From The Chairperson's Desk
Ritesh Desai,
Chairperson
Toronto Chapter of ICAI
'Driving forward with Purpose and Impact - Swifter, Sharper, Stronger'
I am thrilled and deeply honored to address you as the new Chairman of our esteemed Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Toronto Chapter. As I step into this role, I am committed to advancing our mission of providing Chartered Accountants with valuable professional development opportunities and fostering stronger community bonds through networking events. Our goal is to uphold the core values of the CA profession and establish ourselves as trusted finance professionals in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
as trusted finance professionals in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
I would like to express sincere gratitude to my predecessor, CA Vivek Kapoor, and the entire Board of 2021-2024 for their dedication and hard work. I also had the privilege of collaborating with our past Chairmen Dr. Raj Mantra and CA Sandeep Patkar during my term in the immediate previous Board. Their efforts, alongside all the past Board and Portfolio Team members, have laid a solid foundation upon which we can build a brighter future.
At our Chapter, every action we take is driven by the principle of advancing our goals and benefiting those we serve. We are committed to offering top-notch training, enhancing skills, fostering community belonging, and driving meaningful change in our members' careers.
Recent years have presented both challenges and exciting opportunities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which emphasized the importance of ‘Together, for Better’. We introduced initiatives like Professional Circles and Mentorship Programs to strengthen our community. These foundational elements helped us enter and explore unchartered territories. These efforts, alongside milestones such as organizing the North American Talent Summits and expanding our membership base, enhanced engagement with existing and new sponsors, led to our Chapter winning 'The Best Overseas Chapter' Award [Third prize under the Category Two segment] of our parent body The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India for the first time. We truly 'Redefined the Pinnacle'.
Looking ahead, I am eager to collaborate with each of you—our members, sponsors, and supporters—to leverage our collective strengths and implement impactful initiatives. Your passion and support are essential as we strive to enhance our Chapter's effectiveness and reach new heights.
In the coming months, we will focus on making our Chapter and members ‘Swifter’ and ‘Sharper’ through events like the NA Talent Summit, Gala, and themed professional development sessions on AI, ESG, regulatory developments, financial crimes, etc. in addition to our core competency topics of accounting, audit, assurance, and taxation. Additionally, we aim to improve member benefits, including career counseling and guidance for members and their families.
Your feedback is invaluable as we shape our strategies for the future. I encourage you to share your ideas, concerns, and aspirations with us. Your active engagement, including timely membership renewal, event registration, and connecting us with potential speakers and sponsors, will be instrumental in our success.
Together, let us embark on this journey with optimism and determination, making a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve. I am confident that our collective efforts will make our Chapter ‘Stronger’ than ever.
I am pleased to introduce the Chapter’s Board for the 2024-2027 term:
• Mr. Akhil Kapoor (Secretary and immediate past Secretary & Director)
• Ms. Akhil Iyer (past Portfolio Team member)
• Ms. Shambhavi Sharma (past Portfolio Team member)
• Mr. Ankit Varma (past Portfolio Team member)
• Mr. Gaurav Kumar Lal (past Portfolio Team member)
• Mr. Vivek Kapoor (immediate past Chairman)
• Mr. Tanmay Kelkar (immediate past Director)
I invite you to learn more about and connect with them on our website.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Toronto Chapter and I am looking forward to collaborating with you.