Dr. Mohammad Zakaria Masud, FCMA, is a professor and director of the Academic Affairs Division of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB). Before joining ICMAB, he worked as the Chairman of the Green Business School at the Green University of Bangladesh. Dr. Masud worked in the education industry in different capacities and at various institutes, e.g., American International University – Bangladesh, East West University, Dhaka City College, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and Southeast University. He also worked as a visiting faculty (Palme Scholar) at the University of Gavle, Sweden. He was a casual academic staff and course coordinator at the La Trobe University and the Federation University, Australia. He has obtained his BBA and MBA degrees in AIS from the Department of Accounting and Information Systems at the University of Dhaka. He received his Ph.D. from La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. He is a fellow member of the ICMAB. He has several publications in reputed local and international journals and editorial books. He has attended various national and international seminars, symposiums, colloquiums, and workshops. 

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Professional accountants and key stakeholders in the accountancy ecosystem from across the continent and beyond are set to unite physically in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, from 6th to 9th May 2025.

The MENA Sustainability Forum is presented by IFAC in partnership with the Emirates Association for Accountants & Auditors. 

This is the third and final installment in a three-part publication series to help small- and medium-sized practices implement the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s new quality management standards. The IAASB’s suite of quality management standards were issued in December 2020 and came into effect in December 2022.

Installment Three: Monitoring and Remediation provides tips and guidance for the practical implementation of the monitoring and remediation of a firm’s system of quality management.  

Aamir Ijaz Khan is a distinguished Chartered Management Accountant with over two decades of extensive experience. As a Fellow member of ICMA Pakistan and the current Executive Director of the institute, Mr. Khan has established himself as a prominent figure in the accounting profession. His expertise spans across various domains, including client servicing, project implementation, business repositioning, financial management and compliance.

Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Khan has held several pivotal positions highlighting his leadership and expertise. He currently serves as a Director on the Board of Foundation of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) and as a Technical Advisor on the Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Advisory Group of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). His past roles include serving on the Board of Governors of the Pakistan Institute of Public Finance Accountants (PIPFA). At ICMA Pakistan, his tenure has been marked by notable achievements, including his role as Chairman of the Lahore Branch Council from 2011 to 2013 and his foundational involvement in the Quality Assurance Board of ICMA Pakistan.

Mr. Khan's professional journey includes significant contributions to major projects and organizations. He worked as an Audit MIS Expert (Punjab) in the World Bank-funded Project to Improve Financial Reporting & Auditing (PIFRA) and as an Executive Financial Accountant at Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL). He also gained valuable experience as the Head of Quality Assurance at M/s. Innovative Pvt. Ltd., further broadening his expertise in financial management and quality control.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Khan is recognized for his leadership in various organizations. He served as the Founder President of the ICMA Lahore Toastmasters Club and is currently a member of the Management Committee of MENSA International - Pakistan Chapter. His expertise extends beyond his primary roles, as he is also an SAP FI/CO Certified Consultant and a Certified Director.

As a professional trainer and motivational speaker, Mr. Khan has conducted numerous training sessions and workshops. He has contributed valuable insights through various papers presented at national and international forums, focusing on topics such as the growth dynamics of the Pakistani services sector and economy, economic sectors' strategic dynamics, and budgetary measures. His continued involvement in these areas demonstrates his commitment to shaping discussions in financial reporting, auditing and economic policy.

Mr. Khan's multifaceted experience and his current role as Executive Director and Secretary of the AML Supervisory Board at ICMA Pakistan position him as a respected authority in the field of management accounting. His career exemplifies a dedication to professional excellence and a commitment to advancing the accounting profession both nationally and internationally.

Andrew Blazey joined the OECD in 2018 and is the Deputy Head of Budgeting & Public Management. Prior to his appointment was the Budget Director of the New Zealand Treasury.  As a Director, he implemented organisational strategies, managed a programme of sales to publicly list state-owned enterprises, reformed the government’s investment and infrastructure systems and prepared its first well-being budget.

He has acted as an advisor to the International Monetary Fund and the private sector. His expertise includes public sector finance, performance, and governance.

In 2014 he completed his MBA at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He also has a Bachelor of Management from the University of Waikato in New Zealand.

Heather L Taylor is a Partner at Ernst & Young, she brings 25+ years of professional finance experience, including senior roles in both the private and public sector. She leads Sustainability across Canada in the Public Sector. Her deep financial and operational experience in setting the vision and implementing innovative transformation, in addition to her leadership and trailblazing in the sustainability arena, led her to be recognized as a Top 100 of Canada’s most powerful women by WXN in addition to her being awarded her fellow designation (FCA, FCPA).

At EY her focus is sustainable public finance and helping clients drive forward their sustainability agendas through strategy, reporting and blended finance. She is currently leading Canada’s involvement in advising on the creation of the very first Global Carbon Market Utility, which was announced at COP28.

She has been a member of the Public Sector Accounting Board since 2019 which directly works with all levels of government in Canada to set accounting standards. She is also a member of the International Public Sector Accounting Board’s Sustainability Reference Group advising on Sustainability Standards for the Public Sector globally.

Heather is the former Chief Financial Officer for the City of Toronto, where she led the financial planning and reporting oversight for a $16 Billion annual operating budget and a $50 Billion ten-year capital plan. She led the creation of the first Canadian Government to issue a Social Bond and a combined Sustainability Bond Framework, the first ESG report, and the first to issue audited financial statements to incorporate sustainability reporting. She also held roles as the Chief Administrative Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister within the Government of Ontario.

Davit Gamkrelidze is the Head of the State Treasury at the Ministry (MoF) of Finance of Georgia. In this role, he oversees a wide range of Treasury operations, including cash flow forecasting for the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the efficient and secure investment of public funds in financial instruments, the implementation of IPSAS standards, public sector payment processing, and reporting on the execution of the consolidated budget.

In addition to his responsibilities at the MoF, Davit is active in the academic field. He serves as an associate professor at Ilia State University, where he manages the accounting and reporting study program. He also teaches finance-related subjects at various educational institutions.

Davit's expertise extends beyond his national role, serving as a short-term expert for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. In this capacity, he provides technical assistance to governments worldwide in Public Financial Management. His areas of responsibility include advising on the adoption and enhancement of TSA systems, digitalization initiatives, and government cash management, among other topics.

Assietou is a seasoned financial expert with diverse international experience in global public and private organizations. She is a strong advocate for strengthening public finance management in Africa and adds her voice to numerous projects initiated by regulators, financing institutions and professional accountancy organizations (PAOs), and peer organizations.

Assietou has recently accepted a new role, after spending a few months at the Integrate Health (Lomé, Togo) as the Global Managing Director, where she worked with Country Directors and alongside the US-based CEO to ensure that global support services are seamlessly integrated with the on-the-ground efforts, enhancing the overall impact.

Prior to this role, she was in Geneva, holding a CFO position at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi). There, she contributed to Gavi’s objectives to enhance primary healthcare systems across more than 70 countries through innovative public-private partnerships. Her seasoned leadership also spans roles at the African Union, Barclays Bank, Crédit Agricole, and the Central Bank of West Africa, where she has proven her ability to guide diverse and geographically dispersed teams through complex financial landscapes.

Assietou holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from “Sup De Co” in France and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. Passionate about change management and innovative thinking in Finance, she is also a BSI-certified balanced scorecard professional. She started her career working as a senior auditor in Paris.

She is a member of the IFR4NPO Steering group, which provides governance oversight for the project's delivery. Assietou holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from “Sup De Co” in France and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. Passionate about change management and innovative thinking in Finance, she is also a BSI-certified balanced scorecard professional. She started her career working as a senior auditor in Paris.

She is a member of the IFR4NPO Steering group, which provides governance oversight for the project's delivery.

Fergal’s current role is responsibility for the coordination of Brexit issues across the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, and its agencies and participation in related cross-Governmental work; coordinating the input of Departments and agencies to assist in the preparation of Ireland’s claim under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve; and overseeing the development of new infrastructure arising from Brexit.

Fergal has previously served as Head of Government Accounting within the Department. A key feature of that role was the reform of the existing Government accounting system to complement the cash basis of the system with wider accrual features.

Previous to his work in the Department, Fergal has served in a number of senior roles within the Irish civil and public service. These include as Head of Finance in the Department of Rural and Community Development, as Head of Strategic Policy and Head of Institutional Funding within the Higher Education Authority, and within Policy Unit of the Department of Education.