Leinster Society news

Join the Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society for our next in-person event; a Business Lunch on Thursday 2 March 2023 in the Conrad Hotel. The event will tackle the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in today’s business world.  When: Thursday 2 March Where: The Conrad Hotel What time: 12.30pm - 4.30pm How much: €85 per person / €850 per table of ten  Book: Email Leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie   While the event is taking place in advance of International Women’s Day, our fantastic panel of speakers will not only explore the theme of gender equity but also discuss the importance of DE&I from a broader perspective.  DE&I is important for and benefits everyone and it cannot have an impact in isolation. The event is open to everyone – this is not an IWD female only event. See below details of our exciting panel of speakers. Event MC: Sonya Lennon, Entrepreneur, Multi-Award-Winning Social Entrepreneur & Equality Advocate. Sonya Lennon has over thirty years of experience in business as a thought leader, designer, entrepreneur, and international speaker. A multi-award-winning Social Entrepreneur, Sonya founded the global not-for-profit initiative Dress for Success in Ireland in 2011, supporting over 4,000 women into employment and economic independence. She has campaigned at a European level for gender equality in the workplace through her advocacy work by addressing the Gender Pay & Opportunity Gap. Since 2016, Sonya has led Ireland's highly publicised #WorkEqual campaign. In 2018 Sonya co-founded LIFT Ireland, an initiative to improve the levels of value-led leadership in Ireland, focussing on such themes as accountability, respect, listening and competence. To further deepen and validate her domain expertise, Sonya recently completed a Masters in Business Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with 1st class honours at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dublin. She was called as an expert witness to present at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality & sits on the Cross Part Committee for Workplace Equality. In 2022, Sonya was elected as a member of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and sits on The Labour Taskforce.  Speaker: David McRedmond, CEO An Post David McRedmond was appointed Chief Executive Officer of An Post in October 2016. He has led the Company’s Transformation programme and return to financial stability, sustainable revenue growth and profit by taking big steps to fix the Company’s economics and by restructuring the Mails & Parcels and Retail business in line with a rapidly changing, digital marketplace. David is personally driving An Post’s Sustainability Charter, putting it at the centre of An Post’s business transformation and Green Light strategy. He was previously CEO of TV3 which he transformed into a major Irish broadcaster, concluding with its sale to Liberty Global, and he has held senior commercial roles in Ireland, the UK and the US.   He is chairman of Eir, a director of Premier Lotteries Ireland (the National Lottery), a lifetime Fellow  of the Irish Management Institute and of the Royal Society of Arts.  Speaker: Jeanne McDonagh, CEO Open Doors Initiative Jeanne McDonagh is CEO of the Open Doors Initiative, which works with a large number of companies and NGOs to help marginalised people such as refugees and asylum seekers, people with disabilities and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, find education, employment and entrepreneurship. Previous to this, she was Head of Society and Engagement in Diageo, worked in communications and strategy for Our Lady’s Hospice, was campaign manager for Stephen Donnelly TD in the 2016 election, Communications Co-ordinator for Yes Equality (the Marriage Campaign) and Head of Communications for the Bar Council of Ireland.   She was previously a board member of HIV Ireland, Dublin Pride and the Community Law and Mediation Service. She is on the Advisory Panel for the HIV and AIDS Monument. She has Dysphoric Elation, a form of bipolar and uses this to inform her work through lived experience. Speaker: Lorna Conn, CEO The Cpl Group Lorna is a Chartered Director and a Chartered Accountant. Lorna trained with Deloitte and is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland. Lorna holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin and a Masters in Accounting from the Michael Smurfit Business School. Lorna is CEO and Executive Director of the Cpl Group, having joined as CFO in October 2017. Lorna has previously worked in ISS plc, INM plc and renewable energy company NTR plc, residing in both Ireland and America during this time.

The Leinster Society are delighted to announce that, with the generosity of members in attendance at the Annual Christmas Lunch, they raised a huge €22,300 for charity partner Aware. Thank you to the members in attendance and also to Grant Thornton who very generously contributed to this total with their €5,000 donation. With this money Aware will continue to provide free support, education and information services to people impacted by anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and related mood conditions. The Leinster Society would also like to thank every member who took part in the toy drive at the event, and brought a gift for a child. These gifts were then donated among Barretstown, YPAR, One Family, Carr's Child and Family Services, the Santa Fund, St Michael's House, Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin and Barnardos Tallaght. This toy drive is a very important part of the Leinster Society Christmas Lunch, and the below note from one of our charities, The Santa Fund, highlights just why: 'A family with 4 children under 10 lost their mother just before Christmas. The Leinster Society will play Santa this year and hopefully for many years to come as the youngest is 4 years old. Happy Christmas to your members'. Without the support of the members in attendance this wouldn't be possible.

CRH has been announced as the Overall Winner of this year’s Chartered Accountants Leinster Society Published Accounts Awards, in addition to winning the ‘Euronext Dublin (Large Cap > €1bn)’ Award category. The awards, which are sponsored by Euronext, took place in the Shelbourne Hotel for the first time since 2019, with special guest MC Andrew Maxwell. Chairperson of Chartered Accountants Leinster Society, Ann-Marie Costello said: “This evening showcases the best of Irish corporate reporting. These awards have evolved over the last number of years and recognise companies for their achievements across areas such as Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion and Branding, Communication and Digital, not just the financial reporting itself. The continued improvements in the quality of reporting, and in particular, the increased focus on addressing the needs of all stakeholders, is evident in this year’s entries. In particular for me this year, it’s been wonderful to see so many new entrants to the PAA, and indeed first-time winners across a number of the categories. Congratulations to all our worthy winners” Alan D’Arcy, Chair of the Published Accounts Awards, said: “We are living in an environment where business and society are becoming increasingly interlinked.  Shareholders and stakeholders are looking beyond the financial reporting aspects of an annual report and sustainability and ESG reporting are now more important than ever. The Published Accounts Awards play a pivotal role in raising the bar for Irish companies and it is encouraging to see so many of them adopting best practice when it comes to their annual reports.” Of the judging process, Lisa Gilligan, Vice Chair of the Published Accounts Awards commented: ‘All the judges agreed, the standard of Diversity & Inclusion reporting coming through in annual reports has improved vastly over the last number of years and is evident in the running of their businesses. A number of shortlisted companies are now providing more information in this area, including gender pay gap reports and specific Diversity & Inclusion reporting, which was great to see. ‘ Published Accounts Awards judge Shauna Greely, former Chartered Accountants Ireland President, commented on the improvement in Diversity & Inclusion reporting, ‘I have seen significant focus and improvement in Annual Reports on many areas, with a particular call out for the information included on Diversity & Inclusion and Sustainability across all companies.  I would particularly commend those companies who are leading the way and voluntarily disclosing information eg gender pay gap, in advance of this becoming mandatory’ Daryl Byrne, CEO, Euronext Dublin, who sponsored this year’s awards, commented: “High-quality financial reporting is essential for investors and other stakeholders and is an important contributor to well-functioning securities markets, and even more so in challenging economic conditions.  Euronext is delighted to sponsor the Published Accounts Awards which recognizes and celebrates companies who have excelled in their financial reporting and communications with investors and stakeholders.” A total of 25 public and private companies, and 12 not-for-profit organisations competed as finalists across fourteen distinct award categories. CRH took home the big award of the night, the Overall Winner Award as well as scooping the Euronext Dublin (Large Cap > €1bn) Award. Among the category winners were ESB who were delighted to hold onto the award for Statutory or Unquoted Entity (IFRS) for an eleventh year in a row, as well as scooping the Sustainability & ESG Reporting (Unquoted Entity) Award for a second year running. DCC took home the ‘Company listed on a Foreign Market’ Award again this year, and in the ‘Euronext Growth Award’ category Uniphar claimed first place. Glenveagh Properties were awarded top place in the Euronext Dublin (SME < €1bn) category, and Coillte GCA were the winners of the Statutory or Unquoted Entity (Non-IFRS) Award. The Sustainability & ESG Reporting (Listed Entity) Award went to Kerry Group, the award for Branding, Communication & Digital went to Dog’s Trust; the Diversity & Inclusion (Not for Profit) Award was scooped up by Barnardos, with the Diversity & Inclusion (Listed or Unquoted Entity) Award going to Central Bank of Ireland. In the ‘Not-For-Profit’ Award categories, Jigsaw took home the award for the Large category and Aidlink topped the list of Small / Medium charities. The full list of award winners is as follows:   Award Winner Euronext Dublin (Large Cap > €1bn) CRH plc Euronext Dublin (SME < €1bn) Glenveagh Properties plc Company Listed on a Foreign Market DCC plc Euronext Growth Award Uniphar plc Statutory or Unquoted Entity (IFRS) ESB Statutory or Unquoted Entity (Non-IFRS) Coillte CGA Large Not for Profit Jigsaw Small / Medium Not for Profit Aidlink Sustainability & ESG Reporting Award (Listed Entity) Kerry Group Sustainability & ESG Reporting Award (Unquoted Entity) ESB Diversity & Inclusion Award (Listed or Unquoted Entity) Central Bank of Ireland Diversity & Inclusion Award (Not for Profit) Barnardos Branding, Communication & Digital Award Dogs Trust Overall Winner CRH plc

Each year the District Societies plan lunch or evening events for members to celebrate the season. Here is a round up of the events that were held around the country in 2022.   London Society Dinner – Thursday 1 December  The London Society enjoyed their event, "A Christmas Celebration: An evening of music and stories", at the Women's University Club in London. Leinster Society regional dinner – Thursday 1 December Thank you to all members who came along to Kelly's Resort, Rosslare for the Wexford dinner. Mid West Society Dinner – Thursday 1 December Members in the Mid West gathered in the Savoy Hotel, Limerick and heard from Ray Goggins of RTÉ's Ultimate Hell Week and Donn O'Sullivan Leinster Society regional lunch – Friday 2 December Members from Kilkenny and surrounding areas got together for lunch in the Ormonde Hotel. Ulster Society Lunch – Friday 2 December  Members in NI gathered in the Europa Hotel in Belfast for a sold-out lunch and entertainment from comedian Neil Delamare. Their charity partners were NICHS and The Family Appeal. Thank you to all who supported.  Western Society Lunch – Friday 2 December  Members in Galway and surrounding areas got together in the Dean Hotel for lunch and to hear from Izzy Wheels. The event was in support of charity partner, Oscar's Kids. Thank you to everyone who supported.  Cork Society Lunch – Friday 9 December Members in Cork got together in the Maryborough Hotel and heard from guest speakers Donal Lenihan and Billy Holland. Leinster Society Lunch – Friday 9 December The Leinster Society hosted members in the Clayton Hotel in Dublin for lunch with entertainment from comedian Neil Delamare. Members and their guests raised money for Aware.  North West Society Lunch – Friday 9 December  Members from the North West celebrated in the Glasshouse Hotel, with Pat McCann as their guest speaker.

After a two-year hiatus we are delighted to announce the return of our Annual Leinster Society Christmas Lunch. When: Friday 9 December from 12.30pm. Where: The Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road Tickets: €120 / €1200 for a table of ten Guest speaker: Neil Delamere This year's Dublin lunch sees us return to our old stomping ground, the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, for the biggest industry lunch of the season. Join us, Santa and our very special guest MC stand up comedian Neil Delamere as we kick off silly season while raising money for this year's partner charity, Aware, with a fantastic raffle and fantastic prizes. Larger tables can be accommodated. To book your tickets email us Leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie. This event is in partnership with Aware, who we hope to raise substantial funds for on the night through a raffle. There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs and all proceeds of the raffle go directly to Aware. We are also welcoming the return of our charity toy drive, where we are asking each attendee to bring a toy for a child, and Santa and his helpers will then collect the toys and they will be shared among up to 10 children's charities, including  Barretstown, YPAR, One Family, Carr's Child and Family Services, the Santa Fund, St Michael's House and Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, with more to be confirmed. This event is kindly sponsored by Circit and Cpl.

Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society has announced its shortlist for the 45th Annual Published Accounts Awards. The awards celebrate companies, on the Island of Ireland, for their excellence in corporate reporting on the Island of Ireland.  The Awards are sponsored by Euronext Dublin.  This year’s shortlist includes a total of 25 public and private companies, and 12 not-for-profit organisations. The winners will be announced at a special gala event, taking place in The Shelbourne Hotel on Thursday 10 November 2022 commencing at 7.30pm, with special guest Andrew Maxwell overseeing the proceedings. FINALISTS FOR THE 45th PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS AWARDS Euronext Growth Award Origin Enterprises  Uniphar  Euronext Dublin (SME <€1bn)  Cairn Homes  Dalata Hotel Group  FBD Holdings  Glenveagh Properties  Irish Residential Properties (IRES) Reit  Irish Continental Group  Kenmare Resources  Euronext Dublin (Large Cap >€1bn) AIB Group  Bank of Ireland Group  CRH  Flutter Entertainment  Kerry Group  Company Listed on a Foreign Market C&C Group  DCC  Grafton Group  Statutory or Unquoted Entity (IFRS) Eirgrid  ESB IPUT  NI Water Statutory or Unquoted Entity (Non-IFRS) Central Bank of Ireland CIE Group Coillte Tusla Not-for-Profit - Large Barnardos CRC Cluid Housing Concern Worldwide Housing Finance Agency Jigsaw - National Centre for Youth Mental Health  Kare St Francis Hospice Not-for-Profit - Small / Medium Aidlink Barretstown Dogs Trust The Care Trust In addition to the category awards, there are also a number of other awards consisting of the: • Overall Winner’s Award,  • Sustainability and ESG Reporting Awards, • Branding, Communication and Digital Award, and the • Diversity and Inclusion Awards. Dedicated PAA webpage: https://www.charteredaccountants.ie/Leinster/PAA Event details Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society presents the 45th Annual Published Accounts Awards Dinner on Thursday 10 November 2022 in The Shelbourne Hotel, 7:30pm.  M.C. is well known comic, and TV personality, Andrew Maxwell. Tickets are €125 per person / €1250 for a table of ten. Individual tickets and tables are available.  To book or for more information please contact leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie  Dress: Business / Cocktail  

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath T.D. was the guest speaker at the Leinster Society business lunch event in Dublin yesterday –the first business lunch of Chairperson Ann-Marie Costello’s term. The Minister spoke of his journey to qualification as a Chartered Accountant, pride in his membership, and how it continues to help him to this day, describing how he still scans everything he reads for numbers first. In his speech, the Minister discussed how the backdrop to Budget 2023 is complex and challenging: that we have yet to see the full impact of Brexit; the new scenario of war in Europe and the associated humanitarian crisis across the continent; the impact of rising inflation around the globe, and rising energy costs and energy supply concerns.  The Minister stressed the need for prudent management of public finances while creating a cost-of-living budget to address the needs of families and businesses. The economy has benefitted from previous targeted policy decisions and with proper financial management has the resilience to withstand the current challenges. He touched on the tax system and the need to move away from a system of “static” tax bands, and acknowledged the advice and advocacy provided by the Institute’s Advocacy and Voice team led by Dr Brian Keegan in the government’s work on COVID-19 supports, corporation tax and other tax reforms.  The Minister broadly described the plan for Budget 2023: "In the round we will have a really strong package – a set of one off measures which will amount to several billion euro, which will kick in within weeks of Budget day to support households and also to support businesses," he said. "And then we will have quite a strong package for 2023 where we focus on some of the longer-term challenges that we face as a country as well." In closing, the Minister acknowledged the huge challenges businesses will face with the continuing rise in energy prices, and the work these businesses are doing to stay viable in the face of such unpredictable and growing costs. He committed to the government’s support of these businesses and households to the best of their ability through Budget 2023. The Leinster Society thanks all the members who joined them for the event at Dublin's Fitzwilliam Hotel.

Minister Michael McGrath delivers pre-Budget commentary in Dublin    Talent the “engine of growth”, so employees must be front of mind in Budget 2023 22 September 2022 – Budget 2023 must meet the twin challenges of addressing both business and social imperatives next week. This was the message delivered to Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform Michael McGrath T.D. as he addressed a gathering of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society in Dublin today.  With five days to go until Budget 2023 is unveiled, members of Ireland’s largest professional accountancy body stressed the need to use the Budget as a tool to improve the wider business operating environment, specific business needs and, crucially, the lot of individual taxpayers. This holistic approach is critical to support individuals and ensure that Ireland is an attractive place to live and work.    The Society reiterated that with a variety of financial and administrative burdens on the horizon, from legislative developments on auto-enrolment, the right to request remote working, and statutory sick pay, government interventions need to happen in a considered and balanced way that doesn’t add extra pressures on business.   Commenting, Chair of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society Ann-Marie Costello said  “In its pre-Budget submission and commentary over the summer the Institute stressed that addressing business needs in isolation won’t help our economy to weather this turbulence and remain competitive. Talent is the engine of economic growth, so in tandem with targeted measures to assist business, this Budget needs to address infrastructural and personal finance issues so that people can survive and succeed in Ireland.” From Institute engagement with members, it is clear that in addition to the unprecedented challenges of inflation and rising energy costs, among the biggest challenges facing businesses are people-related, both attracting them and managing them. Over 60% of members cite competition for talented people as a significant challenge. Costello continued          “Ireland’s investment policy has traditionally been focused on taxation from the employer’s perspective, however in 2022, this focus needs to be widened. In recent weeks, a survey by this Society pointed to continued strong earnings prospects for Chartered Accountants working across Leinster, including for newly qualified members, however in spite of this, accounting has been listed on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s Critical Skills Occupations List since 2016. This is all the more reason that employee needs must be placed at the very core of a successful business environment.” Chartered Accountants Ireland’s Pre-Budget submission, under the auspices of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies Ireland (CCAB-I) contains measures to address some of the most pressing societal issues facing Ireland. It proposes that consideration be given to reforming personal tax allowances so that allowances are ‘frontloaded’ at the outset of a person’s career. The submission suggests that such reform is in line with government policy on FDI and should form part of Ireland’s overall policy to attract and retain talent. In addition to reforming personal tax allowances, the CCAB-I supports the proposal to introduce a third rate of income tax to make the tax system more equitable provided that the entry levels to each band of tax are appropriate. Of equal importance is ensuring that Ireland has a functioning housing market to house its population and attract and retain talent to our shores. In its Pre-Budget submission, Chartered Accountants Ireland noted that the residential property market is in crisis, with not enough houses to buy or rent in the private sector and not enough houses being built by the State for those who need social housing. It proposed the extension of the 25% tax rate enjoyed by corporate landlords to individuals, so that the tax system could be effectively harnessed to encourage landlords to stay in the market and new entrants to meet the supply shortage. ENDS About Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society   Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society is a district society of Chartered Accountants Ireland, representing over 14,950 Chartered Accountants throughout Leinster. Chartered Accountants Ireland is Ireland’s leading professional accountancy body, representing over 31,000 members around the world and educating 7,000 students. The Institute aims to create opportunities for members and students, and ethical, sustainable prosperity for society. An all-island body, Chartered Accountants Ireland was established by Royal Charter in 1888 and now has members in more than 90 countries. It is a founding member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, the international network of over one million chartered accountants. It also plays key roles in the Global Accounting Alliance, Accountancy Europe and the International Federation of Accountants. Chartered Accountants Ireland members provide leadership in business, the public sector and professional practice, bringing experience, expertise, and strict standards to their work for, and with, businesses in every sector. Chartered Accountants Ireland engages with governments, policy makers and regulators on key issues affecting the profession and the wider economy.        

Annual survey from Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society and Barden shows flexible & hybrid working remains key focus for members Salary packages for newly qualified rise by 3% 7 September 2022 – A new survey published today puts the average salary package for a Chartered Accountant working in Leinster at €119,270, representing an increase on average of €7,000 – or more than 6% – on last year. The survey of more than 1,000 Chartered Accountants, launched today by Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society in partnership with Barden, Ireland’s leading accounting and tax recruitment firm, provides the most up-to-date guide to Chartered Accountant salaries and employment prospects in the Leinster region.  Rising remuneration packages The research, conducted by Coyne Research between 14 July and 9 August, shows continued strong earning potential for those entering the profession, with newly qualified Chartered Accountants receiving an average salary package (including base salary, car or car allowance, plus bonus) of €58,967, an increase of more than 3% on last year (€57,164).  Almost 9 in 10 (86%) members say their total remuneration has increased in the past three years, compared to 82% in 2021. More than one third of respondents (37%) said their salary had increased by more than 25% this year. The vast majority (88%) of members have a pension, an increase on previous years (85% in 2021 and in 2020), with employers contributing an average 9% of their salary. After basic salary, pension contribution is the most valued part of their package for 51% of respondents.     Remuneration & bonus expectations  While fewer members expect to receive a bonus this year (60%) compared to last year (67%), the survey shows members’ outlook for the future is overall more positive than in previous years. Some 83% of members still expect their total remuneration to increase within the next 12 months, with almost one-fifth (18%) expecting it to increase by more than 10%.  Looking to the future, four-fifths (79%) of respondents believe the market is buoyant, a sizeable increase on 2021 (67%) and a significant jump on 2020 (25%) when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.   Flexible & hybrid working  The survey points to a lasting shift in flexible and hybrid working options for Chartered Accountants, with employers facilitating staff to work from home as part of promoting work/life balance: A hybrid arrangement is the most popular option with 73% of members saying their employer facilitates this, while 13% of members work from home full time. A hybrid arrangement is the most popular option with 73% of members saying their employer facilitates this, while 13% of members work from home full time. 4 in 5 members say the ability to work from home is a non-monetary way that their employer supports a healthy work/life balance. 74% say that the flexibility to work from home, or being able to work from any location in the future is valuable to them. 74% rate their employer as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ at adapting to remote/hybrid working. More than a third (36%) claim they are working more hours at home than when working in the office, down from 48% in 2021.  Enhanced skills  The survey also highlights some of the positive and lasting impacts felt by Chartered Accountants in their work following the pandemic: 3 in 4 believe the pandemic has not fundamentally changed their work as a Chartered Accountant in their organisation, but ways of working and their skills sets have improved. 3 in 5 believe the move to remote working enhanced the communication skills needed to work as a Chartered Accountant in their organisation. More than half (53%) say that moving to remote working enhanced their finance software & IT skills, while 50% say their presentation skills improved as a result.  Ann Marie Costello, Chairperson of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, said:  “This year’s survey shows a number of very positive market trends. It points to continued strong earning prospects for Chartered Accountants working across Leinster, including for newly qualified members. While expectations around bonus payments have fallen back somewhat, overall remuneration packages are rising across the board, and the vast majority of those surveyed remain confident that salaries will increase again in the year ahead and that there is buoyancy in the market.    “The survey clearly shows that employers have adapted well to new ways of working, and the value members place on flexible and hybrid work arrangements cannot be overstated. It’s reassuring to see the balance being struck between remuneration that is both financially attractive and supportive of work-life balance.” Elaine Brady, Managing Partner at Barden, said  “The survey shows real confidence in the accountancy sector, both for those newly qualified and well established in their careers. One of the standout trends for the majority of members is that total remuneration has increased consistently over the past three years, notwithstanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, we are now seeing clear evidence of flexible and hybrid working becoming embedded norms in the workplace, with almost three quarters of respondents rating their employers as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ in adapting to new arrangements.”   ENDS Note to editors The survey was conducted by Coyne Research on behalf of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, in partnership with Barden, between 14 July and 9 August 2022.  About Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society  Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society is a district society of Chartered Accountants Ireland, representing over 14,950 Chartered Accountants throughout Leinster.    Chartered Accountants Ireland is Ireland’s leading professional accountancy body, representing over 31,000 members around the world and educating 7,000 students. The Institute aims to create opportunities for members and students, and ethical, sustainable prosperity for society. An all-island body, Chartered Accountants Ireland was established by Royal Charter in 1888 and now has members in more than 90 countries.     It is a founding member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, the international network of over one million chartered accountants. It also plays key roles in the Global Accounting Alliance, Accountancy Europe and the International Federation of Accountants.     Chartered Accountants Ireland members provide leadership in business, the public sector and professional practice, bringing experience, expertise and strict standards to their work for, and with, businesses in every sector. Chartered Accountants Ireland engages with governments, policy makers and regulators on key issues affecting the profession and the wider economy.  About Barden  Barden is a partner led expert recruitment firm consumed with supporting companies that really know the value of their people. Barden’s expertise covers Accounting, Finance, Tax, Legal and Financial Services recruitment. Our people are trained/qualified in their expert areas, and our approach is consultative not transactional.     Barden has proudly partnered with the Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, for the last five years, to bring you the annual salary survey. Barden also works closely with Chartered Accountants Student Society of Ireland (CASSI) to make sure their members get access to the right information, at the right time so when they qualify they can make the right decisions about their professional future. 

The Leinster Society are delighted to announce The Expert Series: a series of monthly lunchtime webinars where experts in various fields will join us to give tips and advice that will help you to tackle your life admin. Each session will be followed by a Q&A where you will get an opportunity to ask for advice directly from the expert.  Click on the topic to register for each webinar you wish to attend. Each webinar takes place from 12.30pm - 1.30pm. Date  Topic   Speaker  Wednesday 28 September 2022 Mortgage advice for 2nd time buyers - Recording available on request Aine Cullen, of Ask Paul Wednesday 19 October 2022 Excels hacks you can't live without - Recording available on request The Leinster Society  Wednesday 23 November 2022 Pensions and Investments Explained - Recording available on request Rory Gillen, of Gillen Markets  Wednesday 11 January 2023 How to save energy and be more sustainable at home - Recording available on request SEAI  Wednesday 15 February 2023  Career Considerations - Recording available on request Shane Power FCA & Lisa Foley ACA CTA of EMPOWERMENT Financial Recruitment  Wednesday 22 March 2023  Sustainable Fashion & Workwear Essentials  Orla Sheridan, personal stylist  Wednesday 12 April 2023 Preparing for retirement; financially and mentally  Paul Kenny, former Retirement Ombudsman Wednesday 10 May 2023  Personal Tax tips  Mairead O'Driscoll, The Tax Nerd 

The Leinster Society elected Ann-Marie Costello as the 94th Chairperson at the AGM on Friday 10 June. Des Gibney was elected alongside Ann-Marie as Vice Chair for the 2022 / 23 term. Ann-Marie tells us about herself and her plans for her term as Chairperson: Having grown up in a family of medical professionals in Galway, I am somewhat of a ‘blow in’ to accountancy and to the Chartered Accountants Leinster Society. I chose to study Commerce with German (NUIG) and undertook a Masters in Accounting (UCD), before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2008. I spent my training contract in the Corporate Recovery team in KPMG, and after a period of time spent traveling around the globe, joined Grant Thornton and am currently a Director in the Corporate Finance team. On a more personal note, I am a mother to Finn (two years old), married to Fabio, a keen traveller and a fair-weather runner and cyclist.  I was introduced to the Chartered Accountants Leinster Society a number of years ago and was keen to have the opportunity to pay it forward and get involved in representing members’ interests. I am honoured to be elected the 94th Chairperson of the Society and am delighted to be in the driving seat for what promises to be a great year ahead.  As society opens up again, there appears to be a great appetite to get back to face-to-face socialising and networking. In line with this demand, we are making plans for all our pillar events to be in-person this year - the Horse Show, the Published Accounts Awards, the Christmas Lunch and the Rugby Lunch. We are also planning to host a number of Business Lunches throughout my term, with well-known keynote speakers. However, we know that the situation in terms of Covid-19 is fluid, and will be mindful of any change in circumstance as the year progresses.  Over the last two years, we have found that our virtual events allowed us to reach a wider audience and had considerable uptake. We therefore plan to offer a series of more bite-sized virtual sessions over the course of the year, which will offer members more flexibility and sustain high engagement levels.  We are working on an excellent programme of events for the year ahead under the topics of Wellness, Family and Inclusivity. The first events of the year include our upcoming Pride event (in conjunction with the Young Professionals) and an inaugural hike which is open to members, their families and friends. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Jilly Harvey on a fantastic year as Chairperson of the Society and to introduce Des Gibney, our incoming Vice Chairperson. Special thanks also to the wonderful committee behind the Society, as well as Susan Waldron and Ruth McNally, who coordinate and deliver all the events and help to make the year possible. I am really looking forward to the year and hope to welcome as many members as possible to the various events. The door is always open so feel free to reach out to myself, or any of the committee members, at any stage over the course of the year.  - Ann-Marie  

The Published Accounts Awards 2022 are kicking off again! The Leinster Society returns to The Shelbourne Hotel for this year's awards ceremony, which will take place on Thursday 10 November 2022. Incoming Leinster Society Chairperson Ann-Marie Costello will host the awards, alongside a special guest MC who will be revealed soon.  Entries are welcomed across all types of reporting bodies – whether large, listed companies, or small not for profit organisations. Entries must be in respect of financial years ended on or before 31 March 2022.  This year entries close on Friday 15 July 2022.  For more information on how to enter, visit the Leinster Society web page or contact the Leinster Society office at paa@charteredaccountants.ie for more information. 

NOTICE OF MEETING Notice is hereby given that the ninety-fourth Annual General Meeting of Chartered Accountants Leinster Society will be held on Friday, 10 June 2022, at 4pm in Chartered Accountants House, Dublin. Copies of the Annual Report & Accounts can be downloaded from the Society’s website at https://www.charteredaccountants.ie/Leinster/About-Us/Annual-Reports.  AGENDA         1            To approve the Minutes of the ninety-third Annual General Meeting held on Friday, 11 June 2021 (Minutes available here); 2            To receive the Report of the Committee, the Annual Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet and the Auditor's Report thereon (Report available here) 3            To note the Members of Officer Group for 2022 4            To receive the results of the election of Members of Committee (Report available here); 5            To re-appoint the Auditors 6            To transact any other business If you intend being present, please register by emailing Leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie before Wednesday, 7 June 2022 By Order of the Committee P Jennings Honorary Secretary 26 May 2022

TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEINSTER SOCIETY NOTICE OF THE ELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2022/2023   Note: All references to Rules are to the Rules which came into force on 11 June 2021. This notice is given in accordance with Rule 28.2.   In accordance with Rule 21.1.1, the number of vacancies for elected members on the Committee of the Leinster Society (the “Committee”) to be filled at the Annual General Meeting of the Leinster Society, (the “Society”), to be held on 10 June 2022, is SEVEN.   The following members of the Committee, who are retiring under the provisions of Rule 25.2, are eligible for re-election, and have indicated to the Committee that they wish to offer themselves for re-election and are accordingly deemed to be nominated for re-election: Paul BYRNE, member in business Alan D’ARCY, member in practice The following member of the Committee, who is retiring under the provisions of Rule 24.1, is not eligible for re-election: Jilly HARVEY, member in practice The following member of the Committee is retiring under the provisions of Rule 23.1: Gemma SHINE, member in business To fulfil the membership strand / geographic requirements of Rule 21.2, the members elected must include four members in practice and four members in business.   ONE member of the Society who must be a member in practice or employed in practice TWO members of the Society who must be members in business FOUR members of the Society whether members in business, members in practice, members employed in practice or other category of membership In accordance with Rule 21.1.1, candidates for election to Committee must be members of the Society and, in accordance with Rule 29.1, be nominated by five members of the Society, who are not current Committee members.   Nominations are now sought for the above vacancies. Completed nominations must, under Rule 29.5, be sent to the Honorary Secretary by e-mail to leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie not later than 1pm on 22 April 2022.   Nomination forms are available on request from the Committee Secretary email, leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie    The Ballot, if necessary, will be held on 19 May 2022. By Order of the Committee Pat Jennings Honorary Secretary, Leinster Society

A festive feast of 12 events and competitions, running from 1 – 12 December, from Santa visits to comedy to cooking, with all proceeds going to directly to our two chosen charities. You pick the event(s) that suits you!  Tickets for each event are very limited so don’t wait to book! Tickets are allocated on a first come, first served basis. 100% of proceeds from the ticketed events go directly to Jigsaw - the National Centre for Youth Mental Health. We ask that you donate the suggested price in lieu of a ticket charge in order to receive your ticket. All proceeds from the raffle competitions go directly to Barretstown. We ask that you donate a minimum of €10 to enter. Your donation counts as a raffle ticket. You can enter as many times as you like. Winners of the competitions will be picked at the end of the 12 days by Chairperson Jilly Harvey! To book any of these events, email Siobhan and Susan – leinstersociety@charteredaccountants.ie  Full list of events: 1 December - Virtual visit with Santa Claus  Enjoy a private virtual visit with Santa from the comfort of your own home!Santa will be live from Lapland to check up on the boys and girls in yourhousehold and check them off the nice list! All children receive a gift from Santa! Donation of €20 per child to enjoy this festive call. 2 December – Retro Drive in Movies, from 7pm @ Leopardstown Drive in movie theatre Join us for a special and exclusive screening of 'Home Alone' from the safety of your car at the Retro Drive in Movie theatre Leopardstown at 7pm, with gates open from 6.15pm. Popcorn and a drink included for each person. Donation of minimum €20 per car to see Kevin McAllister in action! 3 December – Wonderlights at Malahide Castle - SOLD OUT! Grab the woolly hats and gloves and join us for an enchanting woodland night walk which brings magical themes to life! This event is suitable for all ages so book now for some Christmas magic! Donation of minimum €15 per ticket. 4 December – Restorative yoga session with Laura Clarke, 10am via Zoom Laura Murphy of Calm & Co eases us into the silly season with a relaxing festive flow designed to help you melt away any built-up tension, calming your body and mind from the comfort of your own cosy surroundings, no experience needed, just bring a mat and pillow.  Donation of minimum €10 to attend this session. 5 December – Competition time! A chance to win a fantastic prize that will make a huge difference to your Christmas! Prize to be announced on this date! Donation of minimum €10 to enter the raffle. Each entry is a raffle ticket and enter as many times as you like! Please ensure you leave your name and contact email so we can contact you if you win. Donate and enter here: https://tinyurl.com/6a4jdw95    6 December – Festive cook-along with the Happy Pear, 1pm – 2pm via Zoom Join David and Stephen from the Happy Pear as they host a lunch time cook-along! Cook some festive favourites with the Happy Pear twist, that can be easily replicated again for your Christmas dinner! Donation of minimum €10 to join the cook-along. 7 December – Paint & Prosecco, 7pm via Zoom Find your inner Van Gogh while enjoying some bubbles! Join us for an hour-long virtual painting class at 7pm where art may not be guaranteed but fun certainly will be! Donation of minimum €20 to join the class. 8 December – Competition time! A chance to win a fantastic prize that will make a huge difference to your Christmas! Prize to be announced on this date! Donation of minimum €10 to enter the raffle. Each entry is a raffle ticket and enter as many times as you like! Please ensure you leave your name and contact email so we can contact you if you win. Donate and enter here: https://tinyurl.com/6a4jdw95  9 December – Tayto Park Christmas Experience - SOLD OUT! Spend a day at Ireland's only theme park, Tayto Park! With activities for thrill-seekers old and young as well as the Christmas experience which includes a private visit with Santa this is one event not to be missed! Your ticket covers all day entry to the park with access to Santa at 7.10pm. Donation of minimum €10 per ticket. 10 December – Laughter Lounge from the couch, 7pm via Zoom Joe Rooney, aka Fr Damo, hosts an evening of laughs which can be enjoyed from the comfort of your couch! A whopper box of goodies, including beers and snacks, will be delivered to your house to enjoy while Joe introduces us to not 1, not 2, but 10 comedians! Donation of minimum €50 per log in / goodie box. 11 December – Competition time! A chance to win a fantastic prize that will make a huge difference to your Christmas! Prize to be announced on this date! Donation of minimum €10 to enter the raffle. Each entry is a raffle ticket and enter as many times as you like! Please ensure you leave your name and contact email so we can contact you if you win. Donate and enter here: https://tinyurl.com/6a4jdw95  12 December – Competition time! A chance to win a fantastic prize that will make a huge difference to your Christmas! Prize to be announced on this date! Donation of minimum €10 to enter the raffle. Each entry is a raffle ticket and enter as many times as you like! Please ensure you leave your name and contact email so we can contact you if you win. Donate and enter here: https://tinyurl.com/6a4jdw95 

On Wednesday 3 November, the Leinster Society, led by Chair Jilly Harvey, hosted the virtual 44th Published Accounts Awards, with MC Gráinne Seioge. Congratulations to all the winners. Category  Winner  Large Not-for-Profit      CRC Small/Medium Not-for-Profit   Barretstown Large Quoted Company  CRH Small/Medium Quoted Company  Dalata Hotel Group Large Company listed on a Foreign Market  DCC Euronext Growth Award Origin Enterprises Statutory Unquoted Large Entity (IFRS)  ESB Statutory Unquoted Large Entity (non-IFRS)  daa CSR & Sustainability (Listed)  Kerry Group CSR & Sustainability (Non listed)  ESB Best Branding, Communication and Marketing   Concern Best Digital Reporting  Dalata Hotel Group Diversity & Inclusion: General  Central Bank of Ireland Diversity & Inclusion: Not-for-Profit  Trocaire Highly Commended Award  Jigsaw

Annual survey from Chartered Accountants Leinster Society shows changing work practices & values focused on health and work-life balance following Covid-19 2 September 2021 - A new survey published today places the average salary package (including base salary, car or car allowance, plus bonus) for a Chartered Accountant in Leinster at €112,033, consistent with recent years. But in contrast to previous surveys, a strong shift in work practices, values and priorities has emerged for many following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.  The survey of more than 1,000 Chartered Accountants, published today by Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society in partnership with Barden, Ireland’s leading accounting and tax recruitment firm, and in association with Coyne Research, provides the most up-to-date guide to Chartered Accountant salaries and employment prospects in the Leinster region. Strong Earning Potential  The survey, carried out between 22 July and 9 August, highlights strong earning potential for those entering the profession, with newly qualified (2020 and 2021) Chartered Accountants receiving an average salary package of €57,164. The majority of members surveyed said they hold full-time permanent roles (96%), up slightly on 2020 (95%). Over 4 in 5 (82%) said their total remuneration has increased within the past three years, with 1 in 3 claiming it has increased by more than 25%. The survey also showed a significant increase in those anticipating a bonus payment in 2021 (67%) versus 2020 (52%), with €20,000 the average bonus expected to be paid this year. At 85%, the majority also have a pension, unchanged from 2020, with employers contributing on average 9% of their salary. New Ways of Working  As with many professions, the pandemic has changed how Chartered Accountants work with regards to place of work, the role of technology, and hours worked. Key findings include:   8 in 10 respondents considered location flexibility (a mix of home and office/client location, work from anywhere) the most valuable aspect of flexible/hybrid working for the future More than 8 in 10 believed personal productivity tools such as MS Teams, Zoom, etc. have positively impacted their career However, almost half (48%) of Chartered Accountants also claim they are working more hours at home than they were when working in the office 60% know what their future working arrangements will entail, while one-third (32%) do not yet know – but among this group, 7 in 10 would like to collaborate with their employer on a plan Just 6% would be happy to return to a full-time, Monday to Friday office routine in the future. Future Outlook  At this stage in the pandemic, respondents are more positive about the future, both in terms of their own personal career progression and the outlook for the profession in general.  Key findings include: More than two-thirds (67%) believe the employment market is buoyant, a significant change from 25% in 2020. Only 9% believe the market is contracting in 2021 compared to 36% in 2020 Over half (51%) said they have been promoted in the last three years, with one-fifth of members moving job in the last 12 months. This remains on par with recent years 90% of Leinster Society members are not concerned about job security, a significant improvement on last year when Ireland was in the early stages of the pandemic. At that time, almost one fifth (18%) of those surveyed expressed concern about their job security  Just 4% said their salary has reduced as a result of the pandemic, versus 13% in 2020  Only 3% were in receipt of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, a fall of 6% on 2020. Jilly Harvey, Chairperson of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, said: “While our survey shows that 84% don’t believe the pandemic has changed their work as a Chartered Accountant, it is clear that ways of working have changed, and that the pandemic has been a catalyst for much of this change. Greater work-life balance with flexible arrangements are valued by members in greater numbers than in any previous Leinster Society survey. It is reassuring that employers are providing tangible ways to meet those needs as part of the overall remuneration package on offer to new and established professionals. The survey points to a profession that is adapting well for the post-pandemic world of work, while retaining the many benefits, such as strong starting salaries and flexible entry routes, that make Chartered Accountancy an attractive career path for so many.” Elaine Brady, Managing Partner at Barden, said: “This survey gives employer firms, recruiters and anyone considering a career in Chartered Accountancy the big picture on what it means to work as a Chartered Accountant in Leinster today. The findings look far beyond the traditional remuneration packages to ask about the real life work arrangements and non-financial benefits increasingly valued by employees. Over half of those surveyed are satisfied with their work/life balance and the non-monetary aspects of their job. As Ireland emerges further from the pandemic, all the signs point to continued confidence in both the employment market and equally the career progression outlook for Chartered Accountants across Leinster.”  Where Chartered Accountants Work The survey highlights the wide range of industries and sectors that Chartered Accountants work in. The majority of members surveyed work in Dublin (84%). Of the 19% of members employed in practice, 48% work in a Big 4 practice. 68% of those working in practice are in a Manager or Director role. The majority of those not working in practice currently work in financial services (25%). Members also work in IT and Telecommunications (13%), Government/Public Sector/Education (10%), Construction (8%), Pharmaceutical (8%), and across a broad range of other sectors including manufacturing, not-for-profit / charities, food industry and more. Among those not employed in practice, almost four in ten (39%) work for companies that are a subsidiary of a foreign-owned multinational compared to a private Irish company (29%) or the business unit of an Irish plc (11%). ENDS Note to editors The survey was conducted by Coyne Research on behalf of Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, in partnership with Barden, between 22 July and 9 August 2021. About Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society is a district society of Chartered Accountants Ireland, representing over 14,950 Chartered Accountants throughout Leinster. Chartered Accountants Ireland is Ireland’s leading professional accountancy body, representing 29,500 influential members around the world and educating 7,000 students. The Institute aims to create opportunities for members and students, and ethical, sustainable prosperity for society. An all-island body, Chartered Accountants Ireland was established by Royal Charter in 1888 and now has members in more than 90 countries.  It is a founding member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, the international network of over one million chartered accountants. It also plays key roles in the Global Accounting Alliance, Accountancy Europe and the International Federation of Accountants.   Chartered Accountants Ireland members provide leadership in business, the public sector and professional practice, bringing experience, expertise and strict standards to their work for, and with, businesses in every sector. Chartered Accountants Ireland engages with governments, policy makers and regulators on key issues affecting the profession and the wider economy. About Barden Barden is a partner led expert recruitment firm consumed with supporting companies that really know the value of their people. Barden’s expertise covers Accounting, Finance, Tax, Legal and Financial Services recruitment. Our people are trained/qualified in their expert areas, and our approach is consultative not transactional.  Barden has proudly partnered with the Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society, for the last 4 years, to bring you the annual salary survey. Over the next 2 years Barden will also be working closely with Chartered Accountants Student Society of Ireland (CASSI) to make sure their members get access to the right information, at the right time so when they qualify they can make the right decisions about their professional future.  

As she leaves office as Chairman of the Leinster Society, we were delighted to catch up with Áine Crotty to ask for some reflections on her year. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background? My name is Áine Crotty, I am an Associate Director in KPMG's Risk Consulting Practice and current Chairman of the Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants Ireland. I was born in New York , but I moved to the real capital, Cork, when I was six. My strong American accent at the time was quickly replaced by my lovely Cork twang, which I hear only increases in intensity when I talk to other Corkonians. Why did you choose Chartered Accountancy, and how did you get here? Chartered Accountancy sort of found me rather than vice versa. I was just back from my Erasmus year in Germany and the “big-4” accountancy firms were starting to do the milk rounds. As most final year students will be familiar with, the pressure was on to try and figure out what I wanted to do after University, where I was studying a Bachelor of Commerce with German in UCC. I went to the careers fairs on campus and learnt fairly quickly about the traditional Chartered Accountancy route through training with a big-4 practice firm. I never studied accounting, avoiding it even at Leaving Cert level (thinking at the time that accountants weren’t “cool”), but I decided to explore the opportunities further by attending the information evenings held by the big 4 accountancy firms.  The opportunities the qualification would open up for me and the experience that could be gained from doing the graduate programme in a firm like KPMG was immediately evident from those information evenings and talking to trainees who were going through the grad programme. So, I interviewed with KPMG in the Hayfield Manor in the first week of November 2012 and here I am nine years later.  I can safely say that my opinion of accountants has completely changed (and I don’t think I’m biased here!) Most of the accountants I have trained and worked with to date are some of the greatest and most fun people I know. What do you value most about your membership of the profession and how do you think those benefits can be used to support the economy and society?  The massive network that I am now a part of and its global reach. My network has grown significantly through my membership of Chartered Accountants Ireland, and it continues to grow today, even at the same pace as pre-Covid-19. The profession and its relevant District Societies have adapted significantly to the circumstances that the global pandemic presented and have allowed us all to continue to grow our networks even in a virtual world. This adaptability to allow people to continue to connect virtually has helped society from a wellbeing perspective – it has allowed its members to stay connected in an isolated world where lockdowns were frequent and I feel this significantly helped our physical and mental health. I feel that businesses in the community have benefited from this also, in particular small businesses with a link to chartered accountants as a number of supports were opened up to them virtually during the pandemic. Here at the Leinster Society we also offered webinars to businesses such as providing guidance on the rescue options available to them during the pandemic. I feel our members, our society and our economy has benefited hugely from the massive network Chartered Accountants has to offer, allowing us all to learn and grow from each other.    If you weren’t an accountant, what do you think you would you be/have been?    I would love to be able to say that I have always had the dream of being something exciting like an astronaut or a Formula 1 driver but I’m afraid that’s not the case (mainly because I am afraid of heights and far too risk averse to be a race driver – perhaps that’s how I ended up in Risk Consulting). However, I have always had a desire to help people so I reckon I would have been a social worker or carer of some sort. One of the biggest advantages to me and the thing that has also brought me the most joy in my role as Chairman of the Leinster Society has been all the people we have been able to help through our wellness programme this year. We have hosted a number of wellbeing webinars covering physical, mental and nutritional health with some fantastic speakers. We reached more members than ever through the use of virtual platforms and we raised vital funds for organisations such as the Irish Cancer Society, Pieta House and the five children’s charities we supported through our Christmas Charity fundraiser. So while I may not be working directly in a care-giving profession, being Chairman of the Leinster Society this year has allowed me some crucially important opportunities to help others for which I am extremely grateful to have had.   You have just completed your year as chair of the Leinster Society. I know it was totally unforeseen how this year would be, but can you tell us some of the highlights of the year for the society and the benefits for you personally. To say that this year has been the complete opposite to the year I had envisaged when I took the Vice Chairman's Chain from Brian Murphy at the AGM back in June 2019 is an understatement. I refer to it as wiping the slate clean, all pre-booked venues were cancelled, all meetings were booked into Microsoft Teams, and I was facing a year of the complete unknown. However there has been a significant number of highlights and benefits to both the Society and me personally. I made history in being the first ever Chairman of the society to be virtually elected, and hosting the society’s first ever virtual AGM in its 92 years of existence (and successfully so). I met some incredible speakers, learning so much from them about personal, physical and nutritional wellbeing. A lot of these speakers may previously have been out of reach for us but in moving to a virtual world the doors were opened to a whole new range of speakers. We have had the opportunity to collaborate with the other district societies on some fantastic events such as our International Women’s Day Conference where we covered three hugely important topics. Pre-Covid, we were prevented from doing joint events by geographical restrictions. Moving to a virtual world has broken down those barriers and meant we could collaborate with our counterparts anywhere in the country or even those on the other side of the world. But the ultimate highlight for me of course has to be my public proposal from Dustin the Turkey on our Children’s Charities fundraiser. Is there anything you would have done differently during your term as Chair?  I can honestly say there isn’t a thing I would have done differently. It was a completely unprecedented year, and at times it was extremely tough, but I would do it exactly the same all over again if I had to. Covid has taken away a lot of loved ones from us and a lot of people have suffered but we can’t turn a blind eye to all the opportunities and life learnings that it has presented us with. I have built and drawn on levels of resilience I did not know I had and I have learnt to truly appreciate the important things in life. I have hosted virtual events with amazing people who I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet. I have helped a huge number of people who I would not have been able to reach without the full support of the society, my fellow committee members and the support staff in the Institute. So to conclude I would like to thank all those who supported me in my role as Chairman of the Leinster Society this year (unfortunately we only have six minutes so I won’t list them all). And finally, I hope that having read this article you will stop for a moment to appreciate all the opportunities that this new way of connecting has presented to you and reflect on the positives arising from the last 13 months, while looking forward to a bright future.   Don't forget to check out your own district society.