Sandra Van Der Laan

Professor Sandra Van Der Laan is a Professor of Accounting in the Discipline of Accounting at the University of Sydney Business School. She holds a PhD from the University of Sydney, a BCom in Accounting and an MCom in Finance from the University of Wollongong, a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, and professional designations including FCPA and GAICD. After a career change in the 1990s, she joined the University of Sydney in 2001 from the University of Wollongong as a Lecturer in Accounting, advancing to Professor in 2015. She has held roles such as Associate Dean (Academic) and Academic Director of the Accounting Foundation, and previously served as Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and Professor at Durham University Business School.

Her research explores the impact of accounting practices on institutions and society, encompassing corporate social disclosures, sustainability reporting, ethical investments, corporate governance, accountability in microfinance, and death care in the funeral industry. Key publications include 'Ethical investment processes and outcomes' (2004), 'The role of theory in explaining motivation for corporate social disclosures: voluntary disclosures vs ‘solicited’ disclosures' (2009), 'A survey of sustainability reporting practices of Australian reporting entities' (2005), and the co-authored report 'It’s Your Funeral: An Investigation of Death Care and the Funeral Industry in Australia' (2017). With over 1,400 citations on ResearchGate, her work appears in leading journals such as Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal and Accounting History. She serves on editorial boards of international journals, presents research nationally and internationally, contributes to media discussions on TV, radio, and news outlets, and volunteers on public sector and third sector boards and committees.

Professional Email: sandra.vanderlaan@sydney.edu.au