Publication
Tier
Size
Photo
Tone of article
Quote/s
News Monitoring: MIoD
Businessmag.mu
Date
1
Page
Color
Yes
Status
Positive
Object
Yes
28 January – 03 February 2015
Black and White
Generated
Corporate
Catherine McIIraith: the MioD’s sportychic lady
Business Magazine No. - 1168 - du Mercredi 28 Janvier 2015 au Mardi 3 Février 2015
The new chairperson of the Mauritius Institute of Directors pursued an intense
career in accounting and finance prior to her appointment. Her fun side loves
architecture, cycling trips and the natural beauty of Saint Brandon.
She is a fan of seashells, interior decoration and dreams of a meaningful contribution in
the architectural landscape, all while donning a corporate hat. 50-year-old Catherine
McIlraith, the newly appointed chairperson of the Mauritius Institute of Directors
(MIoD), grew up in Mauritius, where she attended junior school at the Loreto Convent
Vacoas and then secondary school at the Loreto Convent Quatre-Bornes.
After high school, she worked for a few years as a banking clerk in order to save money
for studies overseas, a goal she will achieve in 1985, when she sets off for
Johannesburg, South Africa, with the initial intention of studying architecture and
interior design.Catherine McIlraith will how-ever end up opting for a Bachelor in
Commerce at the University of Witwatersrand while working as a personal assistant for a
French company on a part-time basis.
“In 1987, the large accoun-ting firms were recruiting on campus, and I joined the firm that
would later on become Ernst & Young. I shared my articles with them while continuing my
studies on a part-time basis. I qualified as a chartered accountant in 1992,” she
reminisces.
After
her
graduation,
Catherine
McIlraith
decides
to
leave
the
accounting profession and start her career in specialised finance in the investment
banking industry, first with a boutique finance company which over the years, after a
buyout, became part of BOE NatWest.
“I spent ten years working for them in South Africa. The biggest challenge in this industry
is actually the long hours, the commitment and the hard work required. After starting a
family, I found the compromise between family time and office quite challenging as well.
So, when my youn-gest child was two years old, I decided to take a break in order to
spend more time with them,” states Catherine McIlraith.
She thus took two years off and decided to go back to work in 2004 when her youngest
daughter was ready for school. Upon being approached by Investec Bank to join them in
Mauritius on a two-year contract, Catherine McIlraith will gladly accept the offer; moving
to the island with her whole family. “Once I was back in Mauritius, that was it. I decided I
didn’t want to go back to Johannesburg. After seven years within Investec Bank, I decided
to change directions again. I was already a member of the MIoD and decided to increase
my participation within it,” she says.
Consequently, she joined the director forum and the audit committee forum and
integrated the Board of the MioD in 2011 before being appointed chairperson of the
organisation at the end of October 2014. Catherine McIlraith describes her journey with
the MIoD as a rewarding experience, providing a unique platform for growth and
development as a director.
Questioned on how does she digest being one of the few women with the title of
chairperson in Mauritius, Catherine McIlraith simply replies that with more women
having access to education in Mauritius, it is only a matter of time before more women
are designed by this title. “Women must not be scared to put themselves forward when
such a position becomes available,” she affirms.
Interior design still occupies an important place in her life in spite of her corporate
duties. She has even taken a course in this subject to keep her hobby alive. In fact, had
she not gone down this path, Catherine McIlraith would have pursued her career in
architecture.
“I keep thinking that I will resume learning about architecture one of these days because I
really enjoy it. This is what I would study if I had to start all over again,” she admits with
a smile.
She has no regrets over her choices at all, however. For Catherine McIlraith, women
should be encouraged to become chartered accountants because it opens so many doors
and brings a wide choice of careers and understanding of businesses out there.
Her most enjoyable aspect of her career right now is the involvement in all the various
aspects of the MioD and the continuous learning, whether it is about corporate
governance or the best corporate practices worldwide.
Outside of work, Cathe-rine loves spending time with her husband John and her two
daughters, Stephanie and Emilie, and engaging into sports, namely, kayaking and
cycling. She has even participated in a few cycling holidays around the world with a
group of friends she made during cycling trips in Johannesburg. They organise cycling
trips in Europe every second year and a cycling trip in South Africa every alternate year.
“I have not been to all of them due to work commitments but I always try to make the time
for it. Last year, we did the El Camino on bicycle, which is a religious pilgrimage from
France to Santiago, in Spain. It was an amazing experience. I have cycled through Croatia,
Poland, France, and through South Africa as well,” she adds.
This year, cycling through the Namaqua Land in the Eastern Cape is on the cards. Her
favourite holiday destination however is a surprise since cycling cannot be practiced over
there and requires fourteen hours of travel by speedboat. Catherine McIlraith singles out
Saint Brandon as her favourite place ever, owing to its unspoilt nature.
“Saint Brandon is beautiful and such an amazing place. The sea life, the shells… you
really feel like you are cut off from the rest of the world there. I would give up on any trip
to go to Saint Brandon,” she describes, with a spark lighting her eyes.
Looking ahead, Catherine McIlraith intends to continue living life to the fullest, armed
with her personal motto ‘Never give up’ – which she tries to implement at work and in
her personal endeavours as well. “Once you’ve set a goal, keep working hard at it. Do not
be afraid of hard work.” Rightly put.
Himanshu Marchurchand
Rubrique:
Portrait