Abstract
The eighth Accounting History International Conference (8AHIC) was held in Ballarat, Australia in August 2015. The conference theme was “Accounting’s History in Diverse Industries and Other Settings”, although papers were accepted across the full spectrum of accounting history topics and methodological and theoretical frameworks.
The 8AHIC was hosted and sponsored by Federation Business School, Federation University Australia. Sponsorship was also generously provided by CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. A total of 85 delegates attended the conference. As well as a strong representation from Australia and New Zealand, accounting history scholars from Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the USA and Wales were in attendance. The conference venue fostered a congenial atmosphere, which was also evident at the Conference Dinner, where some delegates revealed their dancing and musical skills.
Highlights of the conference included:
A plenary address by Professor Rachel Baskerville of Victoria University of Wellington, on the topic “Inflation, Nepotism, T.J. Edmonds: The Synthesis of Individual and Collective Memories”.
A plenary address by Professor Alessandro Lai of the University of Verona, on the topic “A Missing Link between Accounting and the Insurance Industry? Insights from the Past”.
A special presentation by Associate Professor Deirdre Collier on the “History of the American Accounting Association, 1991–2016”.
An international panel opening discussion on the topic “Engaging with Other Accounting Scholars and Scholars Outside Accounting: Issues, Opportunities and Obstacles”. The panel for this session comprised: Professor Rachael Baskerville (Victoria University of Wellington), Professor Nieves Carrera (IE Business School, Madrid), Professor Alessandro Lai (Università degli Studi di Verona) and Professor Lee Parker (RMIT University).
In addition, a total of 55 papers were presented in the parallel sessions. These ranged across a broad array of accounting history themes, including the welfare and aid sectors; accounting education; gender; scandals and fraud; art, charities and everyday life; new public management; public sector accounting and audit; the accounting profession; literature and accounting; agriculture and trade; financial accounting and audit; religious organizations; social change; accounting regulation; and accounting and accountability in specific countries.
An emerging scholars’ colloquium was held immediately prior to the conference, providing an opportunity for participants to receive feedback on research proposals and research in progress.
Special thanks are due to Carolyn Fowler, Associate Editor of Accounting History, who oversaw the development of the technical programme; Garry Carnegie, Joint Editor of Accounting History; Leona Campitelli, Editorial Assistant, Accounting History; Leona Pike and Debra Rogers of Federation Business School; and CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, for their sponsorship. In addition, gratitude is extended to all presenters, panel members, chairs of conference sessions and reviewers of papers submitted to the conference. The contributions of all these parties ensured the success of the conference.
The ninth Accounting History International Conference (9AHIC) will be held in Verona, Italy from 6 to 8 September 2017. This historical and beautiful location will be an ideal setting in which to continue the success of the Accounting History International Conference series. The Convenor of the 9AHIC is Professor Alessandro Lai of the Department of Business, University of Verona.