ProfessorSandra Van Der Laan

BCom (Acctg) MCom (Fin) W'gong; GradCertHEd PhD USyd; CA; GAICD

Sandra van der Laan joined Sydney University from Wollongong in 2001 after a career change in the 1990s. She has formal qualifications in accounting, finance and education.

Sandra's research interests lie in accounting in two broad strands of research. The first centres on accounting as a social discourse and accounting as a mechanism to discharge accountability. As such, she has been researching in the areas of social accounting and ethical investment.

Sandra's second strand of research is centred on her PhD research. Her thesis, entitled 'An Ineffective (De)regulatory Initiative: The Australian Class Order Deed of Cross Guarantee' examines the economic consequences of the financial reporting regulation that was first introduced in 1986. This has led to an interest in the regulation and reporting for corporate groups more generally. She has published her research in a number of top ranking international journals such as Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, Journal of Business Ethics and Critical Perspectives on Accounting.

Sandra has, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, been successful in gaining a large ARC Linkage Grant (valued at approximately $700,000) examining the role of accounting and accountants in sustainability reporting with linkage partner CPA Australia. Sandra has also been awarded grants to pursue her research from CPA Australia, the Institute Chartered Accountants of Australia, AFAANZ and ACCA.

More recently Sandra's research has focused on the death-care industry and issues around accounting for, and accounts of "death". This research has significant social impact which is evidence by Sandra's media profile.

Sandra teaches both introductory accounting and auditing at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. She has also been actively engaged in research into teaching and learning in order to promote improved student learning outcomes. Her research in this area has been presented at a number of international interdisciplinary conferences.

Sandra has recently held senior administrative positions within the Business School including Associate Dean (Academic Development) from 2014 - 2018 and Co-Head of the Discipline of Finance from 2019 - 2021.