Gill Ball is only the third woman president in ACCA’s 103-year history. She currently chairs the ACCA Governance Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee.

Mrs Ball says: “The President is elected by the members, which makes the role very special indeed – and it is a great responsibility to represent them by engaging with policymakers, government officials and a wide range of other stakeholders around the world. I have learned much over the past two years as Vice President, then Deputy President which I shall use to ensure that I do my very best for ACCA in my Presidential year.”

She added: “I am particularly keen that the organisation promotes responsibility in accounting through adherence to the highest professional standards. For us this year means the advent of our new Qualification, ACCA 2007, with a specific module in ethics. We look forward to the new qualification being the benchmark for professionalism amongst accountants. ”

At today’s ACCA agm, Richard Aitken-Davies, chairman of ACCA’s financial reporting committee, was elected Deputy President, while Brendan Murtagh becomes Vice President. Fourteen positions on Council were filled in the elections, eight of which were returning Council members, with six new members.

For more information please contact:

Ian Welch, Head of Corporate Communications ACCA 020 7059 5729 / 07739 862928

Anna Dingley, Press Officer, University of Birmingham, 0121 4158134/07769 952763.

Notes to editors:

1. Newly elected to Council:

Lynne Hunt (UK)

Anthony Harbinson (UK)

Hamish McKay (UK)

Amy Yung (Hong Kong)

Rizwan Akhtar (UK)

Hemraz Hoolash (Mauritius)

Re-elected to Council:

Gill Ball (UK)

Sara Harvey (UK)

Sharon Burd (UK)

Barry Cooper (Australia)

David Wu (China)

Martin Turner (UK)

Anthony Cushing (UK)

Lazaros Lazarou (Cyprus)

The University of Birmingham has around 27,000 students and 6,000 members of staff and a turnover of £360 million.