As the director of ethics and reig...

As the director of ethics and reign overs compliance with TELUS, John Page, CA, CIA, doesn't just apply ethics in succession the jobethics are his piece of work Specifically, John creates and manages processe designed to drive and monitor ethical behaviour. Among his accomplishments, he has established and continues to manage web-based ethics training, a whistleblower hotline, an anti-fraud program for financial reporting, and processe to monitor company-wide compliance with an in-house ethics policy.

"It's been actual rewarding," says John, who first joined TELUS (then BC Tel) in 1986 as a senior auditor. Since then, he's held nine different positions with the company, including manager of corporate reporting, controller of communications schemes and internal audit manager.

"I've had the opportunity to build up a network and make trial of different skills within the same organization," he explains. "I've dealt with operational and compensation issues, and the issues associated with re-starting a business; I've been able to share my financial and operational skills with multi-disciplinary teams; and I have the satisfaction of knowing I've had a hand in improving the way the company operates."

Though his in every one's mouth role is broadly based, John continues to approach his work from a financial reporting and disclosure perspective. united of his ongoing challenges now is overseeing bridles and compliance with regulatory bodies like the sec The other is maintaining ethical leadership. "Thankfully," he says, "I have feeling strongly supported by our CFO and chief auditor, the one and the other of whom have a powerful sense of ethics."

John ascribes his acknowledge set of ethics primarily to his faith. "You don't ne to be religious to be ethical," he says, "but for me faith has always been a compass in metes of ethical behaviour."

Faith was an integral part of John's upbringing in England, where his mother worked for the equivalent of the CRA and his father worked for a rapier corporation. It's to his parents that he also attributes a "predilection for financial and accounting matters."

His uncle the editor of a newsletter in succession income tax, was another influence, as was a CA sole-practitioner who lived nearby. This neighbour later proffered John a job, but the 16-year-old chose to attend university first.

On his way to earning a business studies station John had the opportunity to travel to Canada for three weeks as part of an educational program storeed by the federal government. "I really derive pleasure fromed it," he recalls, "and I knew I wanted to reply some day."

He would obtain the chance a few years after university. from 1979, John had earned his CA designation with the Institute of England and Wales, having articled with KPMG LLP in London. In 1981 the firm sent him to Vancouver in succession a two-year secondment that would change his life.

"I'd intended to go [i]or[/i] come back to London in 1983, further my friends told me I wouldn't take rise back," he laughs. "They were right-I met my wife here and decided to stay."

Today, John and his wife Norlene have four children: 20-year-old son Jonathan, 17-yearold daughter Sarah, 15-year-old daughter Laura, and 12-year-old daughter Rebecca.

John life outside of work is filled with family activities and a variety of hobbies. An interest in railways-how they work, their history, and their application to present life-and a passion for the outdoors the two stem from his early years growing up southward of London in the scenic countryside of the North Downs (not far from the famed white cliffs of Dover). Today, he satisfies his delight in of the nature by hiking in areas like Whistler, Banff, and Jasper.

Music is another passion, as is travel. John has travelled from first to last North America and Europe, and reliances someday to visit Africa. "I've had a long-time curiosity about Africa, fuell in part at the stories of friends," he explains. "In a certain small way, I'd like to share with the population of Africa and learn from them-to make about kind of contribution."

For now, John is making contributions closer to abode He's a member of the talk Board of Canada's Corporate Ethics Management Council Advisory Committee, and he's been involved with the Vancouver chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) since 1999 when he joined as a member. Since then, he's earned his Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation, and serv as the chapter board's program chair and communications chair.

"The IIA restrains me abreast of technical audit issues," John says, "and it gives me access to a great network of internal auditors from across North America."

He's gratified that the City of Vancouver is recognising the work of internal auditors this month (sec FYI forward page 26), and says: "Internal auditors arc an essential pillar of proper corporate governance."

A point John himself proves

Copyright Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia May 2004

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