ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Pakistan, Bangladesh, Middle East and Sri Lanka organised “Global Ethics Week 2021” bringing together top international industry experts for a five-part webinar series of discussions, spanning over three days, focused on ethics and its impact on life and society, especially businesses.
Partners of the Global Ethics Week 2021 were CFA Society Bangladesh, CFA Society Pakistan, CFA Society Sri Lanka, Habib Bank Limited, ICMA Pakistan, Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance, Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited, Pearl Initiative, The Pakistan Business Council’s Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business (CERB) and The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors.
Key messages from Helen Brand (ACCA CEO) and partners – Margaret Franklin (President and CEO, CFA Institute), Ehsan Malik (CEO, Pakistan Business Council) and Muhammad Aurangzeb (President and CEO, HBL) – revolved around how finance professionals are both well placed and trained to promote public good and make a real contribution to ethical sustainable businesses.
The panel conversations unanimously endorsed that ethics is the global currency to build trust and sustainable economic growth. Moreover, all speakers reaffirmed that the role of accountants and finance professionals (in today’s uncertain and fast evolving world) is key to ensuring confidence of stakeholders, creating transparency in the business dealing and driving a culture where people are encouraged to call-out unethical behaviours.
Special video messages were sent by Imran Ismail (Governor Sindh), Walid Iqbal (Senator), Taimur Jhagra (Finance and Health Minister KP), Asif Peer (CEO, Systems Limited), Asim Siddiqui (Country Managing Partner, EY Ford Rhodes) and Dr. Amjad Saqib (Founder, Akhuwat Foundation) – to show their support for ACCA’s efforts towards creating an ethical environment for businesses and industries to prosper.
Sajjeed Aslam – Head of ACCA Pakistan stressed the importance of the role of accountancy professionals in creating a more ethical and sustainable world. He said, “Trust, accountability, and integrity are fundamental to ensuring trade, building societies, and supporting economies across the globe. Strong ethical principles and good ethical behaviour will be important enablers to build trust in the digital age. Professional accountants are in a unique position to drive ethical and sustainable business decisions leading to an overall positive impact.”
Present at the event were notable names including, but not limited to – Aamir Khan (Chairman, SECP), Ahsan Jamil (CEO, PICG), Andrew Tarbuck (Head of Capital Markets, Al Tamimi), Arif Al Islam (MD and CEO, Summit Communications Bangladesh), Arif Masud Mirza (Regional Head of Policy, ACCA MESA), Barkan Saeed (Treasurer, P@SHA), Chaaminda Kumarasiri (Chairman, HCP Consulting Sri Lanka), Dr. Inayat Hussain (Executive Director, SBP), Dr. Mizanur Rahman (Commissioner, Bangladesh SEC), Fazeela Goplani (Head of ACCA Middle East), Md Shaheen Iqbal (President, CFA Society Bangladesh), Mohammad Shoaib (CEO – Al Meezan Investments), Narayanan Vaidyanathan (Head of Business Insights, ACCA), Nauman Asif Mian (CFO, Bayt.inc), Omer Zaheer Meer (Chairman MNP, ACCA Pakistan), Rashmi Peiris Paranavitane (Director, CFA Society Sri Lanka), William Tohme (Head of CFA Institute MENA), Zia Ul Mustafa (President, ICMA Pakistan) and Zinnia Huq (Director Finance Excellence, Unilever Bangladesh).
The event was broadcasted live on www.facebook.com/ACCA.Pakistan and https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/acca-pakistan, as well as on the market pages of Bangladesh, Middle East and Sri Lanka where it gathered not only a staggering amount of views and reach but also greatly positive views from the audience.
