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ACCA Achievement Awards
The winners of the ACCA Achievement Awards 2006 were announced by ACCA deputy president Gillian Ball at the World Congress of Accountants in Istanbul on 14 November.
The inaugural awards, which recognise individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the development of the accountancy and finance profession, attracted the highest calibre of individuals from around the world. Eight winners, two for each of ACCA's global regions, were chosen by a panel of judges from a shortlist of individuals nominated by fellow professionals and business leaders.
Africa and Middle East
The winner for Africa and the Middle East is Dr Khalid Maniar a leader of the accounting profession in the United Arab Emirates who has been instrumental in implementing national accounting standards and a lifelong advocate of business excellence. In addition, a special commendation has been awarded to Berhane Habtemariam, auditor general of Eritrea for his commitment to advancing the cause of ethics and professionalism.
Americas
The winners for the Americas are Herman Marcano, who has offered opportunity and support to generations of finance professionals through his pioneering approach to providing quality tuition in both Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region; and Stephen Taylor, who until recently was senior vice-president, finance at Paramount Pictures, and who has worked tirelessly to promote ACCA and support its members in the US.
Asia
The winners of the achievement awards for the Asia region are Datuk Abdul Samad (Dr), immediate-past president of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants and an IFAC board member and who has been instrumental in helping the Malaysian profession gain greater recognition at home and overseas; and Ummed Singh Jain, the 'face of ACCA in Nepal', who helped nurture a new generation of accountants who were urgently needed at a time when the country had no national professional body.
Europe
The European achievement award winners are Professor Leszek Balcerowicz, the former deputy prime minister and finance minister of Poland, and now chairman of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership through a lifetime of achievement; and Lionel Griffiths, a well known figure in the South Wales business community and head of department at the University of Wales' Newport Business School, who has 'almost fanatical dedication' to ACCA training, and whose influence spreads across the world through the hundreds of ACCA members he has taught.
Ball said: 'All our winners have made outstanding contributions to our profession, often over many years and sometimes despite very challenging circumstances. They each deserve global recognition for the very great differences they have made. These awards are particularly significant as it was colleagues, students and fellow professionals who have nominated them. We are proud of our winners and proud to be able to mark their phenomenal achievements.'
The winners will have the opportunity to see their achievement further impact on the lives of others by selecting an education development programme in their region to benefit from the ACCA Achievement Awards 2006 prize fund which has been kindly donated by BPP Professional Education.
For further information on the ACCA Achievement Awards 2006 visit the awards website.