My fellow members, on behalf of the Western Australian Council and State Office, I am delighted to present our annual report. 
 
In 2004/05 the Council together with the State office has continued to provide a quality service to chartered accountants and again registered a high level of member satisfaction. This is particularly evident in brand promotion through the media, member contact activities, our membership services events, CPE and government lobbying.  
 
Each year, the Council adopts a focus, which it applies effort to achieve development and change in the Institute. In 2004, Council focused on governance and sought to raise the involvement and input of all Councils into the strategic decision-making of the Institute. In 2005, Council has encouraged the Institute to increase its focus on government lobbying and raising the profile of the Institute’s advocacy efforts and brand in the public domain.  
 
I’m delighted to report that for the second consecutive year, the State office has been ranked as the most successful in Australia, with an 82% (2004: 80%)satisfaction rating. Congratulations to the WA team! 
 
Council  
 
Council meetings continued to be held at external venues. These included Ernst & Young, The Law Society of WA, Horwath, FAL, Leeuwin Estate, KPMG, PKF, Clayton Utz, Pitcher Partners and Murdoch University. 
 
Council, in conjunction with the State office, also participated in a number of forums with members and other stakeholders to gain feedback from chartered accountants and to build relationships with the broader business community. Events included those with members in senior accounting, finance and company secretarial roles, financial planning specialists, chartered accountants involved in audit, partners from ‘Big 4’ firms and past State Chairmen and National Presidents. We also held meetings with CPA Australia, Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Securities Institute. 
 
The Chartered Accountants in Business (CABs) panel followed the Council’s lead and held their meetings at external venues in 2004/05, providing them with an opportunity to meet with members working in commerce and industry executives. Meetings were held at the Department of Treasury & Finance and Australian Capital Equity. 
 
In August, the Institute in conjunction with the CABs panel undertook a member contact initiative to identify issues impacting CABs in their business environment. The results from this research provided a feedback loop enabling CABs to identify issues causing them concern within their professional environment. 
 
The primary objective of the member contact initiative was to explore business issues that chartered accountants in business are currently facing and causing them problems both generally and in their particular industry.  
 
Four contact sessions were conducted as part of the initial exercise with 24 members participating across the following industry sectors:

• Manufacturing  
  
• Mining & Resources  
  
• Property & Services  
  
• Banking, Insurance & Financial Services.

• Australian Taxation Office 
  
• Australian Securities & Investments Commission 
  
• Office of State Revenue.

• Meritorious Service Award – John Kollosche  
  
• 50 years of membership – Max Evans  
  
• Forty-three chartered accountants celebrated 25 years of membership and ten celebrated 40 years of membership in 2004.

• Business Management: CFO of the Future – John Petty and Leadership for 21st Century Success – Dr Peter Ellyard  
  
• Practice Management: Succession Planning – Greg Hayes  
  
• Professional Development: Emotional Intelligence – Michael DiLallo

• No CA Foundations module from 2006 
  
• Four new technical modules (plus CA Integrative): Taxation, Audit & Assurance, Management Accounting & Analysis and Financial Accounting & Reporting (2007) 
  
• Trimester, with technical modules offered twice a year (2007) 
  
• Nine months mentored work experience (from 2007) 
  
• Opened to non-accounting graduates via a diagnostic test (2006) 
  
• An exemption in the Taxation module, where a candidate holds Masters of Tax or completed Institute accredited tax training (2007).

• Dirk Feinauer of Feinauer & Associates: on doing business overseas, focusing on creating, maintaining and enforcing legal rights overseas or involving overseas parties.  
  
• Dr Tim Mazzarol, Director of the Centre in Entrepreneurial Management and Innovation at the University of WA: on innovative and strategic decision making within small to medium enterprises.

arranging temporary assistance to a practice in dire circumstances such as through the death of a sole practitioner. 
 
Careers Marketing 
 
Careers Marketing highlights included:

• The launch of the 'Fly Higher' website in July, through a coffee launch at Curtin University and the University of Western Australia and through our CA Speakers. 
   
  
• Over 500 penultimate year students attended the CA Vacation employment event in August, to speak to 14 CA firms offering paid vacation work experience. 
   
  
• Over 400 final year students attended the CA Graduate Employment evening in March 2005 to speak with 27 employers – a record number of employer participants. 
   
  
• 36 CA Speakers made presentations to tertiary students during more than 50 lectures at the five Perth universities throughout the year, promoting the chartered accounting profession.

 
 
 
 
(Employment Evening March 2005) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appreciation 
 
Operating the most successful State office in Australia from the viewpoint of members was achieved by having strong and committed constituents including the Council, Institute staff, members whom volunteer their time and our sponsors.  
 
The delivery of this quality service and achieving a healthy level of member satisfaction in Australia is the result of a dedicated and generous membership, Council, and Institute staff. 
 
On behalf of the Council and members, I wish to express sincere gratitude to Con Abbott and his State office staff for their dedicated work in promoting the Institute and providing service to its members. Again during the year the WA office has continued to deliver a high standard of events, products and service to the membership and it is impressive to witness the effort and attention the staff put into providing these services. 
 
The Institute has again excelled during the year in presenting/hosting/promoting events including the Brand campaign, Business Breakfast speakers, Vacation Employment evening, Business Forum, CA Local News, ‘Sharing Knowledge’ series, Sporting events, ‘Meet the Council’ breakfasts, the WA State web page and the Presentation of Certificates ceremony. 
 
The Institute exists because of its members and for the benefit of members. I thank the members who have generously volunteered their time and knowledge in the advancement of the Institute for the benefit of all members. I invite all members to actively participate in Institute matters for the betterment and advancement of our Institute. It will be a rewarding contribution. 
 
I extend my sincere gratitude to my fellow Councillors who have supported me during my year as Chairman. The Council is a very strong and talented team of members committed and dedicated to advancing the best interests of the members in WA, nationally and internationally.  
 
Joe Pierluigi FCA 
CHAIRMAN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA