ICAEW ASEAN Connect 2025 Showcases Malaysia’s Leadership in Regional Economic and Professional Integration. In a major demonstration of Malaysia’s leadership as the 2025 ASEAN Chair, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) Malaysia hosted the inaugural ASEAN Connect 2025 forum at London’s historic Chartered Accountants’ Hall. This landmark event brought together ICAEW members from across ASEAN and the UK, reinforcing a commitment to deeper regional cooperation and aligning Southeast Asia’s professional and economic aspirations with global standards. The forum underscored the accountancy profession’s crucial role in enabling ASEAN’s economic integration, with chartered accountants providing the robust financial reporting and governance frameworks necessary to support cross-border trade and investment.

Officiated by His Excellency Dato’ Zakri Jaafar, Malaysia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, the event drew representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and ASEAN professionals based in the UK. Discussions focused on how finance and accounting professionals can collaborate to promote sustainable economic growth and workforce mobility in the region. The evening also celebrated academic excellence through the ICAEW World Prizegiving Ceremony, which honoured high-achieving Malaysian students, further highlighting the global mobility and strength of the Associate Chartered Accountant qualification.
ICAEW Malaysia’s efforts reflect a long-term vision to develop a globally recognized accounting talent pool while ensuring national practices align with international standards. Through partnerships with regulators, universities, and its Malaysian chapter, ICAEW is fostering a professional ecosystem ready to meet ASEAN’s growing demands. Shenola Gonzales, Head of ICAEW Malaysia, emphasized that ASEAN Connect 2025 represents a bridge between ASEAN’s vibrant economies and ICAEW’s global professional heritage, reinforcing Malaysia’s strategic role in driving regional collaboration and economic resilience.

Further bolstering its leadership under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, ICAEW has also made influential contributions to regional policy. Earlier this year, ICAEW Chief Executive Alan Vallance addressed the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum—marking the Institute’s first appearance at this high-level platform—and led the region’s first workshop on Scope 3 emissions reporting. These initiatives aim to enhance ESG transparency and consistency, aligning ASEAN’s financial systems with global expectations for sustainability and accountability.
ICAEW’s active role in convening regulatory roundtables, policy dialogues, and capacity-building workshops is significantly shaping ASEAN’s economic framework. The success of ASEAN Connect 2025 highlights the shared commitment of Southeast Asian nations to build a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable economic community. With Malaysia at the forefront, the event reaffirmed the bloc’s readiness to thrive on the global stage through professional excellence and cross-border collaboration.