Members will be aware that President Paul Henry, accompanied by Council member, Pamela McCreedy as chair of our Advocacy and Representations Board, and Institute Directors Dr Brian Keegan and Brendan O’Hora have concluded outreach events in the US cities of New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Boston.
Attending 12 events; meeting over 100 members; engaging with three senior Ministers and opposition leaders from the island of Ireland; Congressmen and women; envoys from this island to the US; and businesses eager to foster new connections, a lot was achieved in a packed schedule.
The trip had three primary objectives;
First and foremost, the Institute wanted to reconnect in person with, and represent, the 700 members based in the US at a time of year when the eyes of many in the US turn to the island of Ireland. The shift online over the last two years had the positive effect for this Institute of creating a greater sense of belonging among members around the world, and the team wants to harness that and preserve it in the face-to-face environment. On arrival in New York, approximately 70 members gathered at Ireland’s Consulate General, and this strong turnout was replicated in other locations. We were delighted to meet member and Minister, Michael McGrath T.D., along with other members during his time in San Francisco.
Second, the Institute wanted to showcase the strength of the profession in the US, and the economic and social contribution that Chartered Accountants Ireland’s members make in the country. The range of industries represented among this cohort is a superb example of the many directions that members can go with their qualification. The achievements among our membership at some of the highest levels of American business, social, and cultural life are a source of great pride for the Institute.
Third, as an all-island organisation, the Institute worked closely in the lead up to, and during the trip with businesses, industry groups and state agencies, including Enterprise Ireland and Invest NI; and the diplomatic community from right across the island of Ireland so that our presence could be as impactful and productive as possible for members and the profession. In so doing, we leveraged the collective power of Irish America, growing existing relationships, and seeding new ones, with a view to supporting growth and prosperity on the island of Ireland.
Photographs from the trip can be viewed here.