INTHEBLACK February 2025 - Magazine - Page 32
MEMBER PROFILE
DRIVE TO SUCCEED
A leading tech entrepreneur, Pham made
his mark as a successful business operator
and has played a major part in the
establishment and growth of New Zealand’s
technology sector.
“I experienced and witnessed a lot of
trauma as a refugee, and that journey has
shaped me. It gives me the drive to always
strive to better myself and to build a better
life for my family. That drive is very, very
strong,” Pham says.
Pham co-founded CodeHQ in 1993,
which develops software for businesses
in many industry sectors, including
financial services. As a consultant and
adviser, he also helps other companies
to accelerate digital transformation and
build operational maturity.
While he may not have a background
in accounting, Pham says he values how
essential financial expertise is for the
development and growth of tech and
non-tech businesses.
“Having my own tech businesses and
being involved with boards of other
companies, I see first-hand every day
how accounting and finance expertise and
professionals play a critical role at the daily
32 INTHEBLACK February 2025
operations level, as well as governance
and strategy at board level.
“Being involved with the development
of New Zealand’s strategy for becoming
a more advanced digital economy has
shown me how important it is for financial
experts to understand digital technologies
and how they affect economic, commercial
and monetisation models of business and
international trade," Pham says. Pham
was presented with an honorary lifetime
membership of CPA Australia in 2022.
REFUGEE ADVOCACY
Alongside his passion for business, Pham
has continued to advocate for the refugee
community in New Zealand and has
co-founded two not-for-profit organisations
to help refugees adapt to their new country.
“My entrepreneurial side drives me
to build and succeed in business. At the
same time, the other half of me cannot
forget where I came from — the community
of millions of people and families who
have been displaced from their own home
countries,” he says.
“I want to help make it easier for other
refugees to adapt to their new country and
reunite with their families if they can.” ■
READ
an article on what
motivates CPAs and
FCPAs to give back
LISTEN
to a podcast
episode on doubling
philanthropic
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