Throughout the profession, accountants are achieving great things. When their achievements are publicly recognised they can become role models, motivating and inspiring their colleagues. CA ANZ’s fellow chartered accountant (FCA) postnominals identify accountants who have made an outstanding contribution to the profession and the community – and Naomi Walsh FCA, CA ANZ Australian vice president, appreciates the scope of the award.

“It recognises your career as a whole, including the contributions that are often less visible than your professional history,” says Walsh. “I think recipients place a high value on the fact that they are nominated by their peers.”

The process begins when a colleague nominates a chartered accountant they consider worthy of the honour.

“They must then gain the support of two referees and ensure the CA agrees to the nomination,” says Julia Fink FCA, 2025 CA ANZ vice president New Zealand. “From there, the local CA ANZ Regional Council reviews the nomination, and the CA ANZ Council makes the final decision.”

A professional boost

In terms of your career, the FCA designation highlights that the member has achieved a high level of professional standing.

“It shows you’re a senior person with leadership experience, who has had a positive impact beyond their job responsibilities,” says Walsh.

It also brings respect from peers.

“Other accountants recognise that you’re esteemed within the profession,” says Fink. “Colleagues can see that you have contributed to the profession and are therefore likely to contribute again. I’m sure that helped me to be elected vice president.”

Recognising a range of contributions

Stephanie Liu FCA, committee member of CA ANZ Shanghai and leader of Azure Group’s China operations, sees her FCA status as a valuable asset in building confidence with clients, government bodies and partners across borders.

“Supporting inbound and outbound investment has formed the core of my work,” she says “I help Australian businesses to set up in China and with their ongoing accounting requirements, and work with Chinese companies investing in Australia. In collaboration with Austrade and various state governments, I also help to bridge regulatory understanding, build trust and promote long-term success for businesses on both sides.”

She believes being an FCA has helped reinforce the importance of the profession in facilitating cross-border transactions and ensuring ongoing compliance, especially as it becomes more common for businesses to operate globally and regulation becomes more complex.

“I’ve increasingly served as a trusted bridge between professional communities by hosting and facilitating delegation visits,” she says. “These moments of exchange are not only enriching, they strengthen mutual understanding and elevate the role of accounting professionals as global connectors.”

Joshua Duke FCA, founding chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Panel at CA ANZ and a director within Deloitte’s consulting business, says the CA ANZ fellowship has elevated his professional standing.

“It has opened doors to senior leadership roles, including my portfolio of board positions,” he says. “These have helped showcase the value of Indigenous perspectives in business and design, ensuring our cultural narratives are represented authentically and respectfully at national and global levels.”

A broader impact

The less visible achievements outside the workplace can vary widely. For example, Walsh, who is currently the Launceston Institute engagement lead at the University of Tasmania and an experienced non-executive director, volunteers on the boards of not-for-profit organisations and industry associations.

Fink, who works as CFO at the Climate Change Commission, played a key role in shaping New Zealand’s financial reporting standards for charities, and improving transparency and accountability in the sector.

Liu continues to grow and support cross-border business collaboration, and Duke has demonstrated sustained community engagement, particularly in advancing Indigenous leadership and culturally safe governance.

“The FCA platform has amplified my voice as an advocate for Indigenous participation in business and finance,” he says. “It has also allowed me to champion greater financial literacy and professional pathways for First Nations people, including mentoring Indigenous CA candidates and facilitating pre-accounting programs for Indigenous students. Through board and committee work, I’ve contributed to economic empowerment and self-determination for Indigenous Australians, helping to create opportunities for young First Nations professionals to see themselves as leaders in their fields.”

A call for nominations

Duke urges CAs to identify and nominate potential FCAs.

“The CA ANZ fellowship is a powerful peer-to-peer recognition of your career achievements, and your contribution to the profession, business and community,” he says. “It’s not just a title, it’s a testament to your impact, leadership and commitment to the values of CA ANZ. It’s also meaningful recognition for you and the communities and organisations you serve.”

Liu also encourages professionals to nominate their peers and embrace the FCA path.

“To me, the FCA title represents trust, credibility and sustained leadership,” she says. “The FCA journey also reminded me that our professional identity can extend far beyond our day-to-day technical responsibilities. It can be a platform for leadership, mentorship, advocacy and diplomacy.”

Walsh welcomes the opportunity to nominate deserving colleagues.

“The process itself encourages CAs to reflect on their career and how much they’ve achieved,” she says. “Many people underestimate their own accomplishments. This is particularly true of women.

“There’s plenty of evidence that gender diversity adds value to an organisation and, by being visible in their leadership roles, female FCAs are also an inspiration for younger women, so we’d like to see this change.”

Demographics could also contribute to the female shortfall.

“Currently, there’s close to a 50/50 split between male and female CA ANZ members,” says Fink. “However, nominees are usually well established in their careers and there are many more males than females in this older age bracket. This suggests that the issue could resolve itself over time.”

A quick and easy process

Walsh stresses that nominating a colleague or someone in your network won’t take a great deal of time.

“We all appreciate that accountants have busy lives,” she says. “Once you have identified a worthy and willing nominee, the regional offices will help with any paperwork, such as gathering references and preparing and compiling the application.” 

Nomination form

CA ANZ fellowship recipients are honoured at a formal event in December every year. This year, nominations close on 4 August 2026. To get more information on the requirements and download the nomination form and visit the CA ANZ fellowships page.

Here are five tips on writing a nomination.