At the opening session of the XXV Grudis Conference at Iscte Business School, as we celebrated the network's 25th anniversary, the Executive Team was delighted to launch the Grudis Honorary Members Initiative, a measure that recognises distinguished scholars who have made exceptional contributions to accounting research and demonstrated an enduring commitment to nurturing academic communities, most notably the Grudis Accounting Research Network itself.

The initiative

Our Honorary Members are leading scholars of international standing, yet this is not primarily about prestige but, more fundamentally, about honouring academics who share the values on which Grudis was built. Grudis Honorary Members share a genuine passion for community engagement, collaboration, and mentorship, so the initiative represents a natural extension of who we are and what we stand for.

Developed by the Executive Team and endorsed by the Grudis Advisory Board, the initiative was conceived as part of the Network's internationalisation strategy. By formalising connections with distinguished scholars from leading institutions worldwide, we seek to enrich the Grudis Community, create mentoring opportunities for emerging researchers, and strengthen the Grudis’ international visibility and reputation.

The inaugural Honorary Members

We are proud to present the inaugural Grudis Honorary Members. The announcement of their names at the XXV Grudis Conference was met with warmth and applause from the audience, a moment that captured the Community's enthusiasm, pride, and delight in welcoming these distinguished scholars into the Grudis’ fold.
The Grudis Honorary Members are:

• Ann Jorissen, University of Antwerp
• Beatriz García Osma, University Carlos III of Madrid
• Carlos Larrinaga, University of Burgos
• Christopher Koch, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
• Ileana Steccolini, University of Essex
• Mark Clatworthy, University of Bristol
• Martin Messner, University of Innsbruck
• Peter Pope, The London School of Economics and Political Science
• Philip Joos, Tilburg University
• Teemu Malmi, Aalto University
• Wim Van Der Stede, The London School of Economics and Political Science

More details about each Honorary Member can be found on the dedicated page of the Grudis website: hhttps://www.grudis.pt/grudis/governance/grudis-membros-honorarios

These distinguished scholars represent research excellence across financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, social and environmental accounting, and public sector accounting. Collectively, they strengthen the Network's international presence, with Honorary Members now drawn from institutions in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

The Executive sincerely and deeply thanks each of them for warmly and enthusiastically embracing this Initiative and accepting the invitation we addressed to them on behalf of the Community.

What this means for Grudis

The appointment of Honorary Members deepens the Network's capacity in important ways that we will endeavour to explore in a coordinated manner, ensuring we do not overwhelm them or abuse their generosity. They will hold a special status within the Network.

The presence of our Honorary Members in the Grudis Network solidifies the arrival of Grudis in the international space, making it an internationally recognised network that develops emerging scholars and feels like home for established scholars. For the Grudis Community, this is a new milestone, a moment to celebrate and a signal of what is to come.

Aldónio Ferreira, on behalf of the Executive Team