Ayla Majid of Pakistan makes history by being the first South Asian to hold this post in the 118-year history of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Ayla Majid, founder and CEO of Planetive, a firm specialising in renewable energy and sustainability, joined ACCA in 2006 and has served on its worldwide council since 2014. In the 118-year history of ACCA, she is the first individual from Pakistan and South Asia to be chosen global vice president.
Ayla is a worldwide speaker and an ardent proponent of sustainability and energy transition; she contributes to significant subjects including digital transformation, climate finance, the future of work, the future of energy, and sustainable infrastructure. She serves on the Boards of a number of public and private Pakistani organisations in the energy, pharmaceutical, and non-profit sectors. In her many capacities, she focuses on and provides advice regarding the adoption of the SDGs in various industries. Ayla is an Eisenhower Fellow and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (WEF). She sits on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Energy Transition.
She stated, “Being a financial professional has provided me with the resources and connected me with individuals who are working to develop action-oriented solutions for a sustainable society.”
Ayla is extremely passionate about advancing the participation of women in governance. She stated, “Today’s forward-thinking organisations require it.” Ayla is an advocate for board diversity and actively promotes the inclusion of women on boards. She was the first woman to serve on the board of any Pakistani stock exchange. Thanks to pioneers like her, women’s influence and impact are altering Pakistan’s appearance.
Ayla is particularly pleased that ACCA plays a significant role in providing young Pakistanis with a solid career path replete with growth and opportunity while also having a beneficial global influence. ‘ACCA is a superb qualification, with high quality standards, up to date with addressing global demands, and flexible, so it matches the needs of a varied audience exceptionally well. It is a very appealing professional option for women in all parts of the world, including developing nations, she noted.