CPABC in Focus November/ December 2015 | Page 48

MEMBERS IN FOCUS CPABC Pacific Summit 2015: Kelowna event was a smashing success! CPABC’s Fall Pacific Summit drew almost 400 delegates to Kelowna in September. Over the course of three days, delegates had a chance to participate in 24 professional development seminars—including technical workshops relating to tax, standards, and ethics—and attend some free PD info sessions with members of CPABC’s Executive Committee and Regulatory Affairs team. The Summit’s three keynote presentations were a big draw. Speaking to a packed room, Riaz Meghji, co-host of Breakfast Television Vancouver, explained how to make every conversation count and shared personal anecdotes about how meaningful conversations led to unexpected opportunities and friendships. Linda Nazareth drew on research from her book, Economorphics: The Trends Turning Today into Tomorrow, to provide salient insight on what we can expect for our economy, and our society, in the future. And delegates drew inspiration from John Herdman, head coach of the Canadian women’s national soccer team, who explained how leaders can build trust and confidence to develop a winning culture. The Summit also featured Western Canada’s leading trade show designed specifically for accounting professionals and a variety of networking events, including a reception at the Sandhill winery. If you missed out on this opportunity to earn CPD credits, mingle with peers, and meet leaders in the profession, there’s good news: CPABC will be hosting a Spring Pacific Summit in Whistler in May 2016. Photos by Glen Durrell Photography. For more Summit photos, visit CPABC’s Flickr page at flickr.com/cpabc/sets. Above: (top) CPABC president & CEO Richard Rees, FCPA, FCA, provides emcee duties; (middle) delegates enjoy a keynote session; (second from bottom) PD seminar instructor Kristi Miller describes the changing landscape of Canada’s commercial banking industry; (bottom) PD seminar instructor Lisa Dorian (centre) explains how delegates can hone their project management skills. Left: Linda Nazareth's keynote speech was just one of many Summit events that drew a huge audience. 48  CPABC in Focus • Nov/Dec 2015