Heather Smith shares why she’s running for the ACCA Global Council, highlighting her advocacy work, global experience, and vision for a future-focused, member-driven ACCA. Summary 📌 Episode Summary (Bullet Points) Heather Smith announces her candidacy for the ACCA Global Council. She reflects on 30 years as an ACCA member and her international career. Advocates for stronger representation from the Southern Hemisphere. Discusses her roles in ACCA’s global SME and technology forums. Emphasises her long-standing commitment to member support and tech innovation. Calls for members to vote, noting the significant impact of each ballot. Encourages non-voting listeners to spread the word within their network. Hi, my name is Heather Smith, and you’re listening to the Accounting Apps Podcast. I’m jumping in with something a little different today. As you may have seen on my socials, I’m standing as a candidate in the ACCA Global Council elections. I’ve been a proud member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants for nearly 30 years. It’s opened doors for me to work across Australia, Singapore, England, and Canada, and it’s connected me with inspiring accountants worldwide. ACCA has been the foundation of a rewarding, impactful career, and even enabled me—through a memorandum of understanding—to join Chartered Accountants ANZ. Now, I’m standing for Council as a way of giving back to the membership that has given me so much. If you’re an eligible member, I encourage you to listen on. If you’re not, perhaps you know someone who is—please nudge them to vote. It can be hard for candidates from the Southern Hemisphere to gain momentum, so every vote really matters. Why Council Matters Council sets ACCA’s direction: How it supports members How it advocates with regulators How it prepares for challenges like AI, sustainability, digital transformation, and the talent pipeline These issues affect every member, everywhere. A Bit About Me I’m the first Australian-born ACCA Fellow. In this election, I’m the only candidate from the Southern Hemisphere. Once elected, however, you represent all members globally. I chair the ACCA Global Forum for SMEs. I’m a member of the Global Forum for Technology. I’ve authored 10 business books (and am working on my 11th). I’ve hosted this podcast for 10 years. I’ve represented ACCA at more than 100 international conferences, championing innovation, ethics, technology, and inclusion. In 2024, I was named Accounting Thought Leader of the Year. Over the years, I’ve also represented ACCA to the Australian Tax Office, funding my own travel and accommodation to secure recognition for ACCA members. These things aren’t always visible, but they matter. I’m passionate about giving SMEs and SMPs a strong voice, about using technology to work for us, and about ensuring members are at the heart of every decision. Why Your Vote Counts Last year, fewer than 5% of members voted. That means each vote carries the weight of about 20 votes in a typical election. You can select up to 21 candidates, and I’d be honoured if one of those votes went to me, Heather Smith. Voting instructions should now be in your inbox. Together, let’s build a future-focused, globally connected ACCA that supports members everywhere. Please take five minutes to vote—and if you’re not eligible, encourage someone you know who is. Thank you for listening. I’m Heather Smith, and this is the Accounting Apps Podcast. Contact details: Accounting Apps newsletter: http://accountingapps.io/ Accounting Apps Mastermind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XeroMasterMind LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/HeatherSmithAU/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ANISEConsulting X: https://twitter.com/HeatherSmithAU