Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand (CAANZ) recently hosted the Bay of Plenty Gala Dinner to recognise those recipients’ receiving awards, of which I was lucky to be one of those, receiving my Fellowship which was advanced 11 December 2025.

The evening celebrated 28 new Chartered Accountants, four new Accounting Technicians and then milestone awards for members that have completed 25 years, 40 years, 50 years and 60 year’s of service and then finally the Fellowship awards of which I was one of five to receive a Fellowship within the Bay.

A Fellowship recognises a member’s contribution to the profession, outstanding career achievements and significant contribution to Businesses. It’s a nomination process and then a Council review before being awarded.

It would be fair to say this came as an absolute surprise, I stated in my speech that “it’s like the icing on the cake, when you ordered a cake with no icing”. As a professional and within one’s career we work hard to achieve our Chartered Accountancy status, we focus on our client’s and support organisations close to our heart as a way of giving back to the Community, never do we aim for a Fellowship as recognition; but equally grateful and will forever be.