Parveen Mahmud, FCA, has been honoured with the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) Lifetime Woman Leadership Award 2025 at a ceremony held on Tuesday at Hotel Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams, Sri Lanka.
The award was presented in recognition of her pioneering role in professional leadership and social innovation in South Asia.
She is currently leading Manusher Jonnyo Foundation, Micro Industries Development Assistance and Services (MIDAS), HerStory Foundation and Shasha Denims PLC. Over the years, she has also chaired Underprivileged Children’s Educational Programmes (UCEP) Bangladesh and Acid Survivors Foundation, expanding her contribution to education and social rehabilitation.
Parveen Mahmud broke new ground as the first female president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) and later became the first female to serve as both board member and president of the South Asian Federation of Accountants, the apex accounting body of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
According to the ICAB, her professional journey began at BRAC, followed by key roles at Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) as deputy managing director and at Grameen Telecom Trust as founding managing director.
She also worked as partner at ACNABIN chartered accountants and has been on the boards of BRAC International, Transparency International Bangladesh, and several other institutions.
Alongside professional achievements, she has consistently advanced women’s empowerment, inclusive growth and ethical leadership. She is also a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow of Lions International. Her international recognition includes the Top50 Professional and Career Women Awards 2023 in Sri Lanka and Maldives.
The award was handed over during the inauguration of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA Sri Lanka) Silver Jubilee International Management Accounting Conference 2025, attended by regional accounting leaders and dignitaries.
Organisers described her as a role model whose work continues to inspire female professionals across Bangladesh and beyond.
