The Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) successfully organized the highly anticipated CFO Conference 2023 on the theme of “Resilient CFO – Balancing the Agenda for Tomorrow” at a local hotel in Karachi.
Mr. M. Ali Latif, President ICAP, highlighted the crucial role that Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) play in guiding organizations through challenging times while effectively managing long-term strategic priorities. He emphasized the importance of possessing essential qualities such as visionary thinking, agility, innovation, and digital expertise to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. This year’s CFO Conference holds special significance as it coincides with the prestigious Professional Excellence Awards (PEA) ceremony, honoring exceptional ICAP members for their outstanding contributions, exemplary performance & leadership, and remarkable value addition within their respective organizations.
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Mr. Amir Paracha, Chairman and CEO of Unilever Pakistan, delivered a keynote speech on “Leadership through Empathy and Excellence.” He emphasized the significance of empathy in fostering a performance-driven culture and achieving collective goals as a team, regardless of generational differences. Mr. Paracha shared insights on two distinct approaches, the shotgun and rifle approach, and highlighted the critical elements of fostering stronger relationships among staff members and nurturing an environment conducive to collaboration and growth.
The inaugural panel discussion on “Skill-sets for Tomorrow” featured esteemed industry leaders, including Mr. Rayomond Kotwal, CFO, Habib Bank Ltd., Mr. Amin Rajput, Group Managing Director & CFO, SSGCL, Ms. Naila Kassim, Group Director HR, House of Habib, and Mr. Muhammad Rizwan Dalia, Chief People Officer, K-Electric. The panelists stressed the paramount importance of operational efficiency, continuous upskilling, embracing technology, and building collaborative relationships for CFOs to stay updated with current trends and contribute their expertise to the public sector.
The conference also featured engaging sessions on finding a balance between optimization efforts and crucial business priorities, seizing opportunities amidst uncertainties, and navigating challenges in the global landscape. Experts, including renowned motivational speaker Mr. Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, shared invaluable wisdom and perspective, empowering individuals to unlock their true potential and overcome challenges.
The Professional Excellence Awards (PEA) ceremony recognized outstanding ICAP members for their noteworthy accomplishments in various categories. The awards honored individuals who demonstrated exceptional leadership, finance expertise, business enablement, and emerging leadership skills.
Mr. Arslan Khalid, Vice President, ICAP, delivered the closing remarks, offering a reflective summary of the conference proceedings and expressing heartfelt appreciation to the participants, speakers, and organizers for their invaluable contributions.
The CFO Conference 2023 provided a platform for in-depth discussions on resilience, economic turmoil, political uncertainty, and the evolving role of CFOs in the business landscape. The event’s success exemplified ICAP’s commitment to advancing the finance sector and nurturing professional excellence.
