MEMBERS IN FOCUS
Masters of Change: CPABC’s 2018 Spring Pacific Summit
CPABC’s 2018 Spring Pacific Summit was a standout success, drawing
a crowd of more than 350 CPAs and other business professionals to
the Vancouver Convention Centre for three days (May 30-June 1) of
education and networking. Delegates attended the sold-out event to
get the latest news about issues affecting the accounting and business
professions, expand their skill sets, and network with peers and
leaders in the profession.
With more than 20 professional development sessions offered over
the course of three days, the Spring Pacific Summit also gave attendees
the chance to fulfil their annual CPD requirements. These PD sessions
offered insights on many topics pertaining to the rapidly evolving
business climate, including emerging economic trends, cybersecurity,
mergers and acquisitions, and organizational sustainability.
Delegates also gained valuable takeaways from the summit’s three
keynote speakers: Leadership expert Michelle Ray shared methods to
increase personal accountability and navigate change productively;
Shachi Kurl, executive director of the Angus Reid Institute, provided
a forward-thinking synopsis of BC politics, policy, and economic
trends; and Shawn Kanungo, strategist and general partner at Queen &
Rook Capital, described how organizations can harness the benefits
of disruptive technology.
The summit itinerary also included two special presentations: an
executive update from CPABC and a panel discussion entitled
“Mastering Disruptive Change.” The former was presented by CPABC
President & CEO Lori Mathison, FCPA, FCGA, LLB, and executive
members of the CPABC board, who outlined the latest CPABC news
and initiatives. The latter was presented by a panel of three C-suite
CPAs from the fitness, digital publishing, and fashion industries:
Carey Dillen, CPA, CA, president of YYoga; Karm Sumal, CPA, CGA,
co-founder and CEO of Daily Hive; and Morgan Whitney, CPA, CA,
CFO of Indochino. Dillen, Sumal, and Whitney provided insights on
how to identify and manage change in today’s fast-paced business
environment.
As always, the summit gave CPAs an opportunity to connect with
fellow members and CPABC’s leadership team and staff while having
fun at the same time. For example, the Welcome Reception on May 30
gave delegates a chance to unwind, make new contacts, and participate
in some entertaining activities, and the Exhibitors Networking
Reception on May 31 encouraged them to mingle, take part in prize
draws, and discuss business solutions with trade show exhibitors.
The spring event wrapped up on June 1. Our fall event will take
place from September 26 through 28 in Victoria (see pages 13 and
33), and registration is now open!
Photos by Alistair Eagle for Ron Sangha Productions.
For more Summit photos, visit CPABC’s Flickr page at
flickr.com/cpabc/sets.
50 CPABC in Focus • July/August 2018
Top: CPABC staff chat with members during the Welcome Reception. Middle: Outgoing Board Chair Heather
Banham, FCPA, FCGA, welcomes guests to the reception. Bottom: Delegates answer the Spring Pacific
Summit’s question of the day.