Chartered Accountants honoured in Canterbury

A number of distinguished Fellows of the Institute of Chartered Accountants were honoured in May at a special ceremony held at the George Hotel in Christchurch.
They were presented with commemorative pins to celebrate the Institute’s centenary this year, and their contributions to the profession and local community.

“It’s the people that make it worthwhile and we’re here to celebrate the significant contributions to New Zealand and the global environment which our Fellows have made,” Institute President Graham Crombie said in his address.  

Gary Leech, Christchurch Branch Chair, thanked the crowd, many of whom held special honours, adding that it was humbling to have some of the most well respected business community leaders gathered in one place.

Among those honoured were Michael Brown, former Dean of Wellington Cathedral; Frank Devonport, who joined the Institute in 1944 by being the only person allowed off a troop ship in Wellington on its way to the Middle East; Maurice Newman, who opened the first salmon farm in the southern hemisphere and was president of the New Zealand Fishing Industry Association and Canterbury Chamber of Commerce; and Iris Orchard who was presented the Queens Service Medal for community service to sport in 2004, acknowledging her instrumental role in setting up women’s hockey in the Canterbury area and beyond.

Fellowships are awarded by the Institute to members who have demonstrated outstanding service to the accounting profession, or for service to the community. They are nominated by their peers, and only 15 are inducted nationally each year.