On 24 September 2026, we celebrate our auditors across the globe and recognise the vital role they play in strengthening both our network and our profession.
This year, we are highlighting the strength of our global Audit community and the expertise, integrity, and dedication our people bring to clients, colleagues, and communities every day.
To bring this story to life, BDO Australia’s Damian Wright, the National Leader of Audit & Assurance, has shared his perspective on what makes him proud of our auditors, the profession’s role in creating confidence, and how innovation is shaping the future of audit.
What I'm most proud of in our auditors is their commitment to quality, integrity, continuous improvement, and the culture we've built at BDO. Every day, our team helps build trust in businesses and capital markets by asking the right questions, challenging assumptions, and delivering work that clients and stakeholders can rely on. Just as importantly, they do it while fostering a collaborative, people-first culture where individuals support one another, share knowledge, and are invested in each other's success. I believe that culture is one of our greatest strengths and a key reason BDO continues to attract and develop outstanding audit professionals.
As the profession evolves, we're equally focused on helping our people build the skills they'll need for the future. That means investing not only in technical audit expertise, but also in digital capabilities, data analytics, commercial acumen, leadership, and communication skills. Through initiatives focused on learning, innovation, and AI adoption, we're equipping our teams to thrive in a technology-enabled environment while continuing to provide the professional judgement and critical thinking that great auditing requires.
Auditors play a unique and vital role in the economy because we provide independent assurance that supports confidence and trust. Investors, lenders, regulators, boards, and the broader community rely on accurate and transparent financial information to make important decisions.
By bringing independence, professional scepticism and objectivity to our work, auditors help strengthen accountability and governance. We don't just validate numbers; we help create confidence in the systems, processes, and reporting that underpin healthy businesses and well-functioning markets.
That role has never been more important in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.
Innovation is transforming the audit profession in exciting ways. Technologies such as AI, data analytics, and automation are helping auditors analyse larger volumes of information, identify patterns more effectively, and focus their time on higher-value activities. This improves efficiency, enhances quality, and allows us to deliver deeper insights for our clients.
But while technology is changing how we work, it won't replace what makes auditors valuable. Human judgement, professional scepticism, ethical decision-making, and the ability to understand context remain essential. Technology can surface risks and opportunities, but people determine what those insights mean and how to act on them. The future of audit isn't about humans versus technology; it's about combining the best of both to deliver even greater quality and value.