| January 2008
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| AGN WORLD CONGRESS 2007 |
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Amsterdam was the perfect choice for the 12th AGN World Congress, not only for its perfect location in Europe, but also because it has one of the largest historical city centres in Europe and it is both a financial and cultural centre in the Netherlands.
On Sunday 30th of September, a city tour was organised specially for the attendees, which gave them the opportunity to enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the city in coaches and then by boat along the famous canals. Even Dutch members were surprised at the amount of anecdotes about Amsterdam that were told! |
In the evening, the Welcome Cocktail for over 140 attendees (delegates and companions) was held. The Welcome Cocktail and the upcoming conferences were celebrated in one of the most unique conference sites in the Netherlands: the 17th century domed Renaissance Koepelchurch that still has one of the largest church organs in Europe.
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The Conferences started on Monday 1st of October with a diverse range of subject matter, in particular, the Welcome to the Netherlands by the two AGN Dutch member firms (AGN Daamen & van Sluis and Rietveld Rosenberg Otten) and other presentations by external guests:
- the Introduction to the Netherlands and it’s place in the World Economy (presented by the Economic expert Mr. S van Wijnbergen),
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- Litigation challenges facing the profession (presented by Mr. V Knopp, from FirstCity Partnership in London)
- and a very special guest, Peter Faber, a famous Dutch actor that captivated delegates attention with his performance of “Defending the Caveman”. AGN corporate matters were also debated during the day.
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The next day AGN delegates experienced a long session about Leadership versus Management, lead by Chris Garratt and Olger Draijer, from Leadership Solutions Europe). Members had real fun trying to win different “games” they were asked to do, always on a team basis reinforcing the leadership and team work concepts.
Companions had a two day guided tour of Amsterdam and its surroundings. |
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The closure of the Congress was celebrated with a gala dinner in the Garden centre of Arendshoeve, a magnificent and original place to celebrate the end of the conference.
AGN will be celebrating the 2008 World Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 25-28, with a pre-Congress tour beginning in Rio de Janeiro on September 19. |
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More about AGN’s new Chair Esther Tan |
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Esther Tan is the first woman to head AGN International and may, in fact, be the first woman to head any international association of accounting firms. She is also the first person from the Asia-Pacific region to chair AGN. Tan has served as the representative to the AGN Board from the Asia Pacific Region since 2005.
Background
Tan completed her articleship in the UK, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant there. She worked in the UK after that and later tutored with an educational institution in the UK before returning to Kuala Lumpur. Her practice started in 1984 under the name of Esther Tan & Co and later merged. The firm now carries the name of GEP Associates.
GEP Associates is an audit/assurance firm with a staff force of about 90. The Firm performs statutory audits on Public Listed companies listed on Bursa Malaysia, Private Limited Companies as well as non-governmental organizations, charities and is also involved in taxation and consulting work.
 Tan’s qualifications include the following:
- Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
- Member of Malaysian Institute of Accountants
- Member of the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Fellow of the Institute of Taxation
She is also a member of the Malaysian Institute of Management and a Certified Financial Planner and is one of the founding members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, Malaysian chapter.
Tan was also the First Lady Rotary President in 1992/1993 in District 3300 and has always been an active Rotarian. Currently, she is the Treasurer and Secretary of the Rotary Foundation of Malaysia as well as the Treasurer and Secretary of The Outward Bound Trust of Malaysia.
In 2006, Tan was awarded the “Woman Entrepreneur of the Year” in the Finance Division, a recognition given by the National Association of Women Entrepreneurs, Malaysia (NAWEM). The award was presented by YB Dato’ Seri Rafidah Aziz, the Minister of International Trade and Industry.
Outside of her work, her interests are reading and dancing. Her son, Gavin, takes after her as he has shifted his accountancy career to be an International dancer with a particular focus on salsa.
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World QuAC meets in NYC |
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 AGN’s Quality Assurance Committee held its second meeting December 4-5, 2007 at the Manhattan offices of Rothstein, Kass & Co. Shown are (l. to r.) Nick Blake, Graeme Marriott (Asia-Pacific), Patsy Bowen (AGN-NA), Sushas Deshpande (West Asia-Africa) and Liam McQuaid (Europe). Jennifer Riva-Kirk (North America) participated via teleconference. Enzo Godoy (Central & South America) attended for one day; Jennings Hastings (North America) was unable to be present. Purpose of the meeting was to review the current quality standards documentation to ensure continuing association status.
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Member
Publications |
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Consultatio (Austria) –
Consultatio News - an in-house newsletter (in German).
It
is possible to download all published Investment Guides
(in German and English language) from the homepage
www.consultatio.at, “International” – “Business
in Eastern Europe”). On demand, the firm would
be pleased to forward the Investment Guides by post.
Please contact them directly.
The
following Investment Guides have been published: Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania
and the Ukraine.
Logan Katz (Canada) – The Learning Kurve – monthly in-house newsletter.
Fiducia Management (China) - China Focus (September 2007) – including articles on management consulting in China, HR headaches: the art of keeping Chinese staff (happy) and made in China: better safe than sorry. China Focus (October 2007) – including articles on the challenges of private equity investing in China and exhibition industry about to overcome its growing pains.
Kopun
Group (Croatia) – in-house
newsletters (in Croatian).
OFISA (Switzerland) - Newsletter (in French) re in-house information.
Shipleys LLP (UK) – Shipshape (July 2007) – including articles on a greener office, film tax credits, discounted gift schemes and corporate recovery and reconstruction. Shipshape (October 2007) – including articles on retired employees, property abroad, companies act and client profile: skillsactive.
Daszkal
Bolton (USA) – The
Advisor (July to October 2007) announcements
and articles. E-newsletters re items of current interest.
Kane & Company (USA) – e-newsletter re items of current interest.
Rothstein
Kass (USA) – On Point (Fourth quarter 2007) – including articles on planning ahead for the Roth IRA Tax Break and four ways to open your IRA early and beware of rising IRS audit rates. Manufacturing (Third and Fourth quarter 2007) – including articles on options for retirement plan payouts, five reasons to create a business plan, IRS provides new guidelines for section 199 deductions and how to sustain a “Lean Manufacturing” approach. Argus (August & September 2007) – including articles on legislative proposals challenge tax benefits enjoyed by fund managers and investors and new risk based auditing standards impact on private investment funds.
Stockton
Bates (USA) – e-newsletters
re items of current interest.
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| Directory
Changes |
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AUSTRALIA
HALL CHADWICK (ADELAIDE)
has changed its name to
LAMBERTS HALL CHADWICK
New contact details are :
225 Greenhill Road
(Cnr. Fullarton Road)
Dulwich, SA 5056
(P.O. Box 756, Kent Town, SA 5071)
Australia
Tel: (+61 8) 8364 8000
Fax: (+61 8) 8364 8199
E-mail: iswan@lhcsa.com.au
URL:
www.lambertshallchadwick.com.au
International Contact Partner: Ian Swan;
Marco De Corso & Pio De Corso have left and incoming partners are:
Carlos De Pizzol & Tony Ryan (New Tax Partner)
HALL CHADWICK (DARWIN)
has changed its name to:
LAMBERTS HALL CHADWICK
The address and telephone number remain the same, but the fax number is: (+61 8) 8364 8199
the E-mail and URL address are as above.
International Contact Partner:
Ian Swan;
Marco De Corso & Pio De Corso have left and incoming partners are:
Carlos De Pizzol & Tony Ryan (New Tax Partner)
CHILE
GUERRA & RABY ASOCS.
has left the organisation
FRANCE
DIXON WILSON
Sophie Lemaitre is now the Contact Partner for the firm
MALTA
AGN-MERCIECA CIANTAR ASSOCIATES
has changed its name to:
CIANTAR ASSOCIATES
and it’s email address is:
info@maltafiduciary.com
and it’s URL address is:
www.maltafiduciary.com
MEXICO
PRIETO RUIZ
has a new e-mail address:
gperez@prv-mex.com
NICARAGUA
SOLORZANO & COMPANY
has been excluded from membership for non payment of fees
RUSSIA
ACG ECFARD LTD
Anna Sinyakova is now the Contact Partner for the firm
SWITZERLAND
GIROUD AG
has moved its Zurich office to:
Europastrasse 1
CH-8152 Glattbrugg/Zurich
(P.O. Box 409)Switzerland
The telephone number and e-mail address remains the same, but their fax number is now:
Fax: (+41 44) 828 18 13 |
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AGN's Upcoming Attractions!
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JANUARY
11 – 12
North American Executive Committee Meeting
Location: Sedona, AZ
11
European Regional Board Meeting
Location: Paris, France
19
South American Members Meeting
Location: Lima, Peru
MARCH
25 – 26
AGN International Ltd., Board of Directors Meeting
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
MAY
18 – 21
North American Regional Meeting
Location: Grand Hyatt Seattle
Seattle, WA
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