Last night I had the pleasure of attending a dinner in Hong Kong hosted by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
The dinner was to celebrate the International Company Directors Course that the AICD is running in Hong Kong.
Maureen Monckton, General Manager, Director & Board Development, AICD, was exceedingly kind in welcoming me to the dinner as a representative of CPA Australia.
Maureen and her colleague Fiona had clearly worked hard to ensure that the night was a great success. Maureen spoke briefly to group about the AICDs very exciting plans for development. Maureen and I also shared some casual thoughts and ideas on ways in which the AICD and CPA Australia might further cooperate in the future. To consider doing so makes a lot of sense given the overlap in our membership, and given our shared commitment to improving the management of companies, particularly in the area of financial reporting and management.
I was delighted to find many friends among the course attendees, including my CPA Australia Board colleague Mark Grey, as well as senior members of other organisations. The course attracted a stellar group with attendees travelling from all over the region to attend – kudos to the AICD.
Jamie Allen, Secretary General of the Asian Corporate Governance Association, was guest speaker. Jamie has fascinating insights into the challenges to getting corporate governance “right” in Asia. It is well worth getting along to hear Jamie speak on the subject if ever you get chance. Few know more about corporate governance than Jamie, particularly as it relates to happenings in Asia.
Suzanne Ardagh, State Manager, AICD Western Australia, first connected me to AICD when she visited Hong Kong in July. I must thank Suzanne for working to bring our organisations closer together. There is much that we have in common. As I wrote in a previous blog entry regarding Austcham in Hong Kong, our friendship with organisations such as AICD and Austcham creates reciprocal value for members of both bodies & helps CPA Australia achieve its many goals particularly as they relate to advocacy, professional development, and community outreach.
October 19, 2009 at 8:38 am |
A working relationship with AICD sounds like a very good idea. At times I think you could be excused for thinking the worst global financial crisis to occur in 70 years and the lessons that are to be learned has almost been brushed aside with the collective relief markets have recovered and Australia has technically avoided the dreaded “ R” word.
But I also think there could be more emphasis on how CFO’s and Accountants can make a difference in the broader philosophical sense to the wellbeing of a business and their corporate social responsibility due to the community and all stakeholders upon which it depends upon for existence. Everyone has a philosophy, even if we feign not to acknowkdge our philosophical roots , so that ethical standards that underwrite governance are, by necessity a collective of that philosophy. In fact you could argue it is blight on our civilized state that we even have to debate such things and re introduce fresh governance standards in a response to a prior crisis. But maybe that is the role of the CFO / Company Secretary who becomes the facilitator to remind us what it is to be a good corporate citizen. At least I hope that is the case and the association with AICD ; given good leadership will help strengthen that resolve.
Best wishes