- ISCA allocates $5 million to host the World Accountancy Forum in Singapore in 2025, uniting top business and accountancy leaders to explore pivotal issues and trends.
- ISCA’s Distinguished Lifetime Membership Award 2024 honours Mr. Chaly Mah, former Chairman of the Singapore Accountancy Commission and a lifelong advocate of the accountancy profession.
Singapore, 5 August 2024 – The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) has earmarked $5 million to host the inaugural World Accountancy Forum (WAF) in Singapore in 2025. This event will bring together approximately 3,000 leading business and accounting professionals from around the globe to discuss pivotal issues and trends in the field. Themed “Business Transformations amid Megatrends: Professional Accountants Lead the Way,” the forum is scheduled for November 2025.
Unveiled at ISCA’s Annual Dinner on 1 August 2024, the WAF aspires to be the premier global platform for thought leadership, uniting international standard-setters, professional accounting associations, and regulators. Accountants are increasingly proactive in addressing critical business issues, including business strategy, sustainability reporting, and the integration and governance of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. As global challenges intensify, there is a heightened need for robust international collaboration, with business and accounting ecosystems aligning to achieve shared objectives.
Singapore aims to serve as a bridge for businesses and the profession, inviting prominent international accountancy and business leaders to share their insights and expertise at the forum. Additionally, ISCA will host global organisations and institutions in business and accountancy, including leading international alliances, professional bodies, and business networks, to hold their annual meetings and conferences in Singapore in conjunction with the forum.
ISCA President, Mr. Teo Ser Luck, stated, “ISCA is proud to lead the World Accountancy Forum. This forum aims to foster dynamic dialogue and the exchange of ideas on pressing industry issues. We hope it will become a cornerstone for future editions that will continually enhance the business landscape.”
At the Annual Dinner, ISCA also recognised leaders in the accounting profession with the Distinguished Lifetime Membership (DLM) and Special Appreciation Awards. The DLM, awarded to individuals who have significantly contributed to the accounting profession, the business community, and public service, was conferred upon Mr. Chaly Mah.
Chaly Mah, Chairman of Surbana Jurong Group and Netlink NBN Management Pte Ltd, expressed, “I am deeply honoured to receive the DLM, joining a distinguished group of individuals who have greatly contributed to the industry. I hope the accountancy profession continues to thrive and inspire future generations of leaders.”
Mr. Ong Khiaw Hong, representing the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification (SCAQ) Advisory Panel (chaired by Ms. Lai Chin Yee), and the Accountancy Workforce Review Committee (co-chaired by Mr. Chaly Mah), received the ISCA Special Appreciation Awards. These awards acknowledge their significant contributions to Singapore’s accountancy and business sectors.
ISCA President, Mr. Teo Ser Luck, added, “The Distinguished Lifetime Membership and Special Appreciation Awards are ISCA’s way of recognising trailblazers who have made a profound impact on the accountancy profession. We thank them for their exemplary leadership, which will inspire future professionals and drive continued excellence in this industry.”
The DLM is part of ISCA’s commitment to honouring individuals who have made substantial, long-term contributions to the accounting profession. This year, ISCA has observed healthy growth within the profession, with around 1,000 new SCAQ candidate enrolments by June—more than double the number from the same period last year. ISCA anticipates closing 2024 with the highest enrolment numbers since the programme’s inception.
