Dear members,
For my final President’s message in A Plus, I want to look back on the year and reflect on the remarkable journey we have undertaken together. It has been a year filled with significant milestones, challenges, and triumphs that have set a formidable foundation for the future of our Institute.
Over the past year, one of my primary focuses has been on enhancing member engagement and support. We have made concerted efforts to create platforms for meaningful interactions, such as the Members’ Forum and networking lunches to provide invaluable opportunities for the Institute’s leadership to connect with members and hear your view directly. These events have been pivotal in fostering a sense of community and belonging among our members.
This also applies to our efforts to strengthen our support in professional development as well as personal well-being. While we continued to provide CPD courses covering critical areas such as accounting, sustainability, audit and assurance, and ethics, we also ramped up efforts to organize various sports, recreational and networking activities. I had the opportunity to attend many of these events and was delighted to see our members display their exceptional talents beyond the workplace.
Over the course of the year, we have diligently utilized press events and releases to disseminate the Institute’s work to the public. Our communications have underscored vital issues, including our budget proposals submitted to the government, survey on the talent supply within the accounting sector, and findings from the teen money management survey. Furthermore, our advancements in establishing sustainability reporting standards have attracted substantial attention, fortifying our Institute’s position as a thought leader in the industry.
Indeed, as the standard setter for sustainability reporting in Hong Kong, our work was recognized in the Vision Statement issued by the government in March 2024, and we have proudly led the development of the HKFRS S1 and S2, with the exposure drafts launched in September. Furthermore, we introduced the 1-2-7 Sustainability Capacity Building Framework to foster a sustainability mindset and enhance knowledge across our community. Our ESG workshops, under the Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme by the government, have also been well-received, reflecting our commitment to sustainability.
The Institute also continues to forge strategic partnerships across borders. Our recent memoranda of understanding with the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants exemplify our commitment to international collaboration.
“It has been a year filled with significant milestones, challenges, and triumphs that have set a formidable foundation for the future of our Institute.”
To develop future talent, we have increased our outreach efforts. Since January, the Rich Kid, Poor Kid programme has conducted over 40 sharing sessions, reaching more than 9,000 young students. Collaborating with the Education Bureau, we also engaged over 9,000 secondary students, providing them with insights into our profession. The participation of many of our members has played a significant role in inspiring the next generation. For tertiary students, we conducted more than 60 QP Talks in the past 18 months, reaching over 4,000 students, while the enhanced Experiential Business Learning Programme offered internships, job shadowing, and training opportunities, ensuring students gain practical experience in the field.
These achievements indicate our commitment to advancing the profession and promoting a sustainable future. To make sure our members and stakeholders are informed of these important efforts, we have improved our communications by enhancing direct email communications and social media outreach.
The recent launch of the CPA Community, which invited a select group of dedicated members, serves as a centralized platform to engage individuals who share our mission to disseminate key messages aimed at promoting the profession’s image. This represents a significant milestone that I hope will establish an essential channel enabling us to enhance the impact of our initiatives.
As I conclude my tenure, I am filled with optimism for the future of our Institute. The foundations we have laid this year will undoubtedly pave the way for continued growth and success. I am confident that with your continued support and dedication, we will reach even greater heights.
Thank you for the privilege of serving as your President. It has been an honour to lead such a dynamic and forward-thinking organization. I look forward to continuing my participation as a member of the Council and the Immediate Past President.
Roy Leung
President
