CPA Bulletin

FROM THE CEO FROM THE CEO www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > May 2019 7 CPA is saying goodbye to Olwen, a much loved and valued member of staff. Many of you will have spoken with Olwen over the years - indeed, many generations have probably had some contact with her as she has worked at CPA for 39 years. Olwen began working for CPA in June 1980 based at the CPA office in Eccleston Street, Victoria, and at the time her duties included typing letters, answering the telephone and making tea and coffee. Throughout her time at CPA Olwen has become a stalwart of the General Office and has brought warmth and wisdom to staff and Members alike. A model of resilience, her enthusiasm for the job and providing a good service to our Members is an example to us all. Olwen will be leaving at the end of June, and I am sure that many of you would join me and CPA Council in wishing her well in her retirement. Olwen O’Dowd to leave CPA after 39 years CPA Conference I’m pleased to be able to write that the CPA Conference will be returning in October after a short break. The theme this year will be “Resilience”. There are many resonant reasons for choosing this topic, but one of the main ones is a reflection of the need for the sector to prepare itself for the future. We do not know about the financial effects of Brexit, which could drive interest rates up - or down - and the potential for a fall in the value of the pound, but we do know that in many areas demand for skilled workers of all types exceeds supply. We have a part to play in long-term planning and interventions. For this reason, we have been working on a skills and workforce strategy that will help us identify the priorities for action, and the actual role that CPA should take in this. Our work on card schemes (page 15), immigration and the Stars of the Future (page 10) are all part of the overall skills and workforce strategy, which we will be developing over the coming months. You can read more about the CPA Conference on page 13.