CPA takes full account of professor’s input

Professor of Accounting at Griffith Business School, Jenny Stewart, has been presented with a CPA Queensland President’s Award for Excellence, in recognition of her promotion of CPA Australia to Griffith business students.

Incoming president of CPA Queensland Ian Davies highlighted the important work of academics in building relationships between future graduates and professional bodies, when presenting the award at an end-of-year reception in Brisbane.

As discipline head in the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics during 2011, Professor Stewart previously worked closely with previous CPA Queensland president and Griffith graduate Pamela Pointon.

Ms Pointon, who is also a member of the Griffith Business School Advisory Board, later nominated her for the award.

“It’s important that accounting students become aware of and informed about the role of professional bodies in shaping their careers from an early stage of their university experience,” Professor Stewart said.

“As discipline head, I always encouraged CPA Australia to have a presence at our events like the Professional Development Program hosted at our Logan campus each year. By the same token I encouraged Griffith academics to involve the CPA in lectures where possible.”

Professor Stewart also brought about the appointment of CPA liaison officers at the Nathan, Logan and Gold Coast campuses as an important point of contact for students of accountancy in need of specific advice.

“It is important the professional bodies have access to the student body and vice versa.”

Accepting the award Professor Jenny Stewart said she was delighted to see the contribution of academics to industry acknowledged.

Professor Stewart has research expertise in the areas of auditing and corporate governance.