Two finance professionals from New Zealand are among finance professionals featured in the CPA Australia ’40 Young Business Leaders List 2013.’
The List is the second in an annual series by the global accounting organisation, featuring high achievers who are less than forty years of age.
Amit Prasad and Martin Gaskell, both aged 34, received the honour, conferred by the organisation, to acknowledge and reward young professionals.
David Jenkins, New Zealand Country Manager for CPA Australia, said that the judges were seeking candidates who display outstanding leadership in their professional lives and the community.
“Amit and Martin showed that they have what it takes to be our future business leaders,” he said.
Impressive rise
Mr Prasad is an Accounting Manager at the University of Auckland. Beginning his career in his native Fiji s a low-paid factory worker, he rose to the position of Acting General Manager for an Australian clothing company, before migrating to New Zealand in 2006.
Prior to moving to New Zealand, he was a volunteer with Papua Islands Region Enterprise, and now tutors recent immigrants to New Zealand in basic English for ‘English Language Partners,’ a not-for-profit organisation.
The New Zealand Institute of Management and the Asian Association of Management Organisations granted him a ‘Young Managers Programme Scholarship in 2012’.
BNZ benefits
Mr Gaskell is Divisional CFO, Enterprise Support and Operations, at the Bank of New Zealand. Wide financial responsibilities and an operational expenses account of more than NZ$400 million come with his current role, which includes HR, risk and legal departments, technology, marketing and strategy.
He is a leader of the Bank’s ‘Maori and Pacific Island internship Programme’ to help the Bank achieve a culturally diverse workforce.
He was also named Young Finance Manager of the Year at the 2012 New Zealand CFO Awards.
The judging panel comprised the late James Strong (who was Chairman, Australian Institute of Company Directors), John Cahill (an independent Non-Executive Director), Chris Cuffe (Chair of Social Ventures Australia Future Trust), Jason Cunningham (young business leader) and Alex Malley (Chief Executive, CPA Australia), Ruth Medd (Non-Executive Director).
Editor’s Note: BNZ is the Title Sponsor of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2013 and CPA Australia is the Sponsor of the ‘Beat Accountant of the Year’ category.
