ICAEW’s new president, Fiona Wilkinson, says she will use her role to be an ambassador for inclusion in accountancy, and to ensure the profession is fit for the future.
Wilkinson has spent her career as an advocate for diversity in the profession, spreading the message that accountancy is inclusive and open to all, no matter what their background.
One of her aims during her year as president is to celebrate the centenary of Mary Harris Smith, who was the first women ever to become a chartered accountant and a member of ICAEW in 1920. Wilkinson explained: “Mary Harris Smith applied several times to join the institute and was turned down before finally being accepted. I want to celebrate her resilience and determination to achieve the qualification she wanted.”
