Lankan born CIMA Global President
creates history

CIMA President Aubrey Joachim

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) last week elected its first Asian-born President Aubrey Joachim, FCMA, who is Sri Lankan by birth.
On becoming CIMA President, Aubrey Joachim said: “Now, more than ever, the overriding challenge for a global professional organisation like CIMA is to remain relevant.
As the only international professional accountancy body with a sole focus on business we have a unique relevance.”
“We must also ensure we take steps to build on our relevance to all our current and future stakeholders - members, employers, students, potential students and all those with whom the institute hopes to interact in the future, both in established and new markets. Relevance in this context is being operationally efficient and effective and having a sleek governance framework that delivers results quickly,” he said.
“I look forward to working with our dynamic and visionary Council and management team to build on our success and lead our continuous programme of change and improvement, for the benefit of our stakeholders globally,” Joachim added.
Aubrey, now an Australian citizen was elected President at the 90th CIMA AGM held at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, on June 6.
Having commenced his working career at Unilever Sri Lanka in 1973, Aubrey has enjoyed a successful international career in finance and accounting with leading employers across a range of sectors.
In 2005 Aubrey founded his own boutique consultancy running strategic financial and management accounting workshops, courses and conferences across the world. He is now a management coach, mentor and management training provider, contracted to leading global conference, seminar companies and professional bodies, to provide training programmes across Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Southern Africa.
He has been a prolific presenter and conference speaker for over 14 years and regularly authors articles on management topics for professional journals.
Aubrey educated at two of the leading Catholic Boys colleges in Colombo – St. Joseph’s College and St. Peter’s College. He was a top performing student and regular prize winner.
He attained CIMA Fellowship status in 1988 and has been an active member since 1994, when he became a committee member of the New South Wales Branch in Australia and then served as Branch Secretary and Branch President. From 1998, he has been on the CIMA Australia National Council.
He was elected to Council in 2001 to represent Australasia and been on International Committee and the Chairman of the Members’ Services Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee.
The other Honorary Officers elected at CIMA’s AGM were George Glass FCMA who was elected Deputy President and Harold Baird, FCMA, who was elected Vice President.