21 November 2025
SW International held its dynamic, future-focused International Partners Conference in Sydney, Australia, from 18 to 20 November 2025. Hosted by SW Australia and drawing over 150 partners from across the network, the conference, themed “Catalyst for Growth,” focused on strengthening cross-border collaboration and exploring new ways to create lasting value for clients, stakeholders, and the network in an evolving global marketplace.
Stephen O’Flynn, Chair, and Duane Rogers, CEO of SW Australia, welcomed delegates to Sydney. Stephen set the tone with his opening remarks at the welcome cocktail event, while Duane officially opened the conference with his welcome address. “It is an honour to host our global colleagues here in Sydney as we celebrate two major milestones for SW Australia — 90 years of professional service excellence and a decade of partnership within the SW international network. Since our founding in Melbourne in 1935, the firm has grown into a nationally recognised practice with offices in Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth, and a team of 45 partners and over 400 professionals. This gathering reminds us that our greatest strength lies in unity, combining our global experience and shared vision to turn opportunities into tangible progress for the network and the markets we serve,” Duane remarked.
The conference continued with an address by Zhang Ke, Chairman of SW International: “Our profession is navigating an era of profound transformation, challenged by digitalization, AI, and shifting economic models. In this landscape, SW International is choosing not merely to adapt, but to lead. We have laid a strong foundation for this journey by strengthening our global governance—implementing a complete member firm management system, enhancing quality control, and actively protecting our brand. This robust framework enables our core strategy: to fundamentally transform our service models, embed AI and digital tools, and foster a truly collaborative global network. We are pivoting from traditional practices to build an organization capable of turning global challenges into exceptional client value. By breaking down borders and integrating our resources, we are building our unique competitive advantage for the future.”
Marco Carlei, Managing Director of SW International, provided an update on the network’s strategic direction and growth priorities. “By building stronger regional leadership, we are better positioned to drive engagement, collaboration, and support our global expansion. At the same time, we remain mindful of the wider challenges present in the market. Looking ahead, as private equity continues to reshape the accounting profession, our emphasis is on applying proactive risk management and investing in innovation. These actions will help us maintain clearer differentiation, reinforce trust and ethics, uphold higher quality standards, and more effectively support our member firms.”
Echoing the conference theme, a special session, “Reflections on Success,” commemorated two major milestones within the SW network: the 10-year anniversary of SW Australia as a member of the SW International network and the 20-year anniversary of SW Hong Kong. Duane Rogers reflected on a decade of client trust, sector diversification, and digital innovation, while Roy Lo, Managing Partner together with Andy Wong, IPO Leader of SW Hong Kong, shared the firm’s 20-year journey and celebrations, and its expertise in the Hong Kong capital market.
As part of the international network updates, Leanne Liang, Chairperson of the International Quality Management Committee, and Roy Lo, in his capacity as Chairman of the International Brand and Marketing Committee, highlighted the progress and future initiatives of the their respective Committees.
The program also featured an insightful economic update by Alan Oster, Senior Chief Economist at National Australia Bank (NAB) | OECD, providing perspectives on global economic trends and their implications for professional services.
A particular highlight was the first-ever leadership activity on drumming, an innovative team-building session that used collaborative drumming to enhance leadership cohesion and partnership synergy among delegates.
On the second day, the conference continued with a client panel session hosted by Rami Eltchelebi, Partner of SW Australia, where Shariff Burra, CEO, Kevin Su, CFO of Yancoal Australia and Liu Jingwei, Partner of SW China, discussed strategies for building stronger and long-term relationships.
The agenda also included a dedicated session on “AI: Global Trends”, exploring the impact and applications of artificial intelligence in the professional services sector.
Additionally, delegates engaged in various spotlight and breakout sessions addressing key industry topics, covering ESG assurance, tax developments including Pillar Two and CRS; as well as cross-border collaboration focusing on M&A and family office.
The conference concluded with the announcement of Spain, as the host city for the 2026 International Partners Conference.
Through engaging discussions, strategic initiatives, and collaborative activities, the three-day program of the SW International Partners Conference 2025 demonstrated the network’s shared purpose as a true Catalyst for Growth, bringing partners together to shape strategies for navigating an ever-evolving global marketplace.