cobbin said the Hall has been successful in bridging expertise across the financial community. "We have received considerable interest in the Australian Accounting Hall of Fame’s second Awards Ceremony, from diverse areas of accounting expertise spanning professional and academic interests," he said.

Professor Colin Ferguson at the Faculty of Business and Economics said the Hall is fortunate to have support from an esteemed panel of distinguished academics, government representatives and industry leaders forming the selection community. "We aim for further engagement with industry; especially where knowledge exchange is concerned," he said.

Professor Stewart Leech, Director of the Centre for Accounting & Industry Partnerships said Professor Goldberg’s contribution was long-lasting. "Professor Louis Goldberg AO was an extraordinary scholar whose academic and professional contribution to accounting in Australia exceeded 60 years. He published over 200 works on all aspects of accounting, for which he was duly honoured with election to the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, a Doctor of Letters from the University of Melbourne and appointment to the general division of the Order of Australia."

"Mr Kenneth Spencer AM contributed enormously to the establishment of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and global accounting standards. He was also an eminent leading practitioner, a prominent company director and an active participant in a major charitable organisation," Mr Kevin Stevenson, Chairman and CEO of the Australian Accounting Standards Board said.

Associate Professor Peter Roebuck from the University of New South Wales said Professor Trotman’s 36 year academic career "has made considerable impact on accounting education and research, both in Australia and overseas. His greatest contributions have been to accounting research and accounting literature. He is one of few researchers who have published in the major international journals for more than three decades."

Professor Trotman and the families of the two inductees no longer living will be presented with a leather-bound citation and testamur at a dinner at the University of Melbourne on Friday 7th October.