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The African Women Chartered Accountants Forum, otherwise known as AWCA, was established in 2002, following an urgent need for a platform where African women CAs(SA) could support each other on their respective career journeys, as well as advance the number of new entrants in the profession. The first female CA qualified in 1917. However, the profession only gained its first Black female CA(SA) when Ms Nonkululeko Gobodo qualified in 1987. In 2002, the number of Black, Coloured and Indian female Chartered Accountants sat at a stagnant 407. By May 2022, it had increased to 8588. To realise its three-tier strategy — ‘Identify’, ‘Nurture’ and ‘Lead’ — AWCA thrives on the help of volunteers and donations. As we reflect on the past 20 years of AWCA, and look forward to the journey ahead, we are most grateful for the stakeholders, partners and advocates who continue to support the various initiatives designed to support our members, while also nurturing and growing our profession’s pipeline.

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