President's report
Dale Pinto FCPA
John Curtin Distinguished Professor, President and Chair of the Board
As one of the world’s largest professional accounting bodies, with 174,908 members in more than 100 countries, we take pride in our enduring heritage and ever-growing global presence.
In 2024, I had the pleasure of visiting Sri Lanka, where CPA Australia established a presence in 2023, and Singapore, where we celebrated 70 years of supporting the profession in the region.
In 2025, we mark significant milestones: 70 years in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), 60 years in the Northern Territory, and 20 years since opening our offices in London and Auckland. We will celebrate these anniversaries as a tribute to the members who have been instrumental in expanding our global network.
In 2024, CPA Australia enjoyed steady membership growth and a strengthened financial position, making it a rewarding and productive year.
In March, we welcomed our new CEO, Chris Freeland AM, who is driving excellence in our organisation by cultivating a culture of collaboration and innovation.
Chris has played a pivotal role in launching the CPA Australia brand awareness campaign, which has been showcased across multiple media platforms since November. Built around the tagline “CPA – Three Letters to Limitless,” the campaign features authentic member stories and highlights the extensive range and diversity of career opportunities available to CPAs. At CPA Australia, we are excited about the potential growth within the profession and are actively developing initiatives to encourage more individuals to pursue a career in accounting.
Upholding ethical and professional standards
The Board is dedicated to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards across our membership. In the CPA Program, Ethics and Governance is a compulsory subject, and members must meet Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements on ethics and integrity. We provide an extensive range of professional development courses in this area and are proud that both the complimentary Professional Ethics in Focus and the premium Ethical Dilemmas in Accounting micro‑credentials were recognised at the 2024 LearnX Awards.
In May, we hosted a series of events in Australia featuring Ms Gabriela Figueiredo Dias, Chair of the International Ethics and Standards Board (IESBA), who discussed the vital work that this organisation undertakes.
We also continue to engage with the Australian government through the Parliamentary Joint Committee (PJC) Inquiry into Ethics and Professional Accountability, providing detailed submissions and appearing in person at the PJC and senate inquiries. The PJC’s report, released in November, contains 40 recommendations, some of which relate directly to professional accounting bodies. We are carefully considering each of the recommendations and will continue to consult with stakeholders and work productively with the government to achieve a robust system and ensure that reforms are balanced, targeted and effective.
Prioritising ESG considerations
Prioritising ESG issues remains a key focus for us. In March 2024, we finalised our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), marking a significant step in our ongoing journey to build lasting relationships and create valuable opportunities within the accountancy profession for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Our commitment to reconciliation is unwavering, and we are grateful to our IAG for their expert guidance and counsel.
In May, we published our fourth modern slavery statement in line with the requirements of the Australian Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth). This statement outlines CPA Australia’s measures to assess and mitigate modern slavery risks. To date, no instances of modern slavery have been identified in our activities or supply chains, and we continue to monitor potential risk areas.
CPA Australia recognises the crucial role accountants play in helping businesses understand the costs and risks associated with climate change. We are proud founding members of the Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) initiative alongside others of the world’s largest accountancy bodies. We actively engage with governments and standards setters to develop policy initiatives focused on sustainability reporting and climate-related financial disclosures. Notably, A4S was established by His Majesty King Charles III in 2004, when he was the Prince of Wales.
To support members in meeting mandatory climate reporting requirements in 2024, we launched two sustainability micro‑credentials covering IFRS Sustainability Standards disclosures and sustainable business integration.
Between April and November 2025, we will host four global webinars for members on ESG and sustainability. Additionally, we will continue to release new micro‑credentials including Sustainability:Reporting and Disclosure, which will be launched in early 2025.
Advocating for strong governance
CPA Australia champions Integrated Reporting as a means of providing a comprehensive view of how a business creates value over time. We are proud that our 2023 Integrated Report, Transforming for the Future, was a finalist in the Special Awards category for Integrated Reporting at the 2024 Australasian Reporting Awards. This marks the fifth consecutive year our Integrated Report has been a finalist, affirming our continued leadership in Integrated Reporting across Australia and New Zealand.
We presented the Integrated Report at the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 16 May, a hybrid event that welcomed nearly 90 attendees in person at our Southbank, Victoria office and over 230 via live webcast. The Board valued the opportunity to engage with members and extends our thanks to those who posed questions, whether in person or online, regarding the organisation’s performance, finances and delivery of support and value to members.
We are also very grateful to the more than 8,000 members from around the world who completed our annual member engagement survey. Their responses provide a valuable benchmark for assessing our performance and guiding our strategic focus.
The Board maintains an active outreach program, with Directors regularly attending Divisional Council meetings and local networking events to connect directly with members. Additionally, we conduct scheduled meetings with the Council of Presidents throughout the year to ensure members' perspectives and priorities remain at the forefront.
In 2024, we drove key governance initiatives, including revising the By-Laws to simplify processes for members and developing a unified Code of Conduct for volunteers. Volunteers are the cornerstone of our organisation, and we greatly value their contributions to CPA Australia.
The new Volunteer Code of Conduct, which consolidates previous versions into one concise document, took effect on 1 January 2025 to ensure a consistent standard for all volunteers.
Serving members
I am deeply honoured to be reappointed to CPA Australia’s Board for another three-year term and to have been re-elected as President and Chair until 1 October 2025. It is a tremendous privilege to serve 174,908 members worldwide, and I remain sincerely grateful to my fellow Directors for their steadfast commitment to enhancing the value of the CPA designation and enriching benefits for members.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to Deputy Presidents Warren McRae FCPA and Louise Cox FCPA for their continuous support and warmly welcome our new Director, Julie Crisp FCPA, who joined the Board in October 2024. I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to Professor Yew Kee Ho FCPA, who retired from the Board on 30 September 2024 after completing a three-year term. His substantial contributions and active service on various Board Committees will always be valued.
On behalf of the Board, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the members who volunteer their time and expertise.
Whether serving on the Council of Presidents, Divisional Councils, Committees, or Centres of Excellence (CoEs), or participating in mentoring programs, discussion groups, expert panels, student ambassador programs, podcasts, and webinars, your contributions are invaluable.
I would also like to extend my thanks to CPA Australia’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT), led by Chris Freeland AM, and to all our people for their unwavering commitment to serving members. I am also grateful to former CEO Andrew Hunter, whose distinguished leadership over the past six years helped restore pride in the CPA designation.
Above all, I extend my heartfelt thanks to every member of CPA Australia. Your collective expertise and dedication have built the esteemed reputation of the CPA designation, and we truly appreciate your unwavering support of CPA Australia.
As our brand campaign reminds us, the future is limitless for CPAs, and we are excited about the opportunities that await in 2025 and beyond.