Theme of the FSG Conference 2025

In today’s interconnected world, accountants play a crucial role in maintaining stability and trust across continents. Europe depends on a strong, unified accounting profession that ensures transparency, consistency, and integrity in financial reporting. A key connector aligns national institutes, harmonizes standards, and strengthens the ethical framework that allows European accountants to act with one voice globally. As the continent faces digital transformation, sustainability demands, and geopolitical pressures, accountants serve as stabilizers whose independence and ethics safeguard both organizations and the credibility of Europe’s financial system.

Crises in aviation are inevitable, with geopolitical conflicts, pandemics, and volatile fuel prices creating ongoing instability that tests an airline’s financial resilience. In these moments, the Chief Financial Officer serves as both guardian of the balance sheet and strategic leader, making tough decisions under pressure to balance survival with long-term strength. Effective CFOs embrace uncertainty, maintaining liquidity, diversifying revenue, and fostering transparency, while leading with adaptability, empathy, and vision. As recent crises like COVID-19 showed, financial leadership grounded in sustainability, innovation, and data-driven strategy ensures airlines can endure turbulence and remain resilient when skies darken.

In an interconnected world marked by pandemics, geopolitical tensions, and climate shocks, the resilience of the Dutch financial system is being tested. As a small, open economy deeply tied to global trade and finance, the Netherlands must focus not just on managing risks but on strengthening its financial foundations. Resilience depends on robust buffers, transparent governance, prudent fiscal policy, and cooperation between regulators and the private sector, while also promoting innovation, digital readiness, and sustainability to face challenges like cyber risks and the green transition. Since finance transcends borders, international coordination and shared standards are essential to prevent crises from spreading, enabling the Netherlands to move from reactive defense to proactive design and maintain stability and trust in uncertain times.

In a world of shifting power and rising geopolitical tension, multinationals face decisions that test their ethics as much as their business strategies. Sanctions, export controls, and conflicts like the war in Ukraine force companies to weigh compliance, safety, and moral responsibility, often at significant cost. Acting responsibly means protecting people, minimizing harm, and upholding principles even under pressure. By embedding ethics into strategic decision-making, organizations can balance operations with integrity, earning trust and credibility while demonstrating that true leadership is defined by courage and a commitment to a more responsible global economy.

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀:

Engage in an insightful panel discussion, where leaders from diverse sectors will delve into the essential theme of effective leadership in today’s complex business landscape. Attendees will gain valuable insights into making sound decisions that balance short-term pressures with long-term impact. By fostering open dialogue and embracing differing viewpoints, our distinguished panelists will share their experiences in navigating challenges, addressing mistakes, and promoting accountability. This is a unique opportunity to learn from industry leaders and discover how to align values with actions for sustainable progress.