Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) has elected Joan Curry as president at its 138th Annual General Meeting in Dublin, as new data from the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) underlines the institute's central role in supplying qualified finance professionals across Ireland's business and public sectors.

Business Eye reported that 1,164 trainees progressed to CAI membership in 2025, accounting for 62% of all individuals admitted to professional accountancy bodies in Ireland last year, reflecting the institute's strong trainee progression through its ACA programme.

Curry has served on CAI's Council since 2018 and brings extensive experience in public financial management, having previously held the role of head of finance at the Department of Transport and worked across several government departments. She has also served as a board member of the International Federation of Accountants, contributing to the development of global standards and policy.

Curry said: "This year, the Institute welcomed its 40,000th member, the result of an education programme that has been significantly overhauled. Since 2018, our syllabus has evolved to include areas such as robotic process automation, data analytics, cybersecurity, blockchain and accounting for digital assets to meet the needs of business. The programme is delivered using 'adaptive' personalised learning. This future-proofed approach combined with pass rates of 79% in our final exams, and the strong progression through training to membership, as highlighted in IAASA's latest statistics, is central to meeting continued demand for highly skilled professionals across the island."

Curry identified AI as a key priority for her presidency, stating her intent to focus on how chartered accountants can lead its responsible adoption to ensure transparency, accountability and trust in financial and business decision-making.

Access the full report on Joan Curry's election as president of Chartered Accountants Ireland and what it means for the profession.