Member Article

Exeter University team win CIMA Global Business Challenge

CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) is delighted to announce that The Indivisibles from Exeter University have been crowned global champions at the prestigious 2012 CIMA Global Business Challenge (GBC) in partnership with Barclays which took place from 23 to 24 July. The Indivisibles triumphed over stiff competition from twenty one other talented regions at the event hosted in Sri Lanka.

The Indivisibles comprised of Kate Beattie, Adam Broadbent, Ronald Liong and Ben White. Although they share varying interests and different backgrounds, the team was bound by a passion for business and a drive to succeed. The global champions provided innovative and practical solutions that balanced attention to detail with the appreciation of broad strategic issues.

The Indivisibles flew to Sri Lanka after winning the UK GBC regional final to represent the UK. At the global final they presented a business case which was assessed by a panel of industry expert judges from organisations across the globe, including CIMA, Barclays and Unilever. The competition continues to go from strength to strength, and has evolved from eight regions and countries in 2009 to encompass twenty two in 2012, demonstrating the ever growing success and reach of the event. CIMA is already receiving enquiries for the 2013 competition.

The GBC is an international competition designed to bring out the best in potential young business leaders and provide them the opportunity to showcase their talent on a global platform. The team initially beat over 100 teams to become regional champions then outshone over 14,000 international students to emerge as global champions at the GBC in Sri Lanka.

Other competing countries and regions were: Australia; Bangladesh; China; Ghana; Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Ireland; Malaysia; the Middle East; Nepal; New Zealand; Pakistan; the Philippines; Poland; Russia; Singapore; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Vietnam and Zambia.

On discovering they had been awarded first prize at the CIMA GBC final the Indivisibles said:

“We are so excited and delighted to have won the CIMA GBC 2012! This has been an amazing experience that we will never forget. The journey has been incredible. We are so proud to have been able to stand shoulder to shoulder with some very talented upcoming business leaders. We would like to thank CIMA and all the sponsors for the opportunity and look forward to being part of the CIMA family in the future.”

Andrew Harding, Managing Director at CIMA, said of the Exeter team:

“I would like to commend the Indivisibles on their outstanding performance and on becoming this year’s CIMA GBC champions. The Olympics begins on Friday but the UK already has a team of global champions. The GBC is the most important student event in CIMA’s calendar as it gives the world an opportunity to discover the business leaders of tomorrow and allows these future leaders an opportunity to showcase their talents on a global stage.

“The competition has been a phenomenal success and each of the finalists should be truly proud on making it through to the global final. The final has been exceptionally difficult to judge and the level of business skill in evidence has been striking. The Indivisibles really stood out for the judges because of their consistent outstanding performance.”

“I would like to thank our global partner Barclays, global final partners Unilever Sri Lanka Limited, Achievers Lanka Business School and official airline Sri Lanka Airlines for their support; Mount Lavinia Hotel for hosting the final, all the judges, and of course the army of student volunteers from across Sri Lanka whose hard work insured a successful event.”

In the Diamond Jubilee year, the competition had a commonwealth spirit, as other winners on the night included: Eva Consulting from the University of New South Wales in Australia who were awarded First Runners Up; New Dimension Consulting from Auckland University in New Zealand who were awarded Second Runners Up; and Sizwe Nxumalo from the University of Monomotapa in South Africa was awarded the GBC 2012 Future Business Leader award. The UK team also celebrated a double victory as they won the Judge’s Choice Video Competition, whilst The Patriots from the DE LA sale University-Dasmarinas in the Philippine won the People’s Choice Video Competition.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by CIMA UK Regional News .