Some of the speakers at yesterday’s FIA Congress sessions
Statistics revealed included: Cybercrime damage costs to hit $6 trillion by 2021 Cybersecurity spending to exceed $1 billion from 2017 till 2021. Cybercrime will more than triple the number of unskilled cybersecurity jobs , which is predicted to reach 3.5 million by 2021. Human attack surface to reach six million people by 2022
Global ransomware damage costs exceeded $5 billion last year.
Accountants have Common Goal former FIA president Finau Nagera
Accountants have one common goal and that was to better the business they worked for, the community and economy.
This year’s congress attracted more than 350 delegates representing more 133 companies and the Pacific including New Zealand and Australia. “Hopes this Congress provides the platform and avenue to learn from each other and forge professional relationships.
“We live in a global community where our experiences and aspirations are intertwined in some ways.” George Fonua – Founder and Director, Locomotive Consultancy, Australia.
We build organisations that are agile and distinct and able to adapt to the rapidly changing environment. Presentation was on identifying skills within business and spotting the difference.
Mr Fonua’s topic was Blue Bus Playshop: Skills to ensure business Distinction versus Extinction The Session was smarter, quicker, cheaper, better – which showed by using one’s free and easy technology can free up many hours a week to grow the business. Using Micrisoft and Google software better and using Goggle My Business.
Rachael Grimes – President International Federation of Accountants.
Focused on technology when she took over as IFA president.
She said there was more exciting times with accounting than now because of the increase focus on technology.
“Does not matter which part of the value train we are on in accounting, there was a need to know how technology was going to play out in our part of the world.” We see our commitment to FIA as the development of young talent, networking and maintaining standards. The Congress has developed to much more than accounting and has become a premier business event.
“The world is changing at a very fast pace and we all need to embrace and adapt change and take advantage of the latest technology including artificial intelligence, robotics, big data and others.
“These technologies will transform the way we do business and also change the way we live our lives.” Westpac was always looking out for ways and new technologies to make banking a lot easier for customers. The bank recently introduced a digital expressed deposit service which was a fast way for business customers to lodge deposits. Business customers in Suva now don’t need to stand in line as they just drop their deposit at the bank and return to do their business. Also a ‘Tap and Go’ technology was introduced.
The bank also boasts dynamic currency conversions at its EFTPOS terminals which now sees visitors pay their hotel bills in their own currencies.