2026
The Changing Role of the Strategic Commonwealth CFO - Have we Lost our Way?
Wednesday 29 July 2026, 5pm to 7.30pm (AEST)
The Allan Barton Memorial Research Lecture is an annual event jointly organised by CPA Australia and the ANU Research School of Accounting.
The Lecture will examine the evolving responsibilities and challenges faced by public sector Chief Financial Officers in a changing and challenging environment. It will make reference to the contributions of CFOs in delivering better financial management and program outcomes, and provide a critical discussion of the key drivers and constraints shaping the direction of the CFO role today, drawing on the speaker’s experience, informed insights, and emerging disconnects and trends to highlight the way forward.
Join the event to hear from experts as they share their insights into the critical issues and future development facing public sector CFOs.
Speakers
Steven Groves, Chief Finance Officer, Department of Defence.
Commentary by Professor Naomi Soderstrom, Fitzgerald Chair of Accounting, University of Melbourne.
Venue
National Convention Centre Canberra, 31 Constitution Avenue, Canberra, ACT 2601
Registration
Register here for the event.
Register by 12pm, 27 July 2026
The event is open to the general public. All staff and students are welcome to attend.
Registrations for this event are managed by CPA Australia and are subject to their privacy policy.
About the Speakers
Steven Groves
Steven Groves is the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) for Defence.
Before being appointed as the CFO, Steven was the Acting Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Secretary Corporate and Enabling Group at the Department of Home Affairs. Prior to this, Steven was the CFO of the Department of Home Affairs including in its various pre-merger entities including the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) and the Australian Customs Service (ACS). While at ACBPS Steven also led a taskforce on Revenue and Trade Crime. Steven joined ACS in 2008. Steven was first appointed a CFO of a Commonwealth Department in 2007 at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Prior to Veterans Affairs, Steven spent 8 years in corporate accounting roles at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) leading at various times the Management Accounting and Financial Operations Branches. During this time, he worked directly to the ATO CFO in a deputy role.
Steven has extensive experience in executive and leadership positions within the Commonwealth Public Service with over 20 years working predominantly in senior corporate finance roles. Steven graduated in 1994 from the James Cook University, in Townsville with a Bachelor of Commerce. He is a Fellow of CPA Australia and has completed a number of post graduate courses.
Professor Naomi Soderstrom
Dr. Soderstrom holds the Fitzgerald Chair in Accounting at the University of Melbourne and is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. She received her Ph.D. in Accounting and Information Systems from Northwestern University. Prior to joining the University of Melbourne in 2012, Dr. Soderstrom was an academic at the University of Washington and University of Colorado in the United States. Her primary research areas are sustainability and management accounting. Dr. Soderstrom has presented her research at over 70 universities worldwide and her work has appeared in major journals including Journal of Accounting and Economics, Journal of Accounting Research, The Accounting Review, Journal of the American Medical Association, Review of Accounting Studies, Contemporary Accounting Research, Inquiry, Journal of Management Accounting Research, Journal of Accounting, Auditing, and Finance, and Journal of Accounting and Public Policy in the U.S., and Accounting Organizations and Society and European Accounting Review in Europe. In addition to serving on the editorial boards of several journals, she is a former Editor of Journal of Management Accounting Research (2016-2018) and at Journal of Accounting and Public Policy (2018-2025). She also served as Guest Editor special issues of Journal of Management Accounting Research on sustainability reporting and management and European Accounting Review on health care research. Her current projects include research on corporate climate risk reporting and sustainability-related compensation. Dr. Soderstrom served as Deputy Head of Department at the University of Melbourne (2016-2023) and is Past President of the Management Accounting Section of the American Accounting Association.
2025
Accounting and sustainability standards setting - roles, goals, and considerations likely to shape the future of standards setting in Australia
Wednesday 15 October 2025, 5.45pm to 7pm (AEDT)
The Allan Barton Memorial Research Lecture is an annual event jointly organised by CPA Australia and The Australian National University Research School of Accounting.
The 2025 Lecture was held on 15 October 2025 at the College of Business and Economics Allan Barton Forum.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Keith Kendall, Chair, Australian Accounting Standards Board.
The Lecture covered key approaches adopted by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) to provide a contemporary accounting and sustainability reporting framework for all sectors of our economy, including the public sector, consistent with the Board’s transaction-neutral approach. The Lecture also covered the AASB’s more recent focus on sustainability reporting and other factors which are likely to influence the Board's forward work program.
A copy of the lecture recording and the speaker’s presentation paper is available below:
2024
Public sector accounting contributions to better government: Enhanced information for decision-making, contemporary issues, and likely influential future developments
The 2024 Allan Barton Memorial Research Lecture was held on 15th October 2024 at the National Convention Centre, Canberra.
The Lecture focused on the critical role of public sector accounting in contributing to better government by enhancing information for decision making, addressing contemporary issues and exploring influential future developments.
The keynote speaker was Amy Fox, First Assistant Secretary of the Financial Analysis, Reporting and Management Division at the Department of Finance. With her extensive experience and expertise in government accounting and reporting, Amy’s lecture provided valuable insights into how improved accounting practices can lead to more informed decisions within government, ultimately fostering better governance and public trust.
Commentary was provided by Brad Medland, Chief Financial Officer, First Assistant Secretary of the Finance Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Brad has wide ranging experience in financial reporting and budgeting in the public sector; and have overseen organisational and transformational change in both the private sector and public sector.
A copy of the speakers’ presentation papers is available below:
2023
The Changing Role of Chief Finanacial Officers in the Australian Public Sector
The 2023 Allan Barton Memorial Research Lecture was held on Tuesday 26 September 2023. The lecture was delivered by Janine Bristow, Chief Finance Officer, Australian Taxation Office. Commentary was provided by Tom Moloney, Senior Partner, KPMG.
The Lecture topic was the Changing Role of Chief Financial Officers in the Australian Public Sector. The Lecture covered the more significant issues facing Chief Financial Officers today in performing their roles in the Australian Public Sector, but with a clear focus on anticipated changes in the years ahead – including in relation to the likely accounting developments, issues such as sustainability and other matters relating to non-financial performance reporting, and any other public sector specific developments arising from government and/or parliamentary priorities.
A copy of the speakers’ presentation papers is available below:
Tom Moloney's Commentary and slides
2022
Enhancing Government Performance and Accountability
The 2022 Annual Allan Barton Memorial Research Lecture was held on Monday 17 October 2022. The lecture was delivered by Andrew Podger AO, Honorary Professor of Public Policy at the Australian National University, and former Secretary of Australian Government Departments and Public Service Commissioner. Commentary was provided by Richard Mulgan, Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University. He is an author of several books on public sector accountability.
The Lecture topic is Enhancing Government Performance and Accountability. A new Government and a new set of Parliamentarians that have expressed concern about integrity and a desire for more transparency and accountability provides the opportunity for enhancing the processes of accountability and ensuring improved performance. At the same time, the Government and the nation face major challenges including significant pressures to increase government expenditures while having limited revenues and an economy requiring urgent winding back of the deficit. The agenda for enhancing performance and accountability must include changes in the way the Parliament operates as well as promoting integrity across the executive and the legislature and rebuilding the capability and leadership of the APS. The new environment may well be amenable to implementing such an agenda, but success will take time and sustained effort. The lecture was well attended and received by the audience.
A copy of Andrew Podger’s presentation can be found here, and Richard Mulgan's Commentary can be found here.
2021
Public Sector Accounting - International and national influences and developments
The 2021 Annual CPA Australia and ANU Allan Barton Memorial Research Lecture was held on Wednesday 27 October 2021. It was delivered by Mike Blake, former Auditor-General of Tasmania, with commentary by Nathan Williamson, Deputy Secretary, Governance and Resource Management, Australian Government Department of Finance.'
The lecture focused on public sector financial reporting and prospective reporting, how Australia has contributed to the international developments in public sector financial reporting, and how public sector balance sheets are relevant in managing fiscal risks. The lecture was well attended and received by the audience.
A copy of Mike's presentation can be found here, and Nathan's Commentary can be found here.