A Debt of Gratitude
As Richard Rees , FCPA , FCA , CPABC ’ s president & CEO , gets ready to embark on the next chapter of his life , we look back on his tremendous contributions to the profession
In an email sent to CPABC members in May 2016 , we announced the impending retirement of Richard Rees , FCPA , FCA , CPABC ’ s inaugural president & CEO . It is expected that Richard ’ s tenure will end on March 31 , 2017 . Richard has had a profound impact on the organization , on the staff he has mentored and championed , on the volunteers with whom he has collaborated , and on the profession — in BC , across Canada , and internationally . In honour of his dedicated service , we would like to take a look back at some of his professional highlights . Richard became the chief executive officer of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC ( ICABC ) in 1999 , after 12 years of service with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon ( two as CFO and 10 as CEO ). Throughout his tenure as CEO of ICABC , Richard played a central role in provincial , national , and international initiatives , and his influential leadership continued as the profession unified under the Chartered Professional Accountant ( CPA ) designation . In 2002 , Richard began an eight-year stint as chair of the Council of Senior Executives , the national management committee of the Canadian CA profession , which was responsible for managing and implementing the CA profession ’ s strategic planning , protection of the public and ethics , education and qualifications , and communication activities . In 2003 , he began serving on the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants ’ International Qualifications Appraisal Board ( IQAB ). The IQAB surveys and assesses professional practice standards and the qualifications of foreign-trained accountants , and recommends the feasibility of recognition by the Canadian accounting profession . Richard ’ s role on CPA Canada ’ s IQAB is ongoing . While these long-standing commitments are significant , it is Richard ’ s pivotal role in the unification of the Canadian accounting profession that will likely be the hallmark of his legacy for generations to come . Recognized and respected for his steadfast leadership , Richard was appointed the inaugural chair of CPA Canada ’ s Council of Chief Executives , the national management committee responsible for setting and managing the strategic direction for the CPA profession , in November 2013 , and as president & CEO of the CPABC Joint Venture the following month . This latter role subsequently evolved into his position as CPABC ’ s inaugural president & CEO after the proclamation of CPA legislation in BC in June 2015 .
Over the past five years , Richard has overseen the historic signing of a three-way merger agreement in BC ; undertaken extensive stakeholder relations with members , government , business leaders , and other provincial accounting bodies ; led the legacy transition and creation of a new organization through the enactment of CPA legislation ; and worked with BC ’ s western partners to establish the CPA Western School of Business . Nationally , he has had extensive involvement in the profession ’ s certification , education , professional development , and international professional recognition programs . Throughout his career , Richard has been extremely active in the community as well , serving on the boards and committees of the Centre for Excellence for the Prevention of Organ Failure , the Vancouver Foundation , the West Vancouver Community Foundation , the BC Health Research Foundation , Family Service Canada , and Family Services of the North Shore , as well as on the faculty advisory board for the Sauder School of Business at UBC . His achievements and contributions have garnered him a number of distinguished awards over the years . Richard was recognized by the Financial Post as one of Canada ’ s “ Top 40 under 40 ” in 1995 , and he received his legacy fellowship designation just five years later . He was honoured with a Queen ’ s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his service to Canada , and he received the ICABC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 for his service to the accounting profession and the community . While his professional accomplishments are numerous , Richard is most proud of his family . He and his wife Elise ( also an FCPA , FCA ) have two grown sons , Rory and James . With a shared passion for travel , the family of four has created many happy memories while visiting countries around the globe . Richard has been a guiding force for the accounting profession through a time of dynamic change and a stalwart champion of the CPA designation . His contributions provincially , nationally , and internationally are immeasurable . We thank him for his efforts , his dedication , and his commitment — to his team at CPABC ; to our members , candidates , and students ; and to the accounting profession as a whole . And , most of all , we wish him the best of everything as his next chapter begins .
Photos by : Chung Chow for Business in Vancouver ( 1 ); Kent Kallberg Studios ( 2 , 6 , 9 ); Alistair Eagle for Ron Sangha Productions ( 3 ); Ron Sangha Productions ( 4 ); Glen Durrell Photography ( 5 ); Business Council of British Columbia ( 7 ); John Yanyshyn of Visions West Photography ( 8 ). Photo of Richard as a boy provided by the Rees family ( 10 ).
46 CPABC in Focus • Jan / Feb 2017