The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants named Joseph Owolabi, a Nigeria-born accountant who now resides in Australia, as global president of ACCA for 2022/2023 on Friday.
Owolabi grew up and studied in Nigeria, has lived and worked in Africa, North America and the U.K., and now is an adoptive Australian. He plans to bring his knowledge of being a global citizen to his time as ACCA president. He became an ACCA member in 2011 and has served on the association's International Assembly in 2014-2015 and has been a global council member since 2015.
"If you had told me as a child growing up that I would one day be the first African leading the largest, truly global accounting body, I would not have believed you. ACCA is an inclusive, open and global community for members, future members and partners," he said in a statement. "Wherever in the world I have found myself, ACCA has given me a home and a family."
"I am passionate about connecting our community and inspiring the accountants of tomorrow," he continued. "Great things happen when we collaborate across jurisdictions and national divides. The challenges of today and the complexities of tomorrow will demand continuous learning, courage, sound judgment and a resolve to stay ahead of the curve. The accountancy profession has a key role to play in creating a better world."
The post of ACCA president changes each year, and last November, Orla Collins of Ireland was appointed president for 2021-2022, succeeding Mark Millar of the U.K. Owolabi was deputy this past year.
Owolabi founded Rubicola, which works in Australia, Africa and North America advising clients on risk, non-financial reporting and sustainable business strategies. His previous experience includes roles at Big Four firms Deloitte, EY and PwC.
In addition to his FCCA qualification, Owolabi has completed an executive leadership program at Harvard Business School and an environmental, sustainability leadership program at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He was confirmed in his new role at the annual council meeting after ACCA's annual general meeting on Friday. Ronnie Patton, formerly senior lecturer at Ulster University, Northern Ireland, was appointed deputy president and Ayla Majid from Pakistan, CEO of Planetive, a company advocating sustainability, became vice president.
