WHEN a network of certified public accountants (CPAs) from Argentina, Australia, China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdom, among others, descended for the first time en masse upon the town of Malay in Aklan, they flew in on the winds of change, driven by the promise of growth trajectories, especially in the digital space where accounting intersected with artificial intelligence (AI). At what became the nesting grounds of Movenpick Resort & Spa Boracay and the Station 1 beachfronts from Wednesday, July 10, to Friday, July 12, the international delegates spread their minds' wings and soared on the lofty ideals of applying generative technologies to address real-world accounting problems in real-time.

At the Urbach Hacker Young (UHY) International Ltd. regional conference, titled 'Driving growth through change,' a series of knowledge-skills upgrading talks and a fun-run/walk-for-a-cause culminating activity hatched in the delegates' minds the fledgling thrust to coast on the currents of AI-assisted solutions. Taking the flock under its wing was UHY member firm M.L. Aguirre & Co., CPAs, which organized and hosted the regional conference for its maiden flight in the Philippines, piloted by firm founder and Managing Partner Michael 'Mhike' Aguirre.