This month, ICAS hosts its first Ethical Leadership Forum. Our keynote speaker is someone who, while not perhaps a household name, played a key role in exposing the UK’s most widespread miscarriage of justice.

Nick Wallis was one of the first journalists to break the Post Office scandal, and his output extends to two books (one out, one due this autumn), a regularly updated podcast series (18 episodes and counting), a Panorama documentary, reams of written journalism and a consultancy on the award-winning ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office. To give you a taste of what to expect when he addresses the forum on 3 June, this issue features an eye-opening interview with Nick about the governance failures that let the scandal happen – and keep happening.

The story he uncovered is an illustration of the consequences of people in power opting to serve themselves or their employers rather than the public interest. Also in this issue we have a special report on the importance of speaking up with Sybille Raphael, a legal director at whistleblowing charity Protect and another speaker at the Ethical Leadership Forum. She explains why we need to update the laws that guard the rights of those who expose wrongdoing.

That article also features some sage advice from our Director of Policy Leadership, James Barbour CA, on the ethical challenges that CAs often come up against. “Ethical leadership since 1854” is our strapline and doing the right thing is part of our DNA. We recently launched Ethical Insights, a series in which business leaders share personal accounts that demonstrate leadership in action. And you can find out more here.

Last month we launched CA Rising Stars 2025 to celebrate the most talented and inspirational CAs aged 35 and under. One of the categories – for which you can either nominate a colleague or, if you fit the age range, yourself – is Ethical Leadership (alongside Innovators, Changemakers and “Other”).

The overall winner will be crowned CA Rising Star – and we speak to four winners of its predecessor award, One Young CA, including an ICAS Past President, to learn what effect that award had on them professionally and personally.

And finally, we’ve been asking our members to update their online preferences. If you haven’t had the chance to do this yet, then we encourage you to do so. It will ensure you receive the emails most relevant to you and help you make the most of your membership.

Enjoy the issue.

Sarah Speirs, ICAS Executive Director of Member Engagement and Communications
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Learn more and register your place for the ICAS Ethical leadership Forum