Corporate Registers Forum (CRF) Annual General Meeting 2015

Transcription

1 Time: am to am Corporate Registers Forum (CRF) Annual General Meeting 2015 Yas Viceroy Hotel Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 12 Mar 2015 Chair: Minutes: Mr Tim Moss, United Kingdom President, CRF Shelley Chua, Singapore Agenda 1. Welcome and Minutes of last meeting 2. Annual Report and Financial Report for CRF 3. Report on Membership contributions 4. Election of Executive Committee for the ensuing year 5. Directions from the members of the Executive Committee 6. Update on strategy, on-going work with ECRF, IACA, ASORLAC 7. Any other business 1. Welcome and Minutes of last meeting 1.1 The Chair welcomed members to the AGM. 1.2 The Chair introduced the minutes from the previous Annual General Meeting, a copy of which has been provided to all attendees. As no matters arose the chair called for a motion that the minutes of the 2014 AGM be accepted. Motion 1: That the Minutes of the General Meeting of 2014 are accepted. Moved: New Zealand Seconded: UK Page 1 of 5

2 2. Annual Report and Financial Report for the CRF 2.1 The President handed over to the Treasurer for the financial reports of the CRF. 2.2 The Treasurer presented the audited financial report for the period ended 31 Dec The financial report has been approved by the ExCo. The net surplus as at 31 Dec 2014 was US$148, The President explained that CRF has built up a reasonable amount of reserves and requested CRF members to put up plans and ideas on how to utilize the surplus. 2.4 The President reported the executive has in principal committed to providing a financial contribution to the ECRF survey for the next 2 subsequent years as the survey has now evolved to be a global survey with input from CRF, ECRF, IACA and ASORLAC. CRF will be contributing EUR10,000 to ECRF annually as part of CRF s support for the survey. 2.5 The President then called for a motion for the Financial Report to be accepted. Motion 2: That the Financial Report as at 31 December 2014 be accepted Moved: Australia Seconded: Qatar 3. Report on Membership Contributions 3.1 The Treasurer reported on 2014 membership fees. A list of the members of CRF was provided to all attendees. 3.2 The Treasurer notified members that the invoices for the 2015 membership fees have been issued and that the deadline for payment is 31 Mar The Treasurer reminded members to pay the outstanding 2015 membership fees as soon as possible. 4. Election of Executive Committee for the ensuing year 4.1 The Secretary announced that there are 3 vacancies in the Executive Committee. Australia, Mauritius and India have served a 2 year term and their vacancies will have to be filled during the AGM. 4 jurisdictions have been nominated for the ExCo positions with Australia and Mauritius standing for re-election. Nominations were also received for Abu Dhabi and Qatar to be appointed to the Executive Committee. 4.2 Ms Hala will stand down as Conference director. Her position will be replaced by Ms Tamara Hillman for CRF 2016 which will be held in Cardiff. The Secretary thanked Ms Hala and her team for organizing an outstanding CRF Page 2 of 5

3 4.3 The Secretary explained the voting process and stressed that voting is secret. He invited all the nominees to stand up and introduce themselves to the members present. 4.4 Ms Rosanne Bell from Australia explained they have been on CRF ExCo periodically over the years, and reiterated Australia s commitment to CRF and the Asia Pacific region. 4.5 Ms Hala Khaled Al Ameri from Abu Dhabi told members that Abu Dhabi is keen to contribute due to the diversity, passion and commitment of CRF members. They hope to represent the Gulf region and the Arab countries. She also wished to see CRF one of the internationally recognized organizations. 4.6 Mr Neil Travell from Qatar told members that Qatar is keen to help develop more partnerships in the areas of interest raised at the CRF Action Agenda for 2015 session on 11 Mar The President asked for members to be more involved and volunteer their assistance with working groups which will be formed to work on the proposals raised. 4.8 The President invited CRF members to cast their votes. 28 members voted. All ballot forms were checked by Ms Karla Flood and Mr Gavin McCosker to ensure that they are in compliance with the election rules, then counted and recorded. Australia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi were appointed to the Executive Committee. 4.9 The composition of the Executive Committee for 2015/2016 is: Mr Tim Moss, President Ms Tamara Hillman, Conference Director Singapore represented by Mr Kenneth Yap Zambia represented by Mr Anthony Bwembya New Zealand represented by Ms Mandy McDonald Brazil represented by Ms Teresa Pantoja Australia represented by Ms Rosanne Bell Abu Dhabi represented by Ms Hala Khaled Al Ameri Qatar represented by Mr Neil Travell Secretary New Zealand represented by Mr Michael Brosnahan Treasurer Honk Kong represented by Ms Ada Chung 4.8 The Secretary recorded a note of thanks to the outgoing ExCo members and welcomed the new ExCo members. The new ExCo will meet after the AGM. Page 3 of 5

4 5. Directions from the Members to the Executive Committee/ Update on strategy, ongoing work with ECRF, IACA, ASORLAC 5.1 The President proposed to combine items 5 and 6 of the Agenda. 5.2 The President reported that CRF has strengthened ties with ECRF, IACA and ASORLAC following CRF members concurrence at the AGM held at CRF CRF has pledged support and commitment to the ECRF benchmarking survey at the ECRF conference in Rome CRF was invited to an UNCITRAL event held in Vienna in Nov UNCITRAL asked for a presentation on CRF s area of work and the latest developments in business registration. CRF has also reached out to increase cooperation with the World Bank. The President noted that the ExCo has followed up on the instructions of CRF members raised at CRF 2014, to reach out to international organisations. 5.4 The President told members that following this AGM, the ExCo will be taking direction from the various proposals outlined at the CRF Action Agenda for 2015 session on 11 Mar The proposals raised will be drafted into an overall CRF strategy paper which will set out the options for the future of the CRF. Some of highlights of the proposals include: - ideas on how to utilize the CRF website; - the development of a Register of Registers; - the formation of a permanent CRF secretariat; - support for more regional groupings (Asia-Pacific, Africa, Southeast Asia); - suggestions to match up members with common issues and ideas, and to pair up members with those who have already developed desired initiatives; - and the suggestion of conducting Technical Workshops for members to learn from one another. 5.6 The President informed members that the ExCo will form working groups to move the proposals forward, and asked members to volunteer and be involved in the working groups. The ExCo will also be meeting more regularly (every two months) to develop the ideas further. ExCo members will lead and drive these working groups. 5.7 The President notified members that more information will be put out via regular newsletters. Page 4 of 5

5 6. Any Other Business 6.1 A member from Spain asked if CRF will work to increase the number of European and American members. 6.2 The President replied that CRF is not looking to poach members from other organisations, but is working to encourage CRF membership and for members to contribute in different areas. The President encouraged members to participate and engage with other organisations such as the World Bank, UNCITRAL. 6.3 A member from Spain invited CRF members to participate in the upcoming ECRF conference in Madrid in June The President also encouraged members to consider attending the upcoming IACA annual conference in Savannah, Georgia in May He also reminded everyone to sign up for CRF There being no other business, the meeting ended at am with the Chair thanking members for attending the AGM. Page 5 of 5