The Group chairman of Oak, Mark Chasey, has been elected the EMEA sub-region member representative for the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) with effect from 12th August 2020.
A new SAICA Board was elected in 2019 and a National Council, a representative member structure, was created. The previous SAICA Board had made provision for a seat for one International Region member representative. However, in its inaugural meeting, the National Council decided to increase the number of members representing the International Region to three, one from each of the sub-regions (EMEA, ASPAC and The Americas).
Members were asked to put forward nominations for their respective sub-regions and, following Mark’s nomination alongside two other contenders, an election was held which saw him elected as the EMEA sub-region member representative. His term will run for two years from the date of his appointment.
His appointment will involve the implementation of SAICA’s initiatives in the EMEA sub-region and will include:
- Representing the EMEA sub-region’s diverse membership base and advancing EMEA members` interests
- Ensuring that the views and suggestions of the EMEA members reach SAICA’s management and are responded to quickly and appropriately
- Maintaining and enhancing the CA(SA) designation’s reputation internationally
- Ensuring that EMEA members have access to networking opportunities, including those with a CPD element such as seminars and workshops on various technical topics and business related issues
Mark qualified as a CA(SA) whilst doing articles in Johannesburg with Pim Goldby (now Deloitte) and has been a member of SAICA since 1984. He has been living in the Channel Islands since 1997. Having worked for Ernst and Young in Jersey, he formed Oak Trust (Guernsey) Limited in 1999 which became part of the Oak Group in 2017.
Mark commented on his appointment: “Despite living and working in the Channel Islands for well over 20 years, my roots are in South Africa. I understand first-hand the importance of ensuring that the SAICA members living outside South Africa’s borders receive the support they need and seeing to it that they benefit fully from their membership. I’m incredibly pleased to be taking the position of EMEA Sub-Region Member Representative and look forward to fulfilling this essential mandate for the next couple of years.”
The EMEA sub-region* is home to a significant number of chartered accountants trained in South Africa, who are entitled to use the CA(SA) designation. In the Channel Islands specifically, many of these professionals are employed in the finance industry which contributes significantly to their respective local economies. SAICA’s directive in this region is to ensure that members are afforded the same support that their counterparts in South Africa have access to, as it relates to their continued professional development.
Investec, which has offices in South Africa and across the UK and Channel Islands, offered their facilities for the hosting of the inaugural members’ meeting which was held in Guernsey on Thursday 24 September – the event was attended by over 30 members.
Oak congratulates Mark on his appointment and wishes him all the best as he takes on this mandate.
*The EMEA sub-region comprises all countries in:
- Europe (including the UK)
- The Middle East
- Africa, other than South Africa
The pictures are from the inaugural members’ meeting held last Thursday. Mark Chasey is wearing a pink shirt and grey trousers.
