Samantha Louis, bids CIMA Africa farewell after 17 years.
She leaves to take up an exciting role as the newly appointed CIMA Director of Advocacy based at the CIMA headquarters in London from Monday 1 August.
Samantha will continue to play an active role in CIMA as the primary spokesperson and internationally recognised authority for the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and advancing the Global Management Accounting Principles (GMAPs). She will also have the responsibility of driving adoption of the soon to be released GMAPs self-assessment tool for business which will leverage the world’s first standard for management accounting – PAS 1919.
“I am elated about this new role as the GMAPs are the single most transformational activity of CIMA over the years. They revolutionise positioning of management accounting and being part of this at a global level is very exciting.”
Samantha has served CIMA in various positions including that of Divisional Director South Africa (1998 – 2004) and Director Southern Africa (2004 – 2010). During her tenure she directed the growth of the member and student population in Africa from 2,000 to over 20,000 and led the expansion of CIMA into West Africa. In South Africa particularly, Samantha has led the transformation of the CIMA student base, opening chartered management accounting to young black professionals.
Said Andrew Harding, CIMA Managing Director: “Samantha has led CIMA’s work in Africa for 17 years. In this time she has given thousands of young people the opportunity to have successful careers, bringing prosperity to them and their families.”
Samantha’s input has been instrumental in the development of the governance model currently being used throughout CIMA Africa based on the findings and recommendations of the King II Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa to which she contributed.
She has had a vested interest in education even before beginning her career. She says: “I have always liked watching people learn and grow and have taught since varsity. She served PRISA since 1987 occupying the roles of Manager Education Centre, Accreditation Committee Chair, Vice President and then President in 2012. She has also sat on the Fasset SETA initial steering committee where she represented CIMA.
“The largest part of advocacy is gaining understanding, acceptance and awareness and this is one of the core communications skills that I hope to apply in my new role” concluded Samantha.
Henry Botha, Chairman of the CIMA Africa Regional Board, says: “Samantha’s realism, experience and commitment has been an immense asset to create the Africa office and regional board we have today. I have experienced the essence of good governance and execution, not from a terms of reference but from a Wikipedia that walks and talks – being Samantha Louis. Farewell, and may your destination benefit as much as we have”.
She recently successfully completed all mandatory exams for the awarding of the Chartered Global Management Accountant designation, and will be accredited full CIMA membership pending successful assessment of the Practical Experience Requirement that all CIMA members must meet.
Samantha says she will remember with fondness the extended family she leaves behind in Africa.
Timothy Isabirye
Regional Marketing Manager, CIMA
http://www.cimaglobal.com/
Timothy.Isabirye@cimaglobal.com
