New Accountants Chairman Says “Chartered Accountants must make a defining contribution to our economy” (29th Mar 2010)

Richard Gardiner was elected Chairman of the Chartered Accountants Ulster Society at its Annual General Meeting in Belfast today. The Ulster Society represents over 3,200 Chartered Accountants and is a district society of the Chartered Accountants Ireland, the largest and oldest professional accountancy body in Ireland.

Richard, who takes over as Chairman from Kevin Kingston, is a Partner in FGS McClure Watters.

Addressing the Society’s AGM, he stressed that the Society has a central role to play in the business community and a crucial contribution to make to the economic life of Northern Ireland:

“Through involvement in both the public and private sectors our members have a central role to play in the economy in the year ahead.  Through the continued work of the Society we can support and inspire our members in the contributions they make both individually and collectively.

“We all recognise that this is a time of challenge and uncertainty within the business community. We recognize that the issues that we face have a local impact but are set within a much larger global context.  There is little that we can do to control the global environment. However we can shape our response to that environment.”  

He pledged that the Society would focus on supporting and inspiring their membership to make a defining contribution to the Northern Ireland economy.

“As a profession we are strategically placed to make a genuine and lasting contribution to building a stronger and more dynamic economy going forward.

“The choices and decisions we make now will have a profound impact on the future of our economy, our Executive and our community. I look forward to supporting our members in making great decisions and a defining contribution.”

Pictured after today’s AGM is New Chartered Accountants Ulster Society Chairman Richard Gardiner (left) and outgoing Chairman Kevin Kingston.