CFA Society Malaysia recently hosted its annual Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) Charter Award and Employer Recognition Programme (ERP) Award Ceremony. This event celebrated the dedication and perseverance of new CFA Charterholders and honoured Employer Partners committed to talent development through CFA qualifications. Both awards underscore the significance of the CFA® Programme in the global finance industry.
The ceremony began with a welcoming speech by Chong Jin Yoong, CFA, President of CFA Society Malaysia. He congratulated the new Charterholders, acknowledging their achievements and the dedication required to earn the CFA Charter. Emphasising the mantra, "No time to rest. When you stop learning, you start ageing," Jin Yoong urged the new Charterholders to continue learning and enhancing their skills. He also shared his intention to pursue the CFA Institute’s Data Science for Investment Professionals Certificate, demonstrating his commitment to continuous education.
As the Guest of Honour, Encik Mohamad Damshal Awang Damit, CFA, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Pelaburan Hartanah Berhad (PHB), delivered an inspiring opening speech. He praised the new Charterholders for their commitment and highlighted the CFA designation as a pivotal milestone in their careers. Damshal encouraged the new Charterholders to embrace purposeful capitalism and champion sustainability initiatives. He urged them to engage actively with CFA Society Malaysia for ongoing professional development and networking opportunities, emphasising the importance of lifelong learning, mentorship, and ethical integrity.
The Society also invited newly minted Charterholder Ira Kumar, CFA, to speak and share her experiences after recently earning the CFA Charter and passing the CFA Institute’s Certificate in ESG Investing. She discussed her views on failure, noting that its perceived costs are never as high as we imagine. She also emphasised the importance of character in a room full of high achievers, stating, "While success does depend on how good we are at what we do, it crucially depends on who we are and how we show up." Ira reflected on the challenge of determining what to do next after earning the CFA Charter, suggesting that this can be even more difficult than the achievement itself. This led her to the topic of continuous learning, where her pursuit of the Certificate in ESG Investing highlighted a meaningful path forward after the monumental achievement of obtaining the CFA Charter.
The ceremony's highlight was the recognition of 105 candidates who successfully completed the CFA® Programme and earned their CFA Charters in the past 12 months. These new Charterholders join the esteemed ranks of CFA Society Malaysia, now comprising over 980 distinguished members. Charterholders were proudly presented with their Charter Awards by Damshal and Jin Yoong, marking a significant milestone in their professional journeys.
Globally, the CFA Institute family includes over 190,000 Charterholders across 164 markets and 160 local member societies. Achieving the CFA Charter involves passing three rigorous exams covering a comprehensive curriculum, including ethical and professional standards, financial reporting and analysis, corporate finance, economics, quantitative methods, equity, fixed income, alternative investments, derivatives, portfolio management, and wealth planning. This accomplishment reflects a strong commitment to excellence and perseverance.
CFA Society Malaysia takes great pride in both its Charterholders and Employer Partners. The 2024 CFA Charter Award and Employer Recognition Program Award Ceremony not only celebrated individual achievements but also highlighted the crucial role of employers in nurturing and supporting their employees' professional development, ultimately contributing to a better world for investing.
This year, CFA Society Malaysia recognized 24 Employer Partners for their support of employees' professional development through CFA qualifications. The Society values its partnerships with these top organizations, which share its mission to promote the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence in the finance and investment sector. The Society would like to thank Jason Lee, CFA, President Council Representative APAC Vice Chair, CFA Institute, for presenting the Employer Partners with their recognition awards at this year’s event.
In its fourth year running, the Employer Recognition Programme was launched in 2020 by CFA Society Malaysia, pioneering this initiative within the global CFA Society network. The Society remains dedicated to cultivating strong relationships to formally acknowledge leading employers in Malaysia.
As the Society celebrates the achievements of new Charterholders and the contributions of Employer Partners, it remains committed to building a better world for investing. The 2024 CFA Charter Award and Employer Recognition Program Award Ceremony not only celebrated individual accomplishments but also reinforced the collective commitment to ethical leadership and professional excellence in the global finance industry.
About CFA Society Malaysia
CFA Society Malaysia is the local member chapter of CFA Institute’s worldwide network. Founded in 1997, CFA Society Malaysia is the leading association of investment professionals in the Malaysian financial industry, supporting the professional development and advancement of CFA Charterholders, and advocating initiatives that promote the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society.
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