The undoubted highlight of my presidency so far has been connecting with members all around the world, celebrating their successes and hearing about the ways in which they are thriving as part of our connected global profession.

So, it was with much anticipation and gratitude that I recently travelled to Singapore and Malaysia to celebrate an array of achievements in each region, including welcoming new members, conferring 36 Fellowships and connecting with our partner organisations and business communities. It was a long time coming.

It is truly an exciting time for our members in these regions. They have experienced incredible economic growth and, under the stewardship of our Regional Councils and CA ANZ teams, our profession has experienced equally strong growth.

Since the opening of the Singapore office in 2015, we now have more than 1200 members there and CA ANZ has forged strong relationships with the Singapore Accountancy Commission (SAC) and the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), with which we recently re-signed a reciprocal arrangement.

In Malaysia, not only did we celebrate a strong cohort of Fellowships, but excitingly, a renewed agreement with the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) to deliver our new CA Program equivalent. With a focus on future skills such as data analytics and sustainability reporting, backed by a new marketing campaign, the new Program is exceptional.

And while we were unable to travel in person to Hong Kong, we joined the celebrations virtually. It was clear from the camaraderie at the President’s Dinner that the Council and Advisory group’s focus on engagement and connection has benefited members.

As the pandemic’s fifth wave sought to separate and divide, the Council’s wellness series events and focus on increased partnerships with local groups brought members together – evident in the joyous reconnections at the Hong Kong President’s Dinner.

There was a lot to be proud of during the meetings and equally a lot to learn. Like Australia and New Zealand, all three regions face the collective challenge of increasing sustainable practices to address climate change. Chartered accountants have a key role to play in this collective response. We have the technical skill set and ethical foundation to report, assure and manage risk, and steer decision-makers towards better climate and sustainability outcomes. It’s why the new CA Program has a renewed focus on sustainability, and why CA ANZ’s advocacy and input into the International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB) new standards is so vital.

“ Like Australia and New Zealand, all three regions face the collective challenge of increasing sustainable practices to address climate change. Chartered accountants have a key role to play in this collective response.”

One member doing incredible work in this field is Rayne van den Berg FCA, chief financial officer of forestry company Forico. As featured in Acuity Vol 8 Issue 6, van den Berg led a multidisciplinary team to develop Forico’s inaugural Natural Capital Report – one of the first of its kind in the world.

This is just one example of the type of opportunities available for CAs to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work.

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