In an Olympic relay, every runner knows that their moment in the race will give way to someone else’s. There is a blink–and–you’d–miss–it, carefully timed exchange as one runner passes the baton to the next, ready to carry the race forward.
There’s a similar moment for ACCA around this time every year when we hand the presidential baton to a successor. Now, having completed my leg of the race, it is time to hand over and exit the track.
I want to thank members for the amazing support I have been given during my year of office. I have loved meeting so many of you at events all around the world. It has been a privilege and a joy to share your company, hear your stories and make memories that will forever stay with me. I have also been enormously grateful for the steadfast support that I have received from Council, the executive board and staff.
There is so much anticipation for the future of ACCA’s education
I know everyone will give the next president their similarly wholehearted backing. As convention and ACCA procedures dictate, the next president will be confirmed around the time of the AGM in November.
Optimism and excitement
But while there is a tinge of sadness that my time is nearing its end, I am also filled with optimism and excitement for what comes next. The year ahead will see our newly redesigned qualification really hit its stride as students sit their first exams. We are already proud of the impact it is making, and there is so much anticipation for the future of ACCA’s education.
Of course, part of me would love to go back to the start line and run the race all over again, but we’ll leave that pleasure to the next generation of ACCA students and wish them well as they set off on their own leg of the journey, even if we don’t envy them the dubious delight of the examination hall.
The future is bright for ACCA, and I can’t wait to see what happens next in our story. I wish all of our members, and our new president and officer team, all the luck in the world for what is to come. I will be cheering you on from the sidelines.
