From CISPA

8th Annual CISPA Gala Back to the Future: Celebrating 45 Years of Excellence

The Cayman Islands Society of Professional Accountants’ (CISPA) celebrated 45 years at its 8th annual gala celebration Saturday at the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman.

As 2015 marks 45 years of CISPA serving the Cayman Islands and the accounting profession, the theme for the gala was, Back to the Future: Celebrating 45 years of excellence. The night included a “Where are They Now” feature with past gala honourees Lauren Knight, Garth Ebanks, and Habte Skale.

Guests were taken further back in time to 1967 when the first Chartered Accountant, Paul Harris arrived in Grand Cayman. CISPA Pioneers Michael Austin, Paul Harris, Chris Johnson, and Paul Sleep shared stories of the early days of the financial services industry in the Cayman Islands. The gentlemen were four of the original signers of CISPA’s Memorandum and Articles of Association in 1970.

CISPA CEO Sheree Ebanks shared many of CISPA’s accomplishments over the past year including contributing to ten public consultations, participating in the National Risk Assessment project, and awarding 2,118 training hours to date, to members and non-members. In terms of sustainability, Mrs. Ebanks explained, “We have submitted the amendments to the Public Accountants Law that will reflect all of our membership, not just public practice and to ensure that the quality assurance regime meets international standards.”

Looking forward, CISPA President, Baron Jacob spoke to building on partnerships with international bodies, and announced CISPA is working with AICPA to provide on demand courses which will be NASBA recognised.

Mr. Jacob wrapped up with a cheque presentation to the Ministry of Education, Hon. Tara Rivers for CI$25,000 in support of the Ministry’s mathematics programmes. CISPA has supported the Maths Recovery programme financially for the past three years during which time Mr. Jacob said, “More than 60 primary school teachers and 5 secondary teachers completed an intensive training programme providing tools to identify and support students struggling in mathematics.” This year the funds go toward training for teachers in early primary school, and the Mathematics in Context programme for year 7 and 8 students.

The night’s awards continued with recognising recent graduates from ICCI and UCCI with their Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting. The finale of the evening, was celebrating four Caymanians who recently attained their professional accounting designations.

CISPA launched the first annual gala event in 2008 to celebrate Caymanians who recently attained their professional accounting designations or accounting degrees.

IMAGE: Photo Courtesy: Pinnacle Media L-R Chris Johnson, Paul Harris, Michael Austin, Paul Sleep

For more on this story go to: https://cispa.wildapricot.org/awardsgala