Associations
FROM: MAR-APR 2003 ISSUE
East Coast Advocate
CGAs in all industries can expect fair and diligent representation from Sandra D. Bishop, CGA, CGA-Newfoundland and Labrador's president for the two-year term, 2002-04.
Among Sandra's goals are ensuring changes to the Public Accountancy Act are in the best interests of the Association and the public, and continuing to ensure that full professional rights for CGAs are firmly entrenched in Newfoundland and Labrador. Also on the agenda for the provincial association are developing the existing strategic plan, enhancing the delivery of the education program, proceeding with the Atlantic Image Enhancement Initiative, and increasing student enrolment and member services, says Sandra.
A born-and-bred Newfoundlander, Sandra is currently the manager of financial operations with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Finance, debt management division, in St. John's. She received her designation in 1998 and is registered with CGA-Newfoundland and Labrador as a part-time public practitioner. She also holds a public accountant licence issued by the provincial Public Accountants Licensing Board.
Sandra entered the CGA program in 1987 and completed it in its entirety with no exemptions. "I began the program to develop my career; however, I soon realized the dynamics and magnitude of the designation. I was determined to finish," she says. Sandra is the mother of two sons, Brian (28) and Robert (24), who both now live in Alberta.
Sandra's involvement with the provincial association began immediately after receiving her designation. She has served on several committees and was first elected to the board of governors in 1998-99. She was the provincial representative on the board of directors for the Atlantic Regional Educational Association of Certified General Accountants Inc. (AREA) in 1999-2000, and also served on the CGA-Canada national education committee in 2001-02. She has been on the executive of CGA-Newfoundland and Labrador since 1999, first in a two-year term as treasurer from 1999 to 2001, as second vice-president(2000-01), then first vice-president(2001-02), and finally as president this year.
"I will be the third female president in the history of the Newfoundland and Labrador association," she proudly points out.
Serving with Sandra on the CGA-Newfoundland and Labrador executive are A. Terrance Hutchings, B.Voc.Ed., CGA, vice-president;Trevor S. McCormick, B.Comm., CGA, secretary; Kevin J. Antle, B.Comm., CGA, treasurer; C. Wade Rogers, B.Ed., CGA, past-president;David R. White, B.Comm., FCGA, CGA-Canada Board representative; and Gordon D. Cook, National Professional Standards Committee representative.
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New Head for Ontario
Diane Burgess, B.Comm., MBA, CGA, has accepted the position of executive director and chief operating officer of CGA Ontario, taking over for retiring Gordon Fuller, FCGA. She began her new role with the provincial affiliate in January and immediately became involved in all aspects of the association.
"I am honoured and excited to have the opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking,leading-edge professional association that is grounded in integrity and ethics," Diane says. "I look forward to working with everyone, including CGA staff, volunteers, CGAs, students and the organizations that benefit from what CGA represents."
A strong finance executive by training, Diane's career has included work in the accounting, computer software, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and public relations consultancy industries. As president of DuPont Pharma, Diane saw the organization through significant challenges and unprecedented success. Most recently, Diane did a stint as chief operating officer at the strategic communications company Hill and Knowlton. Diane has also participated in various volunteer community activities including serving as section chair for the United Way of Peel, Ontario.
Diane received her CGA designation in 1989, and has a bachelor of commerce degree from McMaster University and a master's in business administration in pharmaceutical marketing from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia.
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PPR Pursuit
CGA-Nova Scotia will continue to pursue full public practice rights for its members, says Anne Driscoll, CGA, the provincial president for 2002-03. "The recent passage of Bill 213 in Ontario, which indicates the government's intention to provide access to public accounting to all members of all three Canadian professional accounting designations, is a very positive development for CGAs across Canada," she says. "In Nova Scotia, we fully expect this development to be of help to us as we continue to work toward new public accounting standards that will recognize CGA qualifications here. It will also set the stage for our efforts to influence a change in the composition of the Public Accountants Board of Nova Scotia, which has been dominated by chartered accountants throughout most of its 50-year history."
CGA-Nova Scotia continues to implement its strategic plan, which will be the focus of the board for the coming year. "We have also joined forces, with the help of CGA-Canada, with the other three Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island) to work together to develop and implement an image enhancement campaign in Atlantic Canada," she says.
Anne, who was born into an armed forces family in Landstuhl, West Germany, has lived throughout Canada, but has resided in Nova Scotia since her teen years. She attended Saint Mary's University in Halifax, where she received a Bachelor of Commerce, accounting major, in 1984. Since graduation, she has worked in the accounting department of J.W. Lindsay Enterprises Limited, an Atlantic Canadian contracting company, becoming its controller in 1999, the position she still holds today. She now lives in Beaverbank, a small community outside Halifax, with her husband Kevin MacDonald.
Anne received her CGA designation in 1994 and joined the CGA-Nova Scotia professional development committee in 1997. She has been a member of the provincial board since 2000, serving as first vice-president in 2001-02. In addition to her CGA volunteer activities, Anne has volunteered with Girl Guides of Canada, serving as a Brownie leader and treasurer for the Halifax area in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Serving with Anne on the CGA-Nova Scotia executive are John McCulloch, CGA, first vice-president;Norman Lockyer, CGA, second vice-president and secretary/treasurer; and Brenda Reid, CGA, past-president.
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Northern Designation
Nancy Hanks, CGA, wants to ensure that certified general accountant is the designation of choice in the North. "The main goal of our association in the coming year is to continue to increase our student membership," says the 2002-03 president of CGA-Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Nancy currently works as corporate controller and manager of accounting for Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. in Yellowknife. Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, she has lived in Yellowknife since 1982, with the exception of a 4.5-year stint as accounting manager for a Colorado gold mine. She and her husband of 23 years,Chris Hanks, have no children, but three dogs and two cats.
In addition to her CGA designation, which she received in 1998, Anne has a bachelor degree in physical anthropology from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. She has served on the CGA-NWT/Nunavut board since she became a CGA, first as member at large, then secretary and now president. She also served as a student representative on the N.W.T. education committee.
"As CGA functions largely on the generous donation of time provided by its members, I believe that it is important to support this organization," Anne says. "I want to give back a little of what had been given to me as a student so that new members will appreciate the gift they have received and want to carry the tradition forward."
Serving with Anne on the CGA-Northwest Territories/ Nunavut executive are John Carter, CGA, vice-president;Ann Foster, CGA, secretary; Lee-Anne Tomkins, CGA, treasurer; and Laurie Ouellette, FCGA, past-president.
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Continuing Professional Change
The main goal of CGA-Manitoba in the year to come is to empower its members to excel in their changing professional environment. "Last year alone, 40 per cent of CGAs in Manitoba experienced significant career change, either through promotion or placement," says Greg Kuzminski, B.Comm., FCGA, the provincial president for 2002-03. "Our challenge is to continue to deliver value to our members, as they perceive it, and to ensure that they have access to the continuing professional development resources necessary to support their career advancements."
In 2002, the CGA-Manitoba executive decided to adopt the four planning horizons model for knowledge-based decision making presented by CGA-Canada. The process of migrating the affiliate's existing planning model to this one will take two years to complete, Greg says.
In addition, CGA-Manitoba continues to support CGA-Ontario in its efforts to secure full public practice rights for members in that province. "We are involved in a dialogue with Dean R.J. Daniels of the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto in regard to satisfying the requirements of the AIT in Ontario. We are monitoring the initiatives of the Ontario Solicitor General's office to determine whether they will suffice in resolving the complaint that we successfully argued before the provincial internal trade tribunal last year," Greg says.
A native of Manitoba, Greg is CFO and secretary at Canada West Shoe Manufacturing Inc., where he has worked since 1988. He has also maintained a management consulting practice since 1983, with a recent focus on business acquisition, turnaround, forensic accounting and finance supports to medium-sized businesses. He lives in Winnipeg with his wife of 22 years, Kim, and their children Christopher (18) and Caroline (15).
Greg received his CGA designation in 1990 and was honoured with the FCGA in 2002. He also has a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with a major in accounting and information systems, from the University of Manitoba.
Greg became involved in the CGA-Manitoba industry and commerce committee in 1993. "I recognized that our association was responsive to initiatives taken by our volunteer board and committees and wanted to assist in making a difference," he says. Since then he has chaired the public affairs, professional affairs, industry and commerce, education and conference committees. He has also served as provincial treasurer. Nationally, he represents Manitoba on the CGA-Canada professional standards committee and has been a member of the professional affairs committee. In addition, he was part of the audit standards workgroup and the professional liability insurance task force.
Serving with Greg on the CGA-Manitoba executive are Doug G. Collins, CIP, CGA, first vice-president; Michael Geiger-Wolf, MBA, CGA, second vice-president;Arlene E. Egnell, CGA, treasurer; D. Scott Anderson, FCGA, national representative; Bev A. Passey, FCGA, past-president; and Len W. Hampson, FCGA, secretary.
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