Alex Malley

Goodbye and thank you

Today marks my last day as president of CPA Australia. Thank you to all members and staff for your collective support.

 

What a privilege it has been!!

 

Our wonderful organisation has a great board, management and staff singularly focussed in making CPA Australia relevant to its members, the profession and, where appropriate, the wider community.

 

Our newly elected president, Professor Richard Petty, personifies the energy of CPA Australia and the profession... youthful, smart and internationally renowned. Richard, we all wish you and the Board great success into the future.

 

Many thanks again everyone. I look forward to watching our CPA Australia star continue to rise.

 

Love,

 

Alex

Public Sector Convention a Resounding Success

What a roaring success was last week's CPA Australia International Public Sector Convention in Sydney. As one of our flagship events on this year's calendar, it spoke volumes for the quality of our members who operate in the public sector and also for our organisation's capacity to bring such a diverse range of views and backgrounds under one roof.

 

Guest speakers included former Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer, current Federal Minister Craig Emerson and high profile federal National Party MP Senator Barnaby Joyce. All three provided invaluable insight and brought an interesting perspective to the local and global environment in which we operate.

 

My congratulations and thanks to everyone who put it all together. To organise such a seamless three days was no mean feat. 

CPAs show their humanity, generosity

I was moved by the overwhelming response from our members to my call for suggestions on how we could, collectively and as individuals, lend assistance to victims of the recent Victorian bushfires.

 

The response, as an organisation and designation was, as expected, timely, practical and innovative.

 

We've created a space on the CPA Australia website where members can register to volunteer their particular skills as well as establishing an initiative to help any members directly affected by the bushfires. These initiatives will continue to generate benefit long after the media focus has moved on. Again, typical of our designation's capacity for thinking long-term.

 

Thanks to all who have written, called or approached me in person with ideas and feedback on this issue. It's all been very much appreciated.   

Congrats Richard Petty, I Remember that lecture Jenny Chen, SuperGranny

Wonderful news for CPA Australia. We have elected our youngest and first internationally-based president, Professor Richard Petty. How global we have become. Congrats also to deputy presidents Low Weng Keong (Singapore) and John Cahill (WA). All due to start on April 1 2009.

 

Thanks for your blog comment Jenny Chen. I do recall using the accounting textbook in that lecture many years ago... as a cushion for a student who had become unwell... once again highlighting the many purposes of accounting information.

 

Now for SuperGranny. I met this English lady on a recent flight from Auckland to Sydney who told me that as well as being a grandmother and mum she also uses the internet for travel bookings to assist her on her backpacking trips amongst other things. I told her I was so impressed that I thought she was worthy of mention on my blog which she promised to read.

 

Technology and human endeavour have no bounds.  

Victorian bushfires

I really feel for the thousands of people who have been made homeless by the Victorian bushfires. Imagine what it would be like to have nothing left but the clothes you stand up in.

I urge members to sign on to the register on our website and offer their skills in the area of financial and tax related assistance. Help will be needed long after the story disappears in the media.

Members and staff alike have rallied to the cause, and staff will have the opportunity to use volunteering leave to take part in rebuilding programs through our partnership with Mission Australia.

If you're a member who has been directly affected by the bushfires please contact Cris Massis, director, CPA Australia Victorian division, to discuss ways CPA Australia can help you on cris.massis@cpaaustralia.com.au or +61 3 9606 9827.

Business leadership during a downturn

Mindful that governments have unveiled massive spending programs aimed at stimulating economic and business activity, I chose to speak about the importance of business leadership amid the global economic downturn at a symposium in Auckland, New Zealand, attended by more than 300 CFOs.

The information that accountants collate, analyse and disseminate is far too crucial to the health of businesses and markets for them not to be fully engaged in the challenges we currently face. As businesses scramble to cut costs and beef up their balance sheets, long term business planning - imposing a broad vision for the way forward - is vital. Decisions on strategy, investment and resource allocation are all part of the important longer term perspective that accountants bring to a business, and makes them valuable to employers. What do you think?

Words fail us as we reflect on humanity

The abject tragedy and despair of the Victorian bushfires leaves me grasping for words. My heart goes out to to all those who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods. Spare a thought for the fire-fighters, emergency workers, police and volunteers who are working in circumstances more difficult than most of us could imagine.

 

Like thousands, if not millions, around the world I'm moved by the urge to help in some way. I'm always struck by the irony of how during these worst of times, the best of humanity shines through.

 

Last night I attended a meeting of our Victorian division and the feeling of sadness and a desire to help was palpable.

 

CPA Australia is a large organisation and our staff and members are exploring ways in which we can utilise our scope and expertise to lend assistance.

 

I'd be very interested in any suggestions from you on ways in which we could contribute that would complement rather than duplicate the amazing outpouring of help that has already been offered. 

Davos Man must continue to evolve

Interesting developments at the World Economic Forum currently underway in Davos Switzerland. Not surprising for two reasons really: one: it's a gathering of the best and brightest that the global economy, world business and government has to offer and two: we're in the midst of the biggest global economic and financial crisis in generations.

 

What's important though is for this high powered gathering to avoid falling into finger pointing and blame games. Working together to negotiate a way through the current turmoil and uncertainty is crucial.  

 

Today I was interviewed on global business network Bloomberg Television and again the topics for discussion revolved around a familiar set of issues. And yet again these highlighted the critical role the accounting profession will play as we work together to minimise this downturn and start growing again.

Issues of governance, risk management, transparency and business ethics are integral to the accounting profession and to the broader solutions going forward. Equally, an ability to think strategically and take a long-term view will be important. Again accountants will have to be central.

Barack to the future

Barack Obama's inauguration speech was both extraordinary and sombre, reflecting the enormous challenges ahead and importantly, the need to believe in individuals as we work to repair the economic and other global damage done. People are constantly looking to the accounting profession to provide answers to plot a way through the current economic gloom. I've conducted a number of media interviews recently and a recurring theme has been about the loss of confidence in institutions, regulators, etc.

 

I believe it all rests on restoring confidence in individuals and through this will flow the restoration of confidence in our institutions.

 

Barack Obama symbolises this process on a broad level and his response to America's economic crisis will be critical. It's also incumbent on us though as corporate leaders and the accounting profession to make our own contribution to restoring confidence.

 

In my recent media interviews I've discussed the importance of risk management and corporate governance as we work through the current economic ills. I've also stressed however, the continuing importance of good innovation as well as a willingness to be bold. The accounting profession has an integral role to play in all of this.  

Game on and welcome back !

Well how was Christmas and the New Year? Any resolutions? How about this market?

No surprises that CPAs continue to be in high demand. On Monday we issued a media release outlining my thoughts on how important accountants are in managing through these times and as defenders of the public interest. I am off to Phonm Penh, Cambodia tomorrow to speak to that issue at the ASEAN Federation of Accountants conference.

We are in high demand and over the past two days I have spoken or will speak to, ABC News Radio, National Radio News, the Australian and Sky News Business Channel on our role as defenders of the public interest and on international graduate employment issues