I also want to say Happy Birthday! This is a year to celebrate: it is the IPA’s 90th anniversary year. Celebrations, in fact, started in December with the IPA being named one of BRW’s 30 Most Innovative Companies for 2012. According to the 2012 list, we are Australia’s most innovative accounting organisation – an achievement that recognises the work of the Institute with our rebrand, new practice support through My Public Accountant and revolutionary PPQA Online system.
While we reflect on our humble beginnings when first established as the Institute of Factory and Cost Accountants in 1923, we also celebrate our growth, particularly over the past several years. Of course, our rebrand to ‘the Institute of Public Accountants’ has played an important part in that growth.
The year ahead promises a number of celebratory events, starting with the launch of the digital hub for Public Accountant, pubacct.org.au. This is not just a digital version of the publication – it incorporates an official IPA blog, a video repository and news updates, as well as stories from the print edition of Public Accountant (past and present).
It will also include timely online-only articles, updated in the months between new print issues. The site is fully integrated with social media, allowing readers to share our content with their networks. Furthermore, the hub has been built using responsive design, meaning it can be viewed on all types of technology, from computers to tablets to smartphones.
As well as marking our own milestone anniversary, 2013 is a federal election year, and we refer you to our website to view our pre-Budget submission on the key areas affecting our members and the profession, particularly with regard to superannuation, taxation and financial services.
We will also celebrate with small businesses around Australia with I Love Small Business Week, an expansion of the day that we launched in 2012. This will provide the opportunity to thank the small business sector for the significant contribution it makes to the Australian economy.
Our 90th anniversary celebrations will conclude in November with the IPA’s first National Congress, to be held from 7 to 9 November 2013 at the InterContinental, Sanctuary Cove, on the Gold Coast. We have an exceptional program planned, with high-calibre speakers and presenters, making it an event not to be missed.
As this special anniversary year unfolds, I look forward to joining with members as we not only salute the IPA’s proud history but continue to innovate for the future.
