Nominations are now open for three positions on the ACT’s Council, the body of the association that is ultimately responsible for the stewardship and strategic direction of the ACT. You can find out more about the process and help shape the future of your profession at Council election 2026, and have until 27 February to submit your nomination. To be eligible, you need to be either a full member (Fellows (FCT) or Associate Members (AMCT).
In the meantime, The Treasurer spoke to three ACT members who took the plunge last year and were successfully elected to the Council. Nora Naadu Sena AMCT is regional treasurer for Nestlé, Carel van Randwyck FCT is a partner at Rodford & Partners while David Chatsama FCT is market and liquidity risk manager for African Export Import Bank.
Nora puts it very simply: “I love treasury and seeking a qualification was a key aim. Once I achieved this, I continued to have a keen interest in the ACT and its activities. When I found out about the opportunity to help shape a profession I so loved through serving on Council, it all made sense.”
As Carel says: “I believe that being a member of the ACT, and having passed its full membership exams 30 years ago, have been a key contributor to my career. As a result, joining Council was a way for me to ‘give back’ to the profession, assist with the implementation of its new strategy, promote the association and its qualifications, and support the Executive and other Council members at ACT events.
David adds: “I joined the ACT Council to gain board-level experience while contributing my professional expertise toward the efficient and strategic running of the organisation. Beyond personal development, I felt a strong desire to give back to the treasury community. Volunteering my time to support the ACT’s governance allows me to help shape the future of the profession that has supported my own career.”
David explains that the process was rigorous and competitive from the start. “It involved initial meetings with the recruiting team and the outgoing President, followed by a discussion with an existing Council member (the incoming Vice President). These conversations provided invaluable practical insights into the non-executive nature of the role.”
Nora echoes this: “What I appreciated at the initial stages was a call organised with the ACT to understand what it all entailed. This helped me firm up my decision.”
For Carel, he says the process was straightforward once he had received guidance from the ACT’s head of governance. “The most challenging part was preparing my ‘pitch’ video to be distributed to members, where, in two minutes, I had to clearly and concisely set out my career background, why I wanted to join Council and the value that I could bring.”
“To those considering applying, what have you got to lose?” says Carel. “Joining Council is a non-executive director role, which would give excellent experience in familiar surroundings, ad would stand you in good stead when applying for such roles in future.
Nora adds: “Any interested person should be ready to learn and through their learning contribute, it's a great way to give back by ensuring the future of treasury.”
David sets out a list of tips:
“The experience has been incredibly rewarding,” David says.
“I’ve truly enjoyed the depth of our discussions and hearing diverse viewpoints before reaching a consensus. The energy in the room is fantastic. Members are respectful yet direct: ready to listen, debate facts and ultimately vote for the best interest of the association.
“Looking ahead, I plan to deepen my involvement by consistently providing value-added feedback and leveraging my experience to support the ACT’s decision-making processes.”
Carel adds: “Being part of Council has been enlightening; understanding the opportunities and challenges facing the Association and the profession. The challenge for most Council members, as executives in our ‘day jobs’, is to recognise that we are not the ACT’s executives. Our role is to review, challenge, assist, guide and hold the executive to account in meeting the Association’s strategy and annual targets and, where appropriate, debate key issues.
Summing up the whole experience, Nora says: “It has been an amazing experience and the diversity of the council team has helped me grow so much.”
For his final thoughts, David says: “I have no regrets about joining the ACT Council. For anyone seeking to build non-executive director experience, I highly encourage you to pursue this opportunity. It is a powerful way to grow professionally while serving the treasury community.”
Nominations for ACT Council elections close on 27 February 2026. For more details click here.
Philip Smith is editor of The Treasurer
