Tina Donovan 
 
On Friday, 4 July 2008 the WA office farewelled it’s General Manager of eight years, Con Abbott. Con is a truly passionate Chartered Accountant. His enthusiasm and dedication to the profession has been evident in his outstanding leadership in WA, which has been consistently rated by members as the best performing state office for the last five years. 
 
Con has been a driving force behind the growth and diversification in careers marketing in WA, working tirelessly to ensure the Institute inspires the future Chartered Accountants of tomorrow. A few of his recent notable initiatives in this area include the introduction of a Most Outstanding Accounting Student Award to 51 WA high schools and the highly successful ‘Meet the Leader’ careers event providing over 270 Year 10 and 11 students with the opportunity to meet with business leaders to share their career experiences. 
 
Con has also worked determinedly to increase the Institute’s profile in the local media tackling topical business issues such as - daylight saving, trading hours and the skills shortage within the profession, along with lobbying activities around the reform of state taxes and the establishment of a successful tax phone-in in conjunction with the West Australian newspaper. 
 
Some of Con’s fellow Chartered Accountants comment on his time at the Institute: 
 
I believe that what has set Con apart is his dedication to maintaining the high status of the Chartered Accountant brand and his belief in the high standards and integrity of the membership. Being a Chartered Accountant means a great deal to Con and it showed in his complete professionalism in everything he did. 
Prof Alan Davison CA, Retired 
Councillor 1993-2005 
 
Con has delivered a high level of passion and energy in his position at the Institute in Western Australia and he has played a significant role in having the views of Chartered Accountants communicated on a broad range of important local issues.  
Robert Mianich CA, City of Perth 
 
“Throughout his eight years as our State General Manager, Con has been a breath of fresh air, working tirelessly and with great gusto – in particular, in enhancing the Chartered Accountant profile in the media and also as an intrepid advocate for the interests of Western Australian members on national issues at the Institute. A job well done Con; my personal thanks and best wishes in all your future endeavours.” 
Ian Liddell FCA, PMH Foundation 
 
On behalf of the WA office, we wish Con every success in his new role as Chief Operating Officer at RSM Bird Cameron.  
 
I have been in the Perth office since 2003, first as Manager of Training and Development and then as the WA Relationship Manager from July 2006. I have recently returned from an extended break (one year) which I spent in Bor, Serbia where my partner is working. This was an interesting and extremely challenging experience which included 15 hour train journeys to cities like Sofia and Bucharest and more recently attending the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade. 
 
While the Institute goes through the process of recruiting a new General Manager WA, I will be undertaking some key aspects of this role and we anticipate that it will be ‘business as usual’ in the Perth office. Please feel free to contact me on 9420 0410 or email