CPA Australia’s annual Congress season looms large and near. I’ve just taken some time out to scan the programs, and speaker lists, and so on that are on the CPA Australia website, and it looks like being a fantastic series of events.
The team involved in putting the show together has kindly invited me to speak at the Melbourne event, which I am delighted to be able to do. I also hope to make it along to most of (perhaps all) the other cities for part of Congress that will be held in those locations. Apart from sitting in on some of the interesting sessions, I look forward to meeting other members. After all, as a former headmaster once said to me ‘a school is made up of people, not buildings, or classes – those other things are of little consequence if the right people aren’t also inside’. I feel the same way about our Congress events – what really matters is ensuring that the right people present and attend and are participative during sessions.
Without you, the 2009 Congress season won’t be nearly as successful, meaningful, or fun. I hope to see reader’s of this blog at Congress and to have the chance of meeting you in person then.
September 2, 2009 at 12:50 am |
Hi Richard,
I totally agree with you when you call it “Our Annual Big Event”. You might not believe it but it could be termed as “one stop destination for Accountants and other professionals to enhance skills and knowledge”.
From my experience working in private, public, big or small organisation I can say that organisation and professionals both wait for CPA Congress. You could find both personal and professional development courses and all under one roof (I mean event but roof sounds cool even though they are spread over two or more centres).
Congratulations on organisation such a huge event across different cities with such a great success.
And yes, let me know when are you speaking in this years event (in Melbourne) as I would like to attend that event.
Cheers!!!
Prem Sharma
September 3, 2009 at 12:32 am |
Hi Prem, what a great endorsement! I’m sure that the management team responsible for putting the events together will be most pleased. I’m speaking in Melbourne on Oct 12. I think the session begins at 9am. Please come and say “hi”. Cheers, Richard
September 10, 2009 at 1:56 pm |
I am looking forward to presenting at the QLD, NSW and WA congresses. The QLD and NSW presentations will be my first in both states. Hoping to see lots of CPA’s wanting to improve their Excel skills.
September 17, 2009 at 10:41 pm |
Hi Neale, I’ll try to catch you in NSW, my Excel skills can use a brush-up.
September 19, 2009 at 1:44 am |
Hi Neale and Richard,
Just an idea, I think CPA should consider excel spreadsheeting and financial modelling as part of CPA program. It is such a good knowledge to have and in fact nowadays it is one of most sought-after skill for a lot of finance and accounting jobs.
September 14, 2009 at 6:19 am |
Dear Richard,
I have been enthused and inviorated by the new vibe you are bring to CPA Australia and the Congress is sshaping up to be a fantatsic event.
I have just completed my CPA Program and am proud of what the accounting profession has to offer to the the wider business community.
My dad was a CA and CPA and he was so disgusted with the practices of the profession in the 90s re Arthur Andesens and the debacles in the States, that in 2004, he and mum established the Gourlay Visiting Professorship of Ethics in Business in perpetuity, based at Trinity College, University of Melbourne.
Professor Ed Freeman BA Duke , PHD Washington, based at University of Virginia is coming to Australia later this month and I understand is speaking at one of the Congress Events. Hisinitial event is a public lecture entitled;
Really Getting Out of the Mess: Putting Business Together Once and for all, to be held on 30 September 2009 at 5.30pm at Racv Building 501 Bourke Street Melbourne. Possibly if you are free yo may be interested in attending.
Regards,
Andrew Gourlay ASA
September 17, 2009 at 10:42 pm |
Hi Andrew, what a marvellous thing for your mum and dad to do. Alas, I will be in China on September 30, but I will encourage others from CPA Australia to attend and I regret that I shan’t be able to join. I will be at congress in Victoria on Oct 12/13 and I will look out for Prof Freeman if he is presenting on one of those days. I’m also visiting Melbourne Business School on Oct 12, and will participate in an annual lecture that is being given that evening by a Prof from Stanford Uni – so perhaps I’ll see Prof Freeman there. If you happen to be in attendance at any of the events that I’m at, do come and say hello – and please do me the favour of introducing me to your parents if they happen to be around.
October 3, 2009 at 6:08 am |
Dear Richard,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my (badly spelt) note dated 14/9/09.
Professor Freeman (Ed) is conducting an intensive Ethics module at MBS with the MBA students later during October.
I will liase with Professor Freeman and see whether he is available on 12/10/09. It would be great to meet as he is returning to Melbourne in October 2010 and may be able to be involved in the CPA Congress. We have been in contact with Mr Massis and Ed is Chairing the CPA Town and Gown Lecture on Thu 22/10/09 so we cross paths there.
Thank you again.
Kind regards,
Andrew Gourlay