One of the first things Peter Burke had to do after arriving in Jos, Nigeria, was to learn how to cope with very basic conditions. “It’s chaotic,” Burke says. “You might have water once a fortnight, you might have some... read more

Ben Packham wanted to make a big impact when he arrived in landlocked Mongolia to volunteer for a year – but the Sydney CPA soon discovered making a difference would be a lot harder than he had expected. “I had to realise you... read more

Landing in Pakistan after the worst floods in the nation’s history, David Mikhael CPA had to draw on all his training. Around him, raging torrents had devoured bridges and homes and displaced eight million people. As second-in-charge at the... read more

As a “not terribly mature” 25-year-old Mike Lane packed his dreams into a suitcase and flew to Papua New Guinea (PNG) to work as a volunteer, managing a non-government organisation. “It was a small operation with heaps of... read more

In January 2007 Karin Vosmansky’s first child, Robbie, arrived at 32 weeks, weighing a delicate 1.3kg. The premature newborn had breathing difficulties – and Vosmansky’s kidneys, liver and nervous system had begun to shut... read more

It takes courage to volunteer to be a Lifeline counsellor, especially when you are only 23, but Shakti Ram CPA wanted a challenge – and he has learned a lot during seven years with the counselling and support service in Canberra. “When... read more

Volunteering for a charity that offers therapy for abused children is not something entered into lightly. Justine Best, a CPA and partner of Brisbane accountancy firm Affinity Partners, knew this from the outset when she was asked to offer her... read more

Being an accountant, says Brett Davies, is a bit like being a mechanic or an electrician. You have valuable practical skills that are of tremendous use to those without them. Until recently Davies, 49, was chief operating officer at Stargames Ltd... read more

When Alan Toohey received a call for help from Volunteers for Isolated Students’ Education (VISE), he imagined a commitment that might last two years. Twenty years on, the retired accountant is still making it possible for the charity to... read more

David Newman is making up for lost time. The resident of Winnipeg, capital of the Canadian province of Manitoba, works for the provincial government as an internal auditor. He is also completing his MBA thesis at Laurentian University –... read more

The ‘girl who could do anything’ turned into the woman who did. As a country girl growing up on a farm in Western Australia, Ellen Cox was told she could do anything. The lifelong accountant took that message with her when, years... read more

Neil Young sang it’s better to burn out than to fade away, and certainly Lindsay Doig has no intention of doing the latter. The 67-year-old CPA keeps up a punishing schedule for his age.“I say I work part-time and volunteer... read more

Tell people you’re a CPA and it won’t be long before the phone starts ringing about voluntary roles. “Merely mentioning your profession will bring plenty of requests for you to take on voluntary work, regardless of where you meet... read more

Mid-life crises can make people do many things that often seem out of character – buy expensive cars, end marriages or, in the case of accountant Leonie Kneeves, head overseas to work for an aid organisation. “I had a sort of early... read more

Perth CPA Stewart Blizard is a man who practises what he preaches. The 40-year-old director of the Perth arm of global professional services firm ROCG likes his team members to be active in the community, just as he is. Blizard is a member and... read more

For seven years now Margaret Carey CPA has shared her accountancy skills with people in countries such as Samoa, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Carey runs the Sydney consultancy BusinessEEz, which offers training and advice... read more

When Ronald Yam clears his desk of an evening at the Hong Kong accounting firm RSM Nelson Wheeler, his work day is only part complete. Extracurricular activities often run deep into the night with twin roles as a director and honorary treasurer of... read more

When Aaron Turner, 29, was nearing the completion of a two-year working stint in London, he wasn’t quite ready to return home to Melbourne, Australia. He wanted to see more of the world and adopted an unconventional way of dealing with the... read more

Jos Williams didn’t think his Australian accounting experience would count for much in the developing world. Seven years out from his bachelor’s degree at Victoria’s Deakin University, after completing the CPA Program and moving... read more

Zubeda Raihman is a peace-seeker, advocate for women’s rights and community-minded volunteer. That’s why she serves as secretary for the Women’s Interfaith Network, a group from different religious backgrounds who meet monthly at... read more

A full-time professional finds time to help out for a worthy cause. Novita Halim does not exactly fall into the usual mould of the novice philanthropist, but it’s not something that seems to bother her greatly.She’s 35, of Indonesian... read more

Few people could be said to combine a careful disposition with a willingness to take risks, but that’s exactly how Paul Wheelton’s work and public life have panned out. The 55-year-old Budget Rent a Car tycoon and philanthropist... read more

It was the large disparity between the rich and poor in Indonesia that led accountant Effi Jono to the place she is today – a volunteer and board member with the charity she helped set up to restore sight to Indonesians blinded by cataracts,... read more

As a CPA in the Malaysian city of Ipoh – positioned roughly halfway between Kuala Lumpur and Penang – Anna Wong’s expertise is in high demand. Servicing local and international clients is her chief concern, but a sense of fair play... read more

James Digby always wanted to volunteer overseas but finding short‑term projects was difficult. The 56-year-old Melbourne man then discovered Accounting for International Development (AFID), a British organisation that places accountants in short-... read more