Richard Rees was president and CEO of Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia from December 2013 to March 2017, having served as CEO of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC (ICABC) since 1999. Prior to that he was CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon for nine years. He also served as a director of the BC Health Research Foundation and PROOF, a biomarker development program based at St. Paul’s Hospital.

Richard chaired the national Council of Chief Executives for the Canadian CPA profession and has had extensive involvement in the profession’s certification education, professional development, and international professional recognition programs.

A graduate of the London School of Economics, Richard has been widely recognized for his professional leadership, including a national Top 40 Under 40 Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from ICABC, and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal. He is also active in the community currently serving as chair, Vancouver Opera, and has previously served with Family Services of the North Shore (chair); West Vancouver Community Foundation (director); Vancouver Foundation (finance committee), and Family Services Canada (treasurer).