digital reporting and the rise of structured data

Chief Executive Officer, XBRL International

John Turner is the Chief Executive Officer of XBRL International, the global not-for-profit standards organisation responsible for developing and promoting the XBRL business reporting standard.

With more than 25 years’ experience in digital business reporting, John works with regulators, governments and the private sector worldwide to support the transition from document-based reporting to structured, data-centric reporting. He has been actively involved in the development and adoption of XBRL since 1999 and, since 2017, has focused extensively on the role of mandatory digital disclosures in advancing sustainability reporting.

Before joining XBRL International in 2013, John served as CEO of CoreFiling, led KPMG LLP’s global XBRL practice, and held a senior role at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), where he led significant data collection and regulatory reporting initiatives.

Based in Oxford, United Kingdom, John holds degrees in Law and Arts from the University of Queensland, with majors in Computer Science and Government.

Senior Investigator: Corporate Compliance and Disclosure Regulation, CIPC

Cuma Zwane is a Senior Investigator within the Corporate Compliance and Disclosure Regulation Unit at the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), where he leads the Annual Financial Statements (AFS) stream responsible for administering South Africa’s XBRL financial reporting regime.

He plays a key strategic role in the development of sustainability reporting within CIPC as Deputy Chairperson of the Adoption Readiness Working Group and provides strategic secretarial support to the Commissioner, Chairperson of the XBRL South Africa Board.

Cuma represents CIPC on several national and international technical bodies, including the IFRS Foundation’s International Taxonomy Consultative Group (ITCG), the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors’ Committee for Auditing Standards (CFAS), and previously served on the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s Steering Committee responsible for assessing the adoption of the ISSB Sustainability Disclosure Standards.

He holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Management.

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Unifi

Aiden Chowles is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Unifi, where he leads the company’s strategic direction, product innovation and operational growth across the EMEA region.

With a multidisciplinary background spanning psychology, practical theology and organisational development, Aiden has spent more than two decades helping organisations improve performance and navigate complex business transformation. A published academic and fiction author, he brings a unique perspective to sustainability, data intelligence and organisational change.

Under Aiden’s leadership, Unifi has developed a platform-driven approach that enables organisations to manage sustainability data, reporting and ESG performance more effectively, making sustainability more accessible, measurable and impactful for businesses and investors alike.

Chief Executive Officer, Ince

Alban Atkinson is the Chief Executive Officer of Ince and represents the third generation of the Atkinson family to lead the business.

Throughout his career at Ince, Alban has played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s digital and data-driven capabilities, driving innovation across its corporate reporting, investor communications and stakeholder engagement solutions. He is passionate about harnessing technology, trusted data and strong partnerships to help organisations communicate more effectively in an increasingly digital world.

Under his leadership, Ince continues to evolve towards a Digital First future, connecting issuers, investors and stakeholders through innovative reporting, structured data and intelligent engagement solutions across Africa and beyond.