The Institute will continue on its journey of growth and furthering its work to influence the profession and the regulatory regime on behalf of its members.
In addition to the domestic scene, representation on the international scene is also very important to us. The IPA’s chief executive officer, Andrew Conway, has continued to play a key role in this effort.
In mid-November 2012, Andrew participated in the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) annual Council Meeting in Cape Town, where he met with key leaders from the accounting profession from around the world. An important milestone was reached at this meeting, with the signing of a formal collaboration agreement between the IPA and the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) in the UK.
The IFA is a full member of the IFAC and has more than 10,000 members and students. We share a principal focus on the issues of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small to medium-sized practices (SMPs).
This agreement is an important step in building a global support infrastructure and network for smaller enterprises and practices in an ever-changing global profession. We are committed to advocating for SMEs and SMPs and ensuring the challenges faced by these important segments are voiced.
This collaboration will build and leverage a network of almost 34,000 members and students across Australia, the UK and Asia, and it is an exciting step for both institutes.
In December 2012, I visited our office in Beijing to meet with key stakeholders to continue the excellent work of our immediate past president, Christine Leetham.
From 7 to 14 January this year, the IPA once again played an important participation and sponsorship role in the Australian Accountants, Lawyers and Directors Conference in Aspen, Colorado. This was an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss key issues affecting the three professions globally. It also provided an opportunity to discuss potential IPA membership opportunities with the hundreds of delegates who attended the conference.
In closing, I would like to congratulate the IPA’s management team for gaining such high recognition for innovation in the 2012 BRW Most Innovative Companies list. Ranking 19 in the top 30 is a fantastic result.
On behalf of the board, I wish you and your families a prosperous year ahead.
