ACADEMIC AND PRACTITIONER PERSPECTIVES ON EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INDIGENEITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING (EDIIB): SHARING INSIGHTS AND BEST PRACTICES

DATE & TIME

Thursday, June 12, 2025
12:00PM - 4:00PM ET (TENTATIVE)

DESCRIPTION

Accounting research addresses EDIIB topics such as women in accounting, Black, Indigenous, visible minority, 2SLGBTQI+ and internationally qualified accountants, accountants with disabilities, and mental health in accounting. Accounting professionals work to foster EDIIB in their organizations and communities through actions focused on valuing and respecting diversity, cultivating inclusive workplaces and networks, and offering supportive programs, training and benefits. This workshop provides opportunities for thought leaders, researchers, and professionals who are passionate about an inclusive accounting profession to come together, share research insights, discuss best practices, and explore opportunities for collaboration. Informed by brief research summaries and intended to build community and connections across academia and practice, the afternoon workshop is structured around discussions of key EDIIB themes, interactive breakout sessions, and building an agenda for ongoing research and initiatives to foster EDIIB in accounting education, research, professional and organizational practice.

WORKSHOP SPEAKERS

MERRIDEE BUJAKI, PhD, FCPA, FCA

Merridee Bujaki is a Professor of Assurance at the Sprott School of Business, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario. Merridee’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity and Belonging research interests in accounting include diversity in corporate reports and accounting firm recruitment documents, the mental health of accounting professionals, the careers of women accountants, accounting and Indigenous Peoples, and identity performances in professional accounting magazines. Her work has been highlighted in both professional magazines and academic journals.

SHAHRUKH (SHAK) SHAH, CPA

Shahrukh (Shak) Shah is a finance executive turned mental health advocate and psychotherapist-in-training. Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder just before a partner interview at PwC, his lived experience of burnout and recovery drives his mission to reshape how high-performance workplaces approach mental health. Through his platform, Bipolar Empath, Shak leads with vulnerability to challenge stigma and promote empathetic leadership. While completing his Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, he also runs an independent accounting advisory practice and partners with organizations across Canada to foster more human-centered work cultures.