Mr. Rees is the CEO of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia. Mr. Rees holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics (Honours) from the London School of Economics. He received his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation in the UK in 1981, and joined the BC Institute in 1983. Mr. Rees earned his Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation in 1985, and his Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 1993. He was elected a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC in 2000.

Mr. Rees has always advocated high regulatory standards and appropriate powers for the Institute in fulfilling its mandate, which led to the new CA Act, passed in October 2003. He continues to advocate for fiscal responsibility and a competitive regulatory environment for investment. He has also represented the profession on the Board of the Canadian Public Accountability Board.

As Executive Director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon (1990-1999), Mr. Rees led the Foundation through a period of significant growth, raising over $100 million for research and health promotion. He spearheaded the development of successful advocacy and marketing programs in BC, and also led the development of national programs, including the “Health Check” seal of approval program. He has also served as the Director of the BC Health Research Foundation. In 1996, Mr. Rees was recognized for his achievements by being named one of Canada’s “Top 40 under 40” by The Financial Post.

Within the CA profession, Richard has filled numerous roles, most notably as Chair of the Council of Senior Executives (2003 – 2010), which acts as the management committee for the Canadian profession. The profession has over 72,000 members and consists of 14 Institutes, each established and empowered by separate legislation.