It typically takes at least 10 years for a chartered accountant to gain the experience, expertise and respect required to be awarded a CA ANZ fellowship. Fellows may use the FCA postnominal, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the profession and the community.

Yet the following four CA ANZ fellows received the designation comparatively early on in their careers. Here’s what set them apart.

Joshua Duke FCA

Proud Dunghutti man Joshua Duke FCA is the inaugural chair of the CA ANZ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Member Panel. He sits on a number of other boards and provides commercial advisory services to clients across Australia, including federal government, and listed and non-listed organisations.

“I joined my first board at 25 and that shaped my career from then on,” he says. “Seeing a business from the top down accelerated my learning in a way no operational role ever could. Sitting on larger and more complex boards has continued to stretch my thinking and, while my pro bono board work is on a different scale, it has been just as important.”

Duke says that receiving the FCA designation was deeply meaningful. “I see it as recognition of my willingness to say yes early, take responsibility seriously and stay committed over time.”

He also regards it as recognition for the organisations and people he has worked alongside.

“I've been fortunate to work with people who believed in what we were trying to achieve together and who saw value in the impact of that work,” he says. “If there was a challenge, it was learning to sit comfortably with the recognition, while staying focused on the work itself.”

Pauras Rege FCA

New Zealand-based Pauras Rege FCA is director and co-founder of Tiaki Capital and a director of privately owned businesses within the childcare and wholesale consumer electronics sectors.

“My career path has been relatively unconventional, transitioning from a traditional professional services background into business ownership and entrepreneurship,” he says. “I understood the importance of hard work, continuous learning and embracing challenging opportunities from the outset, consistently put my hand up for new projects and aimed to exceed expectations. That gave me exposure to a broad range of experiences and significantly accelerated my growth.”

Determined to run his own business, Rege set out to build a well-rounded commercial skillset across accounting, banking and corporate advisory.

“Developing experience in capital raising and mergers and acquisitions enabled me to build a strong niche and create long-term value for clients,” he says.

Rege believes his nomination hinged on his willingness to embrace opportunities that have meaningful impact, whether through his professional career, governance roles, mentoring or contributing to the wider business and accounting community.

“I’m also deeply passionate about the accounting profession and helping reshape outdated perceptions around it being solely a ‘bean-counting’ career,” he says. “Today’s accountants play a critical role in strategy, leadership, investment, entrepreneurship, technology and business growth.”

Receiving the FCA designation relatively early was a great honour. “It has also motivated me to continue evolving, contributing and creating meaningful value throughout my career.”

Meryl Johnston FCA

Meryl Johnston FCA, founder of Bean Ninjas, started her career as a graduate in audit at BDO in Melbourne.

“BDO had an excellent training and development program, and the constant feedback loop was invaluable,” she says. “Within a year or two we were training other staff and giving feedback ourselves. That really cements your own learning.”

However, she refused to become too comfortable.

“I spent time in audit, then at a small tax firm, then moved into an in-house finance role before starting my own business,” she says. “Each move stretched me in a different way, and I was always willing to say yes to new projects and opportunities.”

Johnston found the FCA designation particularly meaningful as her mother was a chartered accountant when there were very few women in the profession.

“I know that a CA ANZ fellowship brings certain responsibilities,” she says. “For me, that means continuing to represent the profession well, uphold high standards and contribute in a positive way. For example, for the past decade I’ve shared the realities of growing a firm, building a team, choosing a niche and navigating change in the profession.”

Luke Kemeys FCA

Luke Kemeys FCA is a business strategist and podcast host. His Keep the Change podcast, which helps Kiwis improve their financial literacy, reaches tens of thousands of people.

“Early in my career, I was sitting across from business owners who were working incredibly hard but struggling with cash flow, growth or decision making,” he says. “I could see the gap and that’s when things shifted for me. I leaned into advisory, helping business owners to make better decisions in real time.”

Kemeys began to think commercially as well as technically, surrounding himself with business owners, advisers and mentors. He also started to share what he was learning through content, workshops and, more recently, the podcast. He says becoming an FCA relatively early was a significant milestone, but it also brought pressure.

“Achieving anything comes with the expectation that you’ll continue to perform at that level,” he says. “We know there’s a tall poppy element in New Zealand, so you need to be comfortable in your own capabilities and contributions. There will always be someone who feels the need to tell you it’s not enough.”

Advice for aspiring fellows

Duke advises against making the FCA designation a goal in itself. “It’s about making a difference because it’s the right thing to do and something you’re proud to stand behind,” he says.

Rege sees real benefit in gaining a wide range of experiences, developing a strong commercial mindset along with critical technical skills, as well as actively contributing to the profession and the wider community.

As Johnston points out, that can be anything from mentoring younger accountants to volunteering, educating or supporting community organisations. “The key is to find something that feels genuine to you and then being consistent,” she says.

Kemeys urges CAs to invest heavily in their ability to communicate.

“The best accountants aren’t the ones who know the most,” he says. “They’re the ones who can take complexity and turn it into clarity.”