Ethical Considerations in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Foundations for our Profession (E2112644)

Brian Friedrich, CPA, LL.M., M.Ed., C.Dir., FCPA, FCCA, is a principal at Canada based Friedrich & Friedrich corporation. He is a board member of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), an independent standard-setting board that develops and issues high-quality ethical standards and pronouncements for more than 2.5 million professional accountants worldwide. In his role with the IESBA, Brian worked on revisions to the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants focusing on biases and professional conduct. He has built and implemented competency-based education, and developed strategic ethics guidelines for established and emerging professional and regulatory organizations.

Clare Levison, CPA, CGMA, is the owner of Inspired Responsibility, a consulting company dedicated to delivering continuing education via positive messages and meaningful content that inspires change. 

Clare has more than 20 years of aerospace and defense industry experience, combined with over a decade of creating content and teaching ethics for the Virginia Society of CPAs. She is a fervent financial literacy advocate and the author of “Frugal Isn’t Cheap: Spend Less, Save More, and Live Better.” Clare has appeared on major radio and television networks across the country discussing personal finance and has been a contributor to numerous publications including Family Circle, Fox Business, Glamour, Kiplinger’s, Redbook, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and U.S. News & World Report.

Clare serves as a national financial literacy spokesperson on the AICPA’s Consumer Financial Education Advocates group. She has also served as a member of the Virginia Society of CPAs Board of Directors.

Vivian J. Paige, CPA, M.B.A., MS, CGMA has extensive experience in taxation and accounting. She was a successful sole practitioner until selling her firm 10 years ago and joining the faculty of her alma mater, Christopher Newport University, where she serves as a mentor to the next generation of CPAs. 

Vivian is a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA). She is actively involved in the VSCPA, currently serving as chair of the Tax Advisory Committee and as a member of the Political Action Committee and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council.  Her longtime service to the VSCPA was recognized in 2019 when she was named the Outstanding Member. 

Vivian is also involved in her community. She was a member of the Mayor’s Commission on Equity and Economic Opportunity and the Mayor’s Committee on Gaming. For several years, she was a weekly guest opinion columnist for The Virginian-Pilot, covering state and local politics. She co-founded Norfolk United Facing Race and was a founding board member of the Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement.