CAHF: CAPSULE HIGHLIGHTS OF 2024 INDUCTEES
"Founders of the Profession" inducted in 2024
Harold Calla
Harold Calla’s education and professional experience was the basis for decades-long work to educate and support First Nations build effective governance capacity in their communities that has measurably improved the well-being of indigenous peoples across Canada. A renowned leader and revered expert, Harold has actively contributed to the education and mentoring of incoming First Nation leaders. He has left an indelible mark by his creation of the First Nations Financial Management Board and by inspired leadership in working with parliamentarians to evolve primary vehicles to make First Nations gain direct access to capital markets through strong financial management and governance – one of the first steps to economic reconciliation.
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Kevin Dancey
Kevin Dancey was PwC’s Canadian Senior Partner and CEO and PwC Global Leadership member. He was national tax practice leader for Coopers & Lybrand before the 1998 merger with Price Waterhouse. He served as the Assistant Deputy Minister, Tax Policy at Finance Canada (1993-1995) where he had responsibility for major taxation reforms. After retirement from PwC, Kevin served as President and CEO of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and led the unification of the accountancy profession, becoming CPA Canada’s first President and CEO after the merger. He then became the Chief Executive Officer of the International Federation of Accountants (2019-2023).
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Don Penny
Don Penny rose from a small firm in Brandon, Manitoba to lead a 23-office firm across the three Prairie provinces by the time of his retirement in 1998, during which period he also had terms as President of the Manitoba and Canadian CA Institutes, and an incredible record of community service. But the firm’s trajectory continued upward, following his vision, to the point that by 2023 the firm – now known as MNP – was the fifth largest accounting firm in Canada, with revenues of $1.6 billion and 129 offices across Canada.
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"Leaders of the Profession" inducted in 2024
Janet Cosier
During Janet’s 33-year career with the Bank of Canada she was the first woman to hold several offices: Chief Financial Officer, Chief of Internal Audit and Chief Risk Officer. Also, she was appointed by the Bank’s Governor to Chair the Board of the Canadian Payment Association, a position she held for 14 years. She participated in the Bank’s international technical assistance program, under which she advised several central banks, including those of Turkey, Chile, Malaysia and Morocco, and after retiring from the Bank she chaired the central bank training seminars held in England. From 2007 she made invaluable voluntary contributions to seven Ottawa-area health related organizations.
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Jim Goodfellow
In his four decades with Touche Ross, now Deloitte, Jim Goodfellow played several leadership roles within the firm, including National Director of Accounting and Auditing for Canada, a member of its board of directors and Vice Chair. His contributions to the profession demonstrated exceptional service and thought leadership. He served on standard setting boards and committees, led the launch of the Canadian Performance Reporting Board that produced guidance on Management Discussion and Analysis reports and acted as chair or co-chair of symposia. Jim authored seminal articles and books dealing with effective corporate governance. The hallmark of his contributions was that in all cases he was an innovator.
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Jack Hanna
While Associate Dean of McMaster’s Commerce Faculty, Jack Hanna conceived a new approach to accounting education: a five-year program comprising bachelor’s and master’s degrees, four co-op work terms and direct access to the profession’s exams. Although not accepted at McMaster, it was at Waterloo, resulting in an exodus of faculty to the latter, and the attraction of like-minded faculty from other universities and high-quality students who excelled on the profession’s exams. This was held by some to do more to change Canadian accounting education than any other initiative.
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Harry Schaefer
After a 30-year tenure in senior financial management positions in TransAlta Corporation, Harry Schaefer was appointed its Chair in 1993. Harry, a keen advocate of strong and effective corporate governance introduced several enhancements to the governance culture in the company. He was ahead of his time by recognizing that corporate boards benefitted from increased diversity. After his retirement from TransAlta, Harry distinguished himself as a Director and Audit Committee chair on seven publicly traded boards and as chair of several organizations. He made extraordinary contributions to raising the profile of accountants in industry and of the organizations that serve them – the Institute of Corporate Directors and Financial Executives International.
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Ross Walker
Ross Walker rose through the ranks of Peat Marwick Mitchell in Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and then Toronto again, becoming Chairman and CEO of KPMG Canada after several mergers and serving on some of the firm’s international committees. He retired from the Canadian firm in 1993, but then was appointed International Executive Partner of KPMG International, based in the Netherlands – perhaps the first Canadian to hold such a position in a “Big 4” firm. After stepping down from that position in 1996 and returning to Canada, he successfully assumed the huge task of getting legislative approvals for Canadian accounting firms to become Limited Liability Partnerships.
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