Stephen Shields is the Director of Partnerships & Recognition for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), based in Kuala Lumpur.

Mr. Shields leads on ACCA’s strategic partnerships with global employers, sectors, national bodies; its approach to recognition risks and opportunities; and consultancy and capacity-building initiatives. He also oversees ACCA’s relationships with leading organisations including the World Bank, the Department for International Development and the United Nations.

Mr. Shields has worked with ACCA for over 21 years, based for the majority of that time in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Prior to joining ACCA in January 2004, he was Regional Branch Manager of Zurich Financial Services Group.

Educated in his native Australia, followed by the IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, Mr. Shields has had more than 25 years of experience in corporate management positions in the finance industry, both in Western countries and also in the Arab region. He holds a Master’s Degree in Human Rights with Distinction from Glasgow Caledonian University.

Rosemary Keogh is the Chief Executive Officer of Chartered Accountants Ireland. She joined CAI from the Houses of the Oireachtas, (Irish Parliament), where she held the role of Assistant Secretary General. Prior to that, she was CEO of the Irish Wheelchair Association, a large disability services provider and advocacy organization. Ms. Keogh has significant experience working in senior finance roles in a range of industries at Irish and the Europe, Middle East, and Africa regional level. She also served for five years as a Board Member & Chair of Finance, Audit, Risk & Governance Subcommittee of the Irish Charities Regulator, and a further five years as Chairperson of the National Disability Services Association.

Ms. Keogh is a Fellow of ACCA and holds a bachelor's degree in English & Mathematics, and an MSc in Work and Organisational Behaviour from DCU.  

CPA Philip Kakai joined the IFAC Board in November 2025 having been nominated by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).

He serves as an Assistant Director of Finance at the Judiciary of Kenya, previously working as Finance Manager at Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) Limited. He has more than 20 years of experience in leadership, financial accounting, management and reporting, budget management, audit, and project management.

CPA Kakai served as the 25th Chairman of ICPAK from September 2023 to June 2025.He also served as the Vice Chairman from June 2021 to June 2023, after joining the ICPAK Council in June 2020. He has also served on the board of the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) and the board of trustees of Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) University. Within ICPAK, he convened key Council committees, such as Public Policy and Governance. He was also awarded a Certificate of Commendation by ICPAK in December 2020.

CPA Kakai currently serves on the Board of the Kenya Accountants and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KASNEB), where he also Chairs the Audit and Risk Committee and the National Steering Committee, overseeing Kenya’s transition from cash to accrual accounting.

CPA Kakai is a certified Public Accountant of Kenya and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) degree, an MBA (Finance) and an Executive MBA from Moi University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Finance at Kenyatta University

Ms. Silvia P. Giordano joined the IFAC Board in November 2025. She was nominated by Federación Argentina de Consejos Profesionales de Ciencias Económicas (FACPCE).

Ms. Giordano is a retired partner of PwC with more than 40 years of experience, including 27 as an audit partner in Argentina and Chile. She has experience in delivering services to national and international corporations and leading technical and risk management groups in Argentina across Latin America. Currently, Ms. Giordano is President of the Professional Ethic Court – Room 4 in Consejo Profesional de Ciencias Económicas de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CPCECABA) and Academic Director of the Chartered Accountant Career in Universidad Argentina de la Empresa – UADE.

Ms. Giordano has positions on the boards of non-profit organizations dedicated to corporate governance (IGEP) and audit education (IADA). Throughout her career she developed extensive experience in technical, professional and ethical matters including standard setting roles.  

Ms. Giordano is graduated from the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) as a Public Accountant and from the University Gabriela Mistral (Chile) as Auditor Accountant.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has named Mr. Barry Melancon (United States) and Prof. Lumkile Wiseman Nkuhlu (South Africa) as the 2025 recipients of the IFAC Global Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals who have made a positive and lasting impact on the global accountancy profession.

Mr. Barry Melancon

Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, the former President and CEO of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, played a defining role for more than 30 years in advancing the accounting profession through a period of significant global, technological, and organizational changes.

For over three decades, he has championed innovation, public trust, and global collaboration, shaping strategic direction across such areas as digital transformation, audit quality, sustainability reporting, professional ethics, and competency development. His leadership helped unify the profession globally and strengthened its readiness to respond to a rapidly changing world.

Mr. Melancon now serves in several key advisory and governance roles, including Chair of the Board for Baker Tilly International and the Global Advisory Board at Caseware, where he continues to support innovation and excellence across the profession worldwide.

“Barry’s contributions have fundamentally shaped the modern accountancy profession,” said IFAC President Jean Bouquot. “His vision for a technology-enabled, globally connected profession has enhanced professional quality, helped prepare generations of accountants for the future, and strengthened the public’s trust.”

Professor Lumkile Wiseman Nkuhlu

Professor Lumkile Wiseman Nkuhlu, one of Africa’s most distinguished accounting pioneers and leaders, has dedicated his career to strengthening public trust, advancing education, and expanding opportunities within and beyond the profession.

As the first Black African chartered accountant in South Africa, he paved the way for generations of Black African accountants. His exemplary career spans academia, public service—including as Economic Advisor to President Thabo Mbeki—and senior leadership at major corporations, including KPMG South Africa, where he guided the organization through complex governance and public trust challenges.

Prof. Nkuhlu’s contributions strengthened public-sector governance across the continent and elevated the chartered accountant’s role in building resilient economies. His influence extends beyond South Africa. As the Chief Executive of the Secretariat of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the first chairman of the NEPAD Steering Committee, he was at the forefront of African economic revival initiatives.  This underscores Prof. Nkuhlu’s commitment to the continent's economic development.  

“Prof. Nkuhlu’s legacy goes far beyond his pioneering work,” said Mr. Bouquot. “His leadership has strengthened governance, championed equity in the profession, and shaped accountancy education and public finance in Africa and globally.”

The Global Leadership Award was presented to Prof. Nkuhlu during IFAC’s Council meeting, held on November 12-13 in Mexico City, Mexico. Mr. Melancon will attend next year’s IFAC Council meeting in Seoul, South Korea, to receive his Award.

About IFAC

IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.

IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition.

IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the voice of the global accountancy profession, announces its new and returning Board members this week. With these changes, IFAC will maintain a diverse representation from different backgrounds and jurisdictions.

The elected IFAC Board members and their nominating member organizations are:

New IFAC Board appointments:

• Onome Adewuyi (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Nigeria)
• Áine Collins (Chartered Accountants Ireland, Ireland)
• Silvia Giordano (Federación Argentina de Consejos Profesionales de Ciencias Económicas, Argentina)
• Philip Kakai (Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, Kenya)
• Brian McEnery (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK)
• Jungeun Shim (Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Korea)

IFAC Board Reappointments:

• Kathryn Byrne (Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, USA)
• Francisco Sant’Anna (Conselho Federal de Contabilidade/Instituto de Auditoria Independente do Brasil, Brazil)
• Sidharta Utama (Institute of Indonesia Chartered Accountants, Indonesia)

“As an international organization, IFAC thrives on the diversity, talent, and leadership of our members”, said Lee White, Chief Executive Officer. “I’m delighted to welcome these exceptional individuals to the Board and look forward to the fresh perspectives they bring to advancing our global mission. I also wish to extend our sincere gratitude to the outgoing Board members—Yeong Kyun Ahn, Joan Curry, Caroline Gardner, Winnie Nyamute, Fiona Wilkinson, and Ismaila Zakari—for their tremendous service to our profession and IFAC.”

New IFAC Member and Associate Admitted

Alongside the election of new Board members, the IFAC Council also approved the admission of one new Member organization and one new Associate.

New IFAC Member:

• Kampuchea Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Auditors (Cambodia)

New Associate:

• Ordre National des Experts-Comptables de la République Démocratique du Congo (The Democratic Republic of the Congo)

The new appointments and membership admissions were approved at the 2025 IFAC Ordinary Council hybrid meeting, held in Mexico City, Mexico, on November 12, 2025.

About IFAC

IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.

IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition.

IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.