Q&A
A chat with the chair and vice-chair of CPA Canada’s
board of directors
S
helley Brown, CPA, FCA, ICD.D, is the current chair of CPA Canada’s board of directors,
having served as co-chair of CPA Canada and chair of the Canadian Institute of
Chartered Accountants (CICA) in 2012. Bob Strachan, CPA, CMA, FCMA, C. Dir, is
currently the board’s vice-chair. He is a past chair of the board of directors for both CMABC
and CMA Canada.
Both individuals played a critical role in laying the groundwork for the unification of the
accounting profession in Canada, and continue to serve as half of a strong BC contingent on
the CPA Canada board, along with fellow BC representatives Barb Carle-Thiesson, CPA, FCA,
and John Nagy, CPA, FCGA.
We asked Shelley and Bob to share some of their experiences from the front lines of the
merger process.
Shelley Brown, CPA, FCA
Chair, Board of Directors, CPA Canada
Partner, Deloitte
Why did you decide to join the CPA Canada board?
Shelley: I’ve been very active in the profession since I qualified as a CA. I’ve always had some
role in the profession, whether it be in education or serving on the provincial council. I was
previously chair of the Saskatchewan Council, and enjoyed it, so when I was asked to represent
the West on the CICA board, I gladly accepted. I was on the CICA board for six years, and then
took a break for a year from volunteering in the profession. I was then asked to join the CICA’s
leadership ladder—serving for two years as vice-chair of the board, and two as chair—and I
jumped at the opportunity.
At the time I became involved as vice-chair at the national level, unification wasn’t even on
the agenda, so this initiative was unexpected. It has been exciting and challenging, and very
rewarding. I believe very strongly in our profession and think we have a responsibility to give
back—I’ve always believed that. So when I was asked to contribute to the discussion, it was difficult to turn the opportunity down.
Bob: Similar to Shelley, I was asked to join as well. The CPA Canada board was in its infancy
when all current members joined. As the former chair of CMA Canada’s board of directors, I
have been actively involved in merger discussions since the outset. The CMA Canada board
played a significant role in initiating the unification of the accounting profession. We determined,
in part, that one of the key strategic directions to ensure the sustainability of our competencies
was to consider rationalization of the profession.
Creating CPA Canada was a significant step in realizing that strategy. With the support of
peers and staff, we brought a common goal to the table. We still have much work to do, but being
part of the CPA Canada process has been both rewarding and satisfying to this point.
What do you hope to accomplish during your term on the board?
Bob Strachan, CPA, CMA, FCMA
Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, CPA Canada
Photos of Shelley Brown and Bob Strachan by
Andre Van Vugt – Giant Vision.
32
CPABC in Focus • Nov/Dec 2013
Shelley: I became involved in unification as the vice-chair for the CICA, and continued my
involvement last year, while serving as chair of the CICA and co-chair of CPA Canada. For two
years, all we have been focused on is the unification of the profession under CPA—that is the
first priority: full unification.
In addition, we are incredibly focused on successfully launching the Canadian CPA brand
here and around the world, while also successfully launching the new education program. And
we’re getting there!